Rising Importance of SaaS Jobs to Future Global Business

Over the last few years, our specialist SaaS recruitment team have seen a rise in the importance and demand for SaaS jobs. As we move further into the digital age, SaaS for many organisations is fast becoming vital to the future of business. SaaS helps reduce upfront purchasing and installation costs, has excellent scalability and accessibility, and saves IT teams valuable time by offering automatic updates. 

SaaS has grown rapidly and has a major global presence with growth expected to continue in the immediate future. Take a look at the mammoth leaps this industry has seen in the last few years. These facts and statistics show the sheer power of SaaS and its usage and influence in the global workforce.

• Since 2015, the industry has grown from $31.5 billion to an estimated $171.9 billion in 2022. 
• SaaS adoption in the healthcare industry is growing at a rate of 20% per year. 
• The SaaS market is currently growing at 18% per year. 
• The USA has over 8x more SaaS companies than other countries, with approximately 17,000 SaaS companies. The United Kingdom, with 2,000 companies, follows this. India is at the top of the Asian SaaS market, with 1,000 companies. 

To understand this explosion in growth and why organisations see it as a vital tool for managing their workforce and the future of their business, we need to look at the humble beginnings of SaaS and why it was created.

Brief History of SaaS

It is impossible to discuss the history of SaaS without mentioning Salesforce. Salesforce is an international business juggernaut and was ranked the number-one CRM provider worldwide for the ninth consecutive year by IDC in 2022. Salesforce also gave birth to the SaaS revolution. In 1999, Marc Benioff, Parker Harris, Frank Dominguez, and Dave Moellenhoff created Salesforce from a one-bedroom apartment in Telegraph Hill, San Francisco. 

In creating Salesforce, their goal was to develop business software applications in a new radical way. Their method was to deliver software through a model known as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). This model was to be of enormous benefit to businesses. It would eliminate the need for expensive upfront costs, lengthy implementations, and complex maintenance on ongoing upgrades. And so, the first SaaS solution built from scratch was born. 

Entering into the new millennium, Salesforce would take advantage of rising technologies such as the surge in broadband, mobile phones, internet security, browsers, and APIs. These technologies would transform Salesforce and its SaaS model into a business powerhouse. As a result, Salesforce have gone on to be a global brand, and from October 2022, they have a net worth of $147 billion and a CRM market share of 23.8%. 

Since its creation by Salesforce, SaaS has expanded enormously, and some of the biggest technology firms in the world now provide effective and popular SaaS software. Some of the most famous examples of SaaS companies include:

• Microsoft - SaaS apps include email, calendaring, and office tools such as Microsoft Office 365. 
• Adobe - SaaS apps include Creative Cloud and Photoshop.
• Google - SaaS products include Google workspace offers services such as Gmail, storage, calendar, and Google Cloud. 

How is SaaS Influencing the Present and Future Global Workforce? 

The rise of SaaS technology has transformed the global workforce. It has given businesses access to features such as video conference platforms, CRM software, and the ability to automate time-consuming jobs such as email marketing and data analysis. 

The rise of SaaS shows that organisations see it as an instrumental driver of the future of business. When we look at the benefits of SaaS, it is clear to understand its importance. Some of the key benefits are: 

1. Cost Effective

Managing costs and budgets is one of the critical priorities for businesses. SaaS eliminates the upfront cost of purchasing, installation, and ongoing maintenance and upgrades. 

Rather than spending money on hardware installation, SaaS applications can be seamlessly downloaded and maintained. SaaS also offers pay-as-you-go models, allowing businesses to pay for only what they use rather than for unused licensing. 

These models can be a significant advantage for small businesses, as they provide access to highly effective software, which may have proved very expensive through other, more conventional purchasing methods. 

2. Automatic Updates

When new SaaS features become available, the software is automatically updated, so an organisation's IT team doesn't need to worry about updates or security patching issues.  

3. Scalability and Accessibility 

Another benefit of the pay-as-you-go model is that it provides flexibility and options to change plans. The software is hosted externally by a vendor, allowing users to easily change their usage plans without giving advance notice. In addition, web-based use will enable users to access the software from any location as long as it has internet capabilities. 

4. Time-Saving 

A famous saying in business is 'time is money,' and SaaS can save organisations both. Installing the software is quick and seamless as having an internet connection and generating a log-in. In addition, the responsibility for software updates and maintenance is taken from the IT team and given to the vendor. This delegation frees up time for the IT team, which would have been taken up by working on necessary software updates. Also, as SaaS is seamless and easy to use, less time will be needed to train teams about how to use the software.

Leo Lax, Executive Managing Director for L-Spark, commented on the importance of SaaS in developing a future business model. 

"SaaS brings new approaches to the traditional business model. It is the future methodology that introduces better approaches to customer acquisition, user onboarding and customer satisfaction."

The importance of SaaS was under the spotlight during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic put businesses under unprecedented pressure and made organisations change their business practices. It forced physical companies, such as retail outlets and offices, to close and people to isolate in their homes. To reduce the impact on profits and productivity, organisations had to quickly adapt and find a way to allow their stay-at-home workforce to keep working. As a result, large swaths of the workforce were moved online and given new, remote, and flexible working methods. Here, the power of SaaS came into play. 

The popularity of SaaS companies, such as Zoom video communication, skyrocketed during the pandemic as people were confined to working in bedrooms and on kitchen tables. Zoom allowed businesses to conduct video calls for vital daily tasks such as employee meetings, sales calls with clients, and video conferences. The use of Zoom meant communication in business was not lost, despite the pandemic, allowing businesses to continue to make profits and engage with their workforce. As a result, Zoom's annual net income rose from $7 million in 2018 to over $1 billion in 2021. 

Along with video calling, other SaaS companies such as Microsoft, with Microsoft Office 365, and Salesforce, with their CRM platform, were essential tools for the stay-at-home workforce to continue working and stay connected to their company and clients.  

As the world slowly recovers from the pandemic, how SaaS was implemented and used during the pandemic has continued. Working from home has become the new normal. Employers are now offering hybrid working or total work-from-home roles. SaaS has highlighted the incredible benefits it brings to businesses and the workforce. For businesses, it can improve productivity, give access to a broader talent pool, cost saving on equipment and rent, and improve a company's green credentials. 

Another industry, which saw the rise of SaaS during the pandemic, was healthcare. Healthcare was forced to adapt and innovate by the challenges of the pandemic. Two of the critical areas of SaaS in healthcare are as follows:

• Virtual Healthcare - This refers to 'virtual visits' between patients and doctors via communication technology such as Zoom. Currently, these visits are for consultations, check-ups, and status reports rather than in-depth diagnoses or treatments. These visits allowed patients to speak with doctors and specialists in any location, day or night. During the pandemic, it also reduced human contact, which increased safety. 
• CRM - Using SaaS companies such as Salesforce allows healthcare providers to seamlessly connect systems of data to help increase visibility into the entire health journey. This enables improved personalised interactions that strengthen relationships and raise trust with patients, providers, or partners. Using a CRM system also means added security to meet data protection guidelines of organisations such as GDPR. 

Following changes made during the pandemic and the increased use of SaaS, 66% of healthcare leaders expect to move their technology infrastructure to the Cloud In 2022, rising to 96% by 2024. Moving to Cloud is more than just a technological change; it's an organisational change. The increased use of SaaS will improve the patient experience by enabling a more accessible and personalised service. 

SaaS Recruitment Opportunities 

As we have explored, SaaS has become an essential tool for organisations worldwide and will continue to influence working practices far into the future. With the development and rising popularity of SaaS, experts need to fill SaaS jobs. Our recent blog explores the top 10 SaaS jobs in more detail. Here are some examples of the senior-level SaaS jobs vital to the present and future of SaaS.

Project Manager 

Project managers are responsible for delivering SaaS software projects, from the planning stage to budgeting, execution, and final delivery. They will ensure successful completion and will oversee and manage the teams working on the project.

As part of the completion, managers must guarantee that projects match an organisation's objectives, including time frame, customer satisfaction, costs, and quality. 

Successful project managers will be excellent communicators, able to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, be effective problem solvers, and can work on several projects simultaneously.

Product Manager 

Product Managers supervise new product processes from conception to the launch to the market phase. They develop product roadmaps for the product team, are responsible for seamless product functionality, and take ownership of the product vision towards completion. 

Product managers will work with various internal teams, such as sales, marketing, and engineering, to develop the product strategy. They will also seek feedback from customers to understand their needs and requirements for a product. 

As well as intelligence around data, analytics, and business, product managers will possess effective communication skills, be strong negotiators, and be inspiring leaders.  

Marketing Manager 

Marketing Managers are vital to the strategic promotion of SaaS companies. They work closely with the CEO, sales, and product team to plan and roadmap strategic growth and build and maintain relationships with existing and potential customers. In addition, they lead an organisation's digital presence and develop and deliver end-to-end SaaS marketing campaigns.

In addition, they are responsible for training and developing the marketing team to ensure they are an effective workforce that can reach an organisation's standards and goals. A successful marketing manager will possess strong communication, customer service, and leadership skills. 

Sales Manager

Sales managers are essential to the growth of the business as they are the face of the product to potential clients. They are responsible for the sales team's growth, training, and development. In addition, they create effective sales plans to acquire new client accounts and continue to promote new products to existing clients. As part of their role, they work closely with the marketing and business development team.

Successful sales managers are effective in building and managing customer relationships, closing deals, and negotiating sales. As well as working with internal teams, they can work independently and possess a strong entrepreneurial spirit.  

We are a Specialist SaaS Recruitment Agency 

CSG Talent is an expert SaaS recruitment agency passionate about building and maintaining strong connections with SaaS businesses and candidates searching for SaaS jobs. We have an extensive network of SaaS recruitment specialists who track the latest updates and developments within the industry. These insights allow us to advise and support clients to help grow their businesses and build talent attraction strategies. Our focus for the candidates is ensuring they are connected to clients who match their needs and motivations. Furthermore, the CSG Talent recruitment team works with our clients to provide an effective and seamless hiring process. 

If you would like to discuss the latest developments in SaaS technology, are looking to recruit for new SaaS jobs within your organisation, or looking for an exciting new challenge, please get in touch.