How SaaS Is Revolutionizing The World Of Fun?
Playmeter Magazine June 2008
By Scott Drummond
It wasn’t long ago that we landed on the moon, we invented the
personal computer and we created the pet rock. So the pet rock really
has nothing to do with technology but it does represent the ingenious
ways we can market something as simple as an ordinary rock and generate
so much revenue. Now back to technology…
The personal computer has given us the ability to track, collect and
analyze data and when used in business can create a new level of
efficiency unattainable using any other method. Now with the internet
we can do the same thing from anywhere in the world using a laptop or even a cell phone.
What is Web 2.0 / SaaS
I would venture to guess that almost none of my readers have even heard of Web 2.0 or SaaS.
We’ll it’s time to listen up because this will be the way business is
done in a very short time (if not already). Many of you have shopped on
line and almost everyone has used the internet to search for a company
or product. In fact I would bet that you have your own website for your
company (It is 2008 in case you didn’t know). You already have a small
glimpse of the power and flexibility that this new world of internet business.
Web 2.0 is a concept. It revolves around harnessing all the current
functionality of the internet to create the most powerful and
commanding marketing tool that can be specifically applied to YOUR business.
SaaS
is a term that is so new most people don’t have a clue as to its
meaning or origin. Back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s there were
companies called ASP’s (Application Service Providers) and they would
provide an “application” or software that could be used via the
internet. We’ll with such drastic changes in the world of technology the powers that be decided we needed a new name to express exactly what was happening. This new name is SaaS (Software as a Service).
Did you know that you can use Microsoft Word, the world’s leading
document editing software, online. The software looks and acts exactly
like the version that you load on your personal computer except you can
be anywhere in the world and on any computer and can access and edit your documents.
So how does this SaaS help my business?
SaaS is already revolutionizing the world of fun.
Customers are booking parties online, parents are registering their
children for classes online, adults sign up for league sports online.
Now image a world
where your customer can buy your product online, from their cell phone
or anywhere they have internet access. You now can access this data
from anywhere you have internet. Now realize that I am writing this
article with my cell phone plugged into my computer connecting me to
the internet AND I’m talking on it at the same time. Did you get that…
I can be anywhere in the world that I get cellular service and it’s as if I have never left the office.
While attending a recent trade show a potential client called and
wanted to get started using our software. As a general rule when a
customer is ready to buy we don’t make them wait (I know you all will
agree with me there) So I hoped on my laptop, plugged in my cell phone
(while I was still talking with her) and was able to complete the
entire transaction while sitting at my booth on the trade show floor.
She didn’t even realize I wasn’t in the office until I mentioned it.
This is global business with a personal touch.
While online sales are a big part of SaaS
the real benefits are the fact that you now can have all your
management tools at your fingers wherever you are. In effect you don’t
even need to be at your center, if one of your employees needs
assistance they can call you and through the internet and your SaaS application you can do everything as if you were standing right next to them.
Why would I want to use a SaaS service?
While I’d love to tell you that every single business in the world MUST have SaaS, you and I know this would just be a frivolous sales pitch with no substance. There are a few companies out there that may not be ready or understand the true values of SaaS as they move their business into a new era of cell phones, text messaging and internet shopping.
Are Customers really ready for SaaS?
I feel like I’m beating a dead horse with this comment but what about those gas prices? Recently on a sales trip to Orange Country California I saw prices well over $5 a gallon. I turned and said to my VP of Sales,
“How can the customers afford to do anything with these prices?” After
a few minutes of dialog he made a comment that made perfect sense.
“Internet shopping will sky rocket as the preferred method of shopping
because it cost more to drive to the store than it does to actually buy
that pair of jeans.” That was a simple but all too scary revelation. It
got me thinking on how we can get the consumer to seek out, research
and ultimately commit to buy our products and services at our fun centers.
SaaS is the answer. By using a comprehensive and powerful internet based sales
tool we can inform and persuade our customers to commit to our products
without having them physically enter our building. At my fun
center we have seen a number of people book their event online having
never been to our location. Granted most of them have had friends or
family that have been so good customer referrals are important.
Most everyone I know has bought something online, whether is be air
travel, car rental or hotel reservation. While one of the most vital
parts of a good SaaS service is the online sales tool, SaaS is so much more. It can been a full management, Point-Of-Sale, Customer Relationship Management, E-mail Marketing,
Class Scheduling, Event Planning, Employee Management, Vendor
Management… I guess I could keep going on and on but I think you get my
point… SaaS is whatever you want or need it to be. All you need to do is find the right SaaS company and product that will bring you into this new business era.
PET ROCK…
So how will the use of a SaaS service help you with marketing and revenue generation? Well if you pick the right SaaS it will do everything from, management, marketing to revenue generation. PartyCenterSoftware.com
has many facets to it that help you. Just like the pet rock was a
simple idea, we can take many simple ideas and even simple products or
services from your business process and propel them through great marketing to be one of your premier revenue streams. The SaaS ca then help you completely manage that revenue stream.
The Verdict
Is SaaS
right for your company? That is a questions that only you can answer
but I would say that every company should look into using a SaaS service to help improve their business process. Ultimately SaaS can be whatever you need it to be.