Like any type of development, SaaS has its life cycle to structure the process, avoid inconsistencies, and make the implementation smooth. There are 6 stages: Envisioning, Platform evaluation, Planning, Subscribing, Developing, and Operations. The duration of each stage depends on the complexity and size of your project as well as the type of your SaaS. Usually, it is targeted at enterprises that have a wide range of needs. Thus, the app must satisfy all of them, and the development will take longer. With single-user apps, you spend less time. SaaS development life cycle is iterating, meaning that after the last stage is completed, the process starts all over again. Why? Updates, my friend, your users always require improvements.
1) Envisioning. During this stage, you need to identify business opportunities, find ways to upsell existing customers and expand the client base. Here, it’s time to build a strategy of development and create business plans. To make the best out of it, analyze your target audience, market opportunities, competitors, and their prices. Then decide — what is the value of your product? Here you need to come up with several cloud service options. During this stage, you consult with all actors of development — investors, devs, managers, PR assistants, sales managers, etc. to create a whole picture of where to go. This is your start–if you avoid this stage or ignore some of its aspects, your SaaS marathon of success may end halfway.
2) Evaluation. Here, the focus of the cloud provider selection as it’s the main success factor for SaaS business. Also, later it is difficult to migrate to another cloud. Decide on technical architecture and a set of functions. Form the requirements and evaluate the performance of the cloud platforms under consideration. Decide upon the security and data privacy solutions. Outline the payment solution, and only then choose a cloud service that fits the needs of your business and your vision best.
3) Planning. This stage depends on the type and complexity of your product and the size of your service. Focus on the long-term advantages and don’t cut the time spent planning. The more specifically you outline your aim to your team, the better product they will be able to produce. Here you will need to outline requirements into specific tech plans, create a project scheme with time management, maps, and script plans. Then implement a communication and management tool to enhance your team’s cooperation. We’re ready to begin the development itself, only there’s one thing left…
4) Subscribing to your cloud provider. Here you make final decisions about the collaboration condition and the pricing. Then you read the documentation, talk about the condition terms, and afterward sign an agreement. Now, it’s time to create magic.
5) Developing. Here’s how the magic goes — develop, deploy, test. To make the process even smoother, create an enticing environment for your team. Here your devs must implement the required architecture of your app and provide necessary security standards. After it is compiled it is ready for operations.
6) Operational aspect. Here you gather information from your early customers and monitor the performance. After all the metrics and reviews are there with you, decide on what you need to optimize the product and improve your users’ experience. We begin again and go right to the first stage – envisioning.
