Software as a service (
SaaS; pronounced or ) is a software
licensing and
delivery model in which software is licensed on a
subscription basis and is centrally
hosted. It is sometimes referred to as "on-demand software". SaaS is typically accessed by
users using a
thin client via a
web browser. SaaS has become a common delivery model for many business applications, including office and messaging software, payroll processing software, DBMS software, management software, CAD software, development software,
gamification,
virtualization,
accounting,
collaboration,
customer relationship management (CRM),
management information systems (MIS),
enterprise resource planning (ERP), invoicing,
human resource management (HRM),
talent acquisition,
content management (CM),
antivirus software, and service desk management. SaaS has been incorporated into the strategy of all leading
enterprise software companies. One of the biggest selling points for these companies is the potential to reduce IT support costs by outsourcing hardware and software maintenance and support to the SaaS provider.
