On-Premises Solution or a Cloud-Based, SaaS-Powered Platform?

Introduction

Technology is transforming how we do business in the B2B sector. Think of a B2B web portal as a Swiss Army knife: it streamlines orders for sales reps, gives customers their own online store, and centralizes all order management. Companies are leveraging this tech to enhance sales, simplify the ordering process, and make operations more efficient.

However, the tech landscape is evolving rapidly. This change prompts a key question: Should companies stick with their existing, on-premises software, or should they transition to a Software as a Service (SaaS) model?

Increasingly, SaaS is becoming the go-to solution. It's proving adept at handling the complexities of B2B transactions. That’s why a growing number of companies are making the switch.

For those still operating with older, custom systems, the drawbacks are becoming more apparent. In this piece, we'll weigh the pros and cons of both custom and SaaS B2B solutions.

The Catch with Custom Software

Custom software may seem like the perfect fit initially. It’s tailored to your workflows and business needs. But this tailored fit can become a straitjacket, making the system harder and costlier to maintain as time goes on.

Up next …

we'll dive into the specific challenges that come with custom software.

1. Long Setup Time.
A long setup time means more expenses for you. You could face delays in market entry which means lost revenue and a weaker competitive edge. Plus, customers get unhappy.

2. High Overall Costs.
It might seem counterintuitive, but owning software can cost more than a SaaS subscription. Owning software comes with hidden or unexpected costs. Think about maintenance, licenses, and upgrades.

3. Upgrade and Maintenance Issues.
Custom tweaks make software hard to maintain. When upgrades are needed, things can break. And with custom software, you're tied to the developers for those upgrades. This is risky for your business. Plus: custom upgrades often cost a lot.

Each of these points presents its own challenges, and we'll dive into the details later.