What is Software as a Service?
Software as a Service is the way to take a platform of your own to market without carrying the full weight of the infrastructure: it is built in the cloud, operated as a service and charged by subscription.
Benká Digital LAB works with you from the idea: we validate the problem with users, build an MVP in weeks on a cloud architecture that scales, and stay on to operate, support and improve it.
The result is a digital product with clear usage and subscription metrics, ready to grow by customers, modules or countries.
The problems clients bring us
Do we have a platform idea but not the team to build it?
Business knowledge without product, engineering or cloud operations capabilities.
How much time and money until we know whether it works?
Long projects that reach the market late and without validation from users.
Will the platform hold up as it grows?
Solutions built quickly that don’t scale in users, data or security.
Who operates it after launch?
Products without support, monitoring or a continuous improvement plan.
How do we charge by subscription?
Pricing models, plans and recurring billing that haven’t been defined.
How do we protect customers’ data?
Security, privacy and compliance requirements that grow with every customer.
Our approach, applied to Software as a Service
The same four phases of «Our approach», with what we do and what we deliver in each one.
The path of a SaaS product
- 01Validated problemUser interviews, value proposition and subscription model.
- 02MVP scopeModules that go in first and a cloud architecture to grow.
- 03MVP in sprintsFrequent demos and testing with a group of customers.
- 04Launch and operationsMonitoring, support and improvements guided by usage and retention.
We use a problem-solving structure to frame hypotheses.
Interviews with users and potential customers, a review of existing alternatives and definition of the value proposition and the subscription model.
DeliverableProblem validated with usersWe break the problem down into a MECE structure.
The product is broken down into modules; we agree on what goes into the MVP and define the cloud architecture that will allow it to grow.
DeliverableMVP scope and architectureWe build the business cases and the structure of each initiative.
We build the MVP in short sprints with frequent demos, and test it with a group of customers before launch.
DeliverableMVP in weeksWe provide support with a dedicated, full-time on-site team within the organization.
Launch, monitoring, support and an improvement roadmap guided by usage, retention and subscription metrics.
DeliverableOperations and support
What does the diagnosis review?
The product pyramid: from the user to the experience
- 01User experienceEasy-to-use web and mobile
- 02MVP featuresThe minimum that solves the problem
- 03Value propositionWhy the customer subscribes
- 04Unmet needsThe problem validated with users
- 05Target userWhom the product is built for
- Problem and usersValidated need, target users and value proposition.
- Subscription modelPlans, pricing, billing and recurring metrics.
- Product and experienceMVP features, roadmap and usability.
- Cloud architectureScalability, multi-tenancy, integrations and costs.
- Security and complianceAccess, data privacy and continuity.
- Operations and supportMonitoring, support and continuous improvement.
How is the platform built and operated?
The platform is organized in layers that separate the user experience from the infrastructure, and the product goes through a cycle that doesn’t end at launch.
Product lifecycle
- 01Discover
- 02MVP
- 03Launch
- 04Operations
- 05New modules
- Usage and subscription metrics
Layers of a SaaS platform
- 01User experienceWeb and mobile, designed with users.
- 02Business servicesModules, rules and subscriptions.
- 03Data and integrationsDatabases, APIs and connections with other systems.
- 04Cloud infrastructureCompute, storage and autoscaling.
- 05Security and monitoringAccess, backup, observability and continuity.
What stays in your organization
- MVP in weeks
- A working first version in the hands of real users within a few weeks.
- Cloud architecture
- Scalable, secure infrastructure with known costs.
- Operations and support
- Monitoring, user support and continuous improvement after launch.
- Subscription model
- Plans, pricing and recurring metrics to manage the business.
- Product roadmap
- Next modules and improvements prioritized by value to the customer.
Where do we apply it?
Led by Benká Digital LAB, with the rest of the holding when the challenge calls for it.
