SaaS (Software as a Service)

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software delivery model where applications are hosted by the vendor on cloud infrastructure and accessed by customers over the internet through a web browser or API — on a subscription basis, without requiring local installation or server management. SaaS has become the dominant model for enterprise CRM deployment because it eliminates the capital expense of on-premise infrastructure, accelerates time-to-value by removing installation and configuration complexity, and ensures that all customers are always on the current software version. For buyers evaluating enterprise CRM, the SaaS model also shifts cost structure from upfront license purchases to predictable annual subscription fees — a change that simplifies budgeting and makes it easier to scale user counts up or down as the business evolves.