Global IT spending may go against expectations. But the growth of clouds is growing. Gartner predicts that it will grow by 6.3% in 2020. In addition, the global software as a service market is estimated to reach US$623 billion by 2023.
Does this mean more SaaS products? If so, how to develop a SaaS product?
Also, do all SaaS products perform well? Does everyone serve their purpose? How can your SaaS software satisfy customers and generate good revenue if not?
To learn more, read our comprehensive Software as a Service Design guide. This should help you create the software from scratch without difficulty.
The Role of Design in SaaS
Great user experience + excellent user interface = great product. It is something you require to maintain in mind when creating SaaS software.
Both components are essential to offering a great SaaS product. And these design components are not limited to fewer aspects. Many of them define the overall look and functionality of the software. Therefore, they need absolute focus.
For example, for , you need to consider the following factors:
- layout;
- availability;
- visual design;
- database.
If you want to tie users to your software, build it all in and follow some of these tried and tested Software as a Service Design tips.
Tip 1. Easy registration and login
The user wants a registration process that they can go through without problems. It takes work.
You must ensure you only ask the user for something that will cause them to skip registering with your software entirely.
For example, give users a free trial but keep their credit card information private. This makes the user a little insecure.
Keep in mind that you need the following:
- engage user;
- to make this happen, be careful with the registration process.
Tip 2. Convenient and attractive onboarding
The first impression is the last. Since good onboarding allows you to last longer, it’s best to capture it. Train and attract new clients. You can achieve this by including user-friendly steps and resources for possible stumbling blocks.
Keep registration steps simple, and ensure you don’t add lengthy forms for users to fill out.
Turn on a process completion indicator so users can keep an eye on it.
Implement chat support if the user needs help anyway.
Keep users engaged so they keep coming back.
Autodesk is the best example of this. A software firm created an extensive training site that allowed users to take self-paced courses after discovering a glitch in the onboarding method.
Tip 3. Gamification
Sufficient contact is one item that can make your service or product more interactive and pleasing to users.
When developing a SaaS product, you may operate game features such as stalking and observing to award users for their accomplishments. SaaS founders often use psychological tactics to drive product adoption and client dedication.
All these aspects will help you increase engagement, ultimately leading to product and profit growth.
How to develop Software as a Service Design?
The SaaS software development process has a unique approach. Everyone is different. Usually, the development of the SaaS software has the following these steps:
Stage 1. Pre-project
Understanding how to design a SaaS product starts before the design. To create a valuable design, it is essential to know the context and the end users and represent them with a real hierarchy.
1. Interview with a client
Before asking anyone, you must build a strategy. Your strategy may include the following:
- goal setting;
- questionnaire preparation;
- appeal to people;
- conducting an interview.
Through customer interviews, a SaaS company can understand the user’s thought process and test their ideas in preparation for developing a SaaS product.
2. Checking the pain claim
Now that you’ve gathered information from the audience, you know what hurts them or what they desire. Operate this pain information to make a possible explanation. But are you certain they are looking for it? It will be better to be confident in what you are doing.
One of the practical and safe ways is to create a minimum viable product (MVP).
3. Path definition user
A SaaS company needs to define the touch points where the customer can interact with the software.
After all, you would like to know when and how they come into contact with your brand.
All touchpoints should clearly describe the solution your software will provide.
So how do you do it?
Below are some common touchpoints you can use to define the customer journey.
- site design;
- live chat;
- chatbots;
- social media;
- customer reviews
4. Define the Persona and Start Designing Person-Centered Design
Software as a Service Design product that will expand and diversify your income faster.
If this is the end goal, identify the customer!
Stage 2: UX design
As you know, UX design is the part of the design that influences how the client interacts with the software.
In the exact context, we would like to inform you about Connexion, and the B2B platform Spdload developed to increase e-commerce sales.
At the same time, our main task was to create a user experience based on empathy. This particular assignment had complex information and technical architecture.
To overcome this, the designers have integrated the widget and third-party services such as Viber and Telegram to count the importance of the channel made for e-commerce applications.
Stage 3: User Interface Design
Why do you think you need an exemplary user interface? Well, it’s all aimed at increasing the attractiveness and engagement of the product. Our SaaS website design suggestions should be useful for this reference.
In keeping with the ongoing minimalist design trend, opting for a two-tone palette and an accent color is all you need to hit the mark. Logos should be clear but not excessive.
Animations are all the rage and should be used explicitly to create a brand image.
Software as a Service Design Checklist
We’ve come to the essential part of learning how to develop SaaS software from scratch.
1. Clear statement in the Hero section
Do you know the 15-second rule to impress a user? If not, you must be!
Please do so to avoid the loss of a potential customer. So what’s next?
Create a clear hero section. Think of it as your best opportunity to tell the user about your value proposition. It consists of three main elements:
- hero Image;
- hero Heading;
- call to action.
2. Registration button in the Hero section or the upper right corner
Whether you’re examining to develop more leads, gain more registrations, or apply the word about your outcomes, nothing works better than placing a CTA in the main section.
The registration button in the heroes section encourages people to follow the instructions more closely.
3. Easy registration process
No one has the time or tolerance to go through multiple registration pages. Keep the process simple, with minimal complexity. Whatever the case, you will have many opportunities to get to know your users better, but first, let them find it interesting.
One of the most promising SaaS website design advice is to describe the purpose of the data collection beforehand. Keep it short, simple, and minimal. Remove distractions and act naturally, avoiding common mistakes.
Most importantly, guide users throughout the process.
To start, you need a name and an email address. A proven way to get more customers to subscribe is to add a call to action.
4. Onboarding engagement
Focus on customization if you’ve been wondering how to develop SaaS software that hooks your audience from the start.
Create a customer-centric strategy for organizing structured onboarding. An engaging onboarding experience has four design features/aspects:
Simplicity Simple adaptation reduces customers’ and employees’ physical and mental efforts to achieve goals.
Usefulness Clear utility defines the functionality, and customers understand the product and whether it can meet their specific needs.
Usability An easy-to-use product that is also useful to end users makes the product usable.
Usefulness Performance in the two metrics above defines the usefulness of a SaaS product.
5. Gamification
Many companies include game psychology in their outcomes. But more than adding a game is needed to connect your clients. Use a thoughtful strategy before adding a particular game. Use design elements and good game features in an irrelevant context.
On LinkedIn in the early years, people almost needed more visualization to fill out their profiles. After adding a profile progress bar, the pr creation rate is.