More than 50% of all software is being accessed using the Software as a Service (SaaS) business model. However, there is still confusion about adopting SaaS for Environment, Health and Safety.

Admittedly, SaaS has a different set of terminology that users need to become familiar with one of the primary concerns when implementing a SaaS solution is the question of data privacy. More relevant to Environment, Health and Safety (EHS)managers, is that they may not know the full benefits of why they should rely on SaaS for their EHS software needs.

With the SaaS model garnering more than $100 billion every year and growing, the benefits of embracing SaaS far outweigh any concerns.

Here are the top five reasons why companies should consider implementing SaaS:

1. Reduced cost now and in the future

First and foremost, according to industry research, SaaS deployments have proven to be 13% cheaper than their on-premise counterparts over five years. Those savings don’t just come from money saved on licensing fees, which tend to be short term. More significant savings come from a reduced need for support and maintenance, IT infrastructure, upgrades and on money saved from needing a dedicated IT team to manage on-premise software.

Furthermore, deploying a SaaS solution enables companies to predict their capital outlay more effectively from one year to the next, and thus benefit from having a more predictable expense.

2. Increased resilience

If there is one thing that the past year has taught businesses, it is the value of resilience. SaaS applications have been found to be more resilient than their on-premise counterparts. The reason for this is that providers have had plenty of time to ensure that they are following best practices for ensuring their software is available, and reliable, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

The reliability of their software is of paramount concern for those offering SaaS solutions which is a benefit passed onto users. As a result, downtime due to software failures has been largely eradicated.

3. Digital transformation

Every business today needs to embrace digital transformation to some extent, and SaaS is often part and parcel of that journey. For companies, embracing SaaS can be their first step to benefitting from an array of emerging technologies that can make a measurable difference in their productivity.

For example, data science and analytics can greatly improve efficiencies and enable organisations to glean insights that add value to their business.

Then there are connected worker technologies as well as augmented reality and digital training. The latter is most germane for those in the EHS field, enabling frontline workers to be trained, via a virtual simulation, to manage scenarios that would be dangerous in real life.

4. Easier support for mobile

Thirteen years after the introduction of the first iPhone, and ten years since large format tablets like the iPad made its debut, it is clear to see that mobile is here to stay, as is the app ecosystem. In fact, mobile and apps have become so ubiquitous, that applications on mobile have been proven to be the preferred and primary way that users want to access their software and data. This holds true for mobile EHS applications as well, and ‘as a Service’ access over mobile has become the norm.

5. Strategic investment

Finally, moving to SaaS presents an opportunity for organisations to free up their IT staff and resources. Rather than having to spend the bulk of their time on maintaining and updating software, SaaS enables staff to direct their time and energy into forward-thinking activities that offer a strategic advantage and that enables them to adopt innovative EHS technologies.

The result is more creative work for users, and increased adaptability and competitiveness for organisations.