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The impact of SaaS on the ERP space is multi-fold and multi-hued. It’s already changing
how enterprises think of IT and it is already getting a ‘reset’ for the future

There was a time when ERP was a novelty and in enterprises of all kinds (manufacturing or banking or public sector). For many legacy environments the idea that a back-end process can be anything else than paper-based, or can be executed out of the rigid walls of that department, was almost-inconceivable. But as ERP arrived, and tied in all day-to-day business functions and enterprise-wide processes with a single thread, enterprises entered a process-revolution of sorts. Now delays, fragmentation, loose ends and invisibility between business functions were struggles of the past. Now ERP was the control pane that brought everyone on the same plane, translating information into decision-enabling insight- without losing precious time or without groping in the legacy dark.

ERP makes way for SaaS

Everything new, one day, sets the path for something else that is newer and better. So happened with ERP too. As SaaS or Software As A Service concept was born, the idea that ERP can move, stretch, jump, sleep, be active, marry, play, scale-out, scale-in etc. emerged. This sheer elasticity of IT surprised enterprises. But they soon discovered that this was not a pie-in-the-sky but a Cloud wonder that was practical, possible and much-needed in every industry. Why should ERP be over-invested or under-invested in IT when you can buy the software as per that day’s need? Why not let business decision-makers plan, orchestrate and manage their IT needs in correspondence with the business’s scale? As and when required?

That’s where SaaS worked its magic. It brought in unprecedented advantages like:

  • Applications that were packed with flexibility
  • IT equipped with the power of scalability
  • Easy accessibility for business users
  • Real-time management of various functional areas
  • The path for digitalisation and accelerated data availability
  • Elasticity of IT according to demand variations in the industry
  • Enablement of collaboration and optimisation of costs
  • Automation and digital levers- as per requirements, then and there
  • Shift from Capex-heavy IT to Opex-friendly IT that aligns well with business demands
  • Better availability and management of data
  • Savings on heavy infrastructure spends
  • Easy plans on subscription models and varying service requirements
  • Less upfront costs and savings on acquisition and management of IT
  • Less headaches and costs on hardware
  • Easy-to-use pay-as-you-go models for new innovations and trials
  • Very apt solutions for hybrid workplaces and remote workforces

If we look at some patterns distilled by Business Research Insights, it appears that the SaaS-based enterprise resource planning market stood at USD 25.02 billion in 2024 and can reach USD 110 billion by 2033. This would be driven by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 15.8 per cent from 2025 to 2033. In the lens of Zion market research, this space was pegged at USD 72.15 billion in 2023 and could grow to around USD 170.12 billion by 2032.

On-ramping SaaS

Despite its immense potential, not every enterprise can tap the power and poise of SaaS ERP – at least, not that easily. There are many issues that prove to be hurdles – from the top rungs to on-ground bottlenecks. Like:

  • Implementation challenges
  • Compatibility with on-premise environments
  • Data synchronisation and structuring
  • Data control and security
  • Data safety and compliance concerns
  • Apt workload provisioning
  • Movement across on-premise and Cloud environments
  • Disruption fears
  • Integration and migration worries

Hence, just jumping to any SaaS solution is a classic Shadow IT mistake. It’s better to do it with experts and be backed by a well-carved-out strategy. Something like what Presence360 has equipped many enterprises with. This team of seasoned subject-matter experts and well-tested tools here brings to the table everything an enterprise can ask for- specially if it’s caught standing between the two lanes – ERP and SaaS ERP. Presence360 is armed with all the levers such an enterprise needs to make a confident leap – be it migration or optimisation. It is packed with proven capabilities like:

  • Project-driven development expertise
  • Successful application modernisation projects
  • Custom IT engineering tools
  • Comfort with DevOps, Agile IT and AI
  • A wide spectrum: HRMS, Supply chain, Sales, Finance and CRM
  • Customisation and impressive UI advantages
  • Knowledge of automation and analytics as the back of its hand
  • Data management, control and migration success-stories
  • Cloud capabilities enriched with AI, ML and deep automation
  • Swift Troubleshooting and Cloud management support

As SaaS itself is ready to greet new forces like AI and agentic models in its realm, it’s time for another revolution. Enterprises have come a long way- from paper processes to ERP to pay-what-you-use software to intelligent agents. The road is still moving forward and you never know what comes next. But with the right IT partner by your side you will keep driving- safely and without any accidents or stop-overs. And be ready for any novelty.

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