Case Studies: Success Stories of Businesses That Built and Launched SaaS Applications

Published: September 19, 2023

12 min read

In the fast-paced world of technology, Software as a Service (SaaS) has become a key enabler for companies across industries. SaaS applications have revolutionized the way companies deliver software and services by providing flexible and scalable solutions available over the Internet.

Did you know that, according to Statista, the Software as a Service (SaaS) market is estimated to be worth approximately $197 billion in 2023 and is projected to increase to $232 billion by 2024? These statistics speak to the enormous potential and demand for SaaS services, proving their transformative impact on industries worldwide.

In this article, we aim to share successful SaaS companies that have developed and launched SaaS applications. Perhaps this article will inspire you, and your idea will soon turn into a thriving SaaS business.

🤔 Pros/Cons in SaaS Business

We come across examples of successful SaaS projects almost every day, whether it's communicating with colleagues on Slack or creating cool designs on Canva. However, it's important to pay attention to all the shortcomings of this business to be prepared for the significant challenges you may face. Let's explore this topic in more detail!

 
 

🧑‍💻 Salesforce

SaaS Product: Salesforce offers a cloud-based CRM platform and a suite of applications for various business functions.
Founded: 1999
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
CEO: Marc Benioff
Monetization Model: Salesforce follows a subscription-based model, offering different pricing tiers and packages for its services.
Tech Stack: Salesforce's tech stack includes programming languages like Java, Apex (Salesforce's proprietary language), and front-end development technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

A number of corporate software solutions are offered by Salesforce, a top cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform. Marc Benioff, Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff, and Frank Dominguez started it in 1999. Salesforce provides a complete set of tools for sales, marketing, customer support, analytics, and other functions. Serving businesses of all sizes and in all sectors, it has emerged as one of the most renowned names in the CRM industry.

 

Success factors

The success of Salesforce is a result of its ongoing product innovation and launch. It continuously broadens and enhances its platform, responding to the changing requirements of organizations and offering complete CRM solutions.

As a leader in the CRM industry, Salesforce has developed a strong brand awareness and market position. It has been able to win the trust of a sizable client base because of its reputation for providing dependable and scalable solutions.

Customer success and happiness are highly valued at Salesforce. Its CRM solutions are intended to assist firms in enhancing client interactions, streamlining sales procedures, and fostering expansion. Salesforce's success has been aided by its emphasis on customer-centricity.

 

Results and achievements

Salesforce is one of the most cutting-edge businesses of cloud software solutions on the market, and its cloud SaaS toolset accounts for the majority of its yearly recurring income. Salesforce's market value was $208.91 billion as of March 2022.

The company has consistently been recognized for its innovation and workplace culture. It has received numerous accolades and awards in 2019 (8 awards) and in 2018 (11 awards).

 
 

🧑‍💻 HubSpot

SaaS Product: Inbound marketing, sales, and customer service software solutions.
Founded: 2006.
Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
CEO: Brian Halligan.
Monetization Model: Subscription-based revenue model.
Tech Stack: Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and various cloud technologies.

Leading suppliers of inbound marketing, sales, and customer support software include HubSpot. It provides a complete set of tools and services meant to help companies draw in, keep, and delight consumers. Customer relationship management (CRM), marketing automation, content management, social media marketing, email marketing, analytics, and customer care tools are all included in the HubSpot platform.

 

Success factors

HubSpot's comprehensive platform consolidates various marketing, sales, and customer service tools into a single system. This integration streamlines workflows, enhances collaboration, and allows businesses to manage their customer interactions more effectively.

 

Results and achievements

HubSpot has experienced significant growth since its founding in 2006, attracting millions of customers worldwide.

HubSpot won 11 awards in 2023 and 20 awards in 2022.

 
 

🧑‍💻 Slack

SaaS Product: Collaboration Platform
Founded: 2013
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
CEO: Stewart Butterfield
Monetization Model: Freemium and Subscription
Tech Stack: JavaScript, React, Redux, and Node. js for the front-end and Golang, Java, and Scala for the back-end.

Slack is a cloud-based collaboration platform that offers team communication and collaboration tools. It is designed to streamline communication within organizations and teams, providing a centralized hub for real-time messaging, file sharing, project management, and integrations with various productivity tools.

 

Success factors

Slack provides a range of customization options, enabling teams to tailor the platform to their specific needs. From creating channels, and setting notification preferences, to integrating custom bots, Slack offers flexibility to adapt to various workflows.

Also, Slack provides robust APIs and developer tools, encouraging the creation of third-party apps and integrations. This fosters an active ecosystem and expands the functionality of Slack, enhancing its appeal to businesses and developers.

 

Results and achievements

Slack has received accolades and recognition for its innovative approach to team collaboration. It has been recognized by organizations such as Forbes, Fast Company, and Gartner for its impact and contribution to the industry.

 
 

💪 Standing Out in the SaaS Market: Key Strategies for Success

Starting your SaaS business can be difficult for many reasons that we have already discussed above. As the industry continues to evolve, it becomes more difficult to stand out from the crowd. To succeed in the SaaS market, companies need to implement effective strategies that differentiate them from their competitors.

In this section, we want to give you some tips: how to stand out in a competitive market?

1. Focus on solving the problems of a certain niche.

One of the key aspects to helping your SaaS business stand out in a competitive market is to focus on solving a specific niche problem. Instead of targeting a broad general market, focus on the specific needs and requirements of a small audience.

Identify your strengths and resources that will allow you to effectively solve the problems of your chosen niche. Explore their needs and pain points, as well as the competitive landscape of the segment.

Become an expert in your field!

5. Cooperate

Partnering with other companies can help you expand your reach and differentiate your offerings. Find companies that fit your target market and offer mutual benefits. By using each other's strengths, you can create new opportunities, expand functionality, and increase your visibility in the market.

 
 

💲 Cost to make SaaS app

Well, creating a SaaS application is not a simple process. The time frame and complexity of development are also affected by a variety of factors. The estimated price of creating such an application in collaboration with the Stormotion team is shown below.

We concentrate on the average cost of $50 per hour while preparing our approximations. This will cost between 39 800$ and 82 000$, depending on how long it takes to create a SaaS app.

You can write to us and describe your idea in depth so that we can determine the precise cost of the SaaS app considering all of your preferences.

 
 

📚 Case Study

Stormotion's portfolio also includes several companies with whom we worked on the creation and improvement of their SaaS product. We would like to share our expertise in this area with you.

FitTracks is a fitness app that offers voice exercises for beginners and athletes. The main goal is to turn fitness into a lifestyle. The FitTracks app gives users access to online workouts that have already been recognized as preventive courses by the German government. It allows you to practice fitness conveniently and effectively, providing voice instructions from qualified trainers. You can learn more about the development of this application here.

Feel Amazing is a SaaS project created by Ailsa Frank, a British hypnotherapist and motivational speaker, with the aim of self-improvement and inspiring users.

This app offers users access to therapy tracks that help improve emotional well-being, develop positive thinking, reduce stress, and boost self-esteem and motivation.

To use the application, users have the option of signing up for a paid SaaS subscription, which allows access to a collection of various therapy tracks. The application can run on different platforms such as smartphones and tablets, providing a convenient and accessible experience to users, regardless of their location.

ForceUSA is a fitness program created by a leading manufacturer of functional training equipment, providing customers with guided workouts and exclusive content for a fee.

The company's app is designed to help users maintain productivity, health, and fitness. It has a range of features including personalized advice and study plans. With the help of the program, you can set achievable goals, track your progress, and design your own training program.

 
 

👂 Takeaways

Well, we hope you have been inspired to create your own SaaS product and this article has been useful to you. SaaS business can be quite a challenge, but if you properly think about your product, its value, and strategy - you can achieve great success!

If you have any questions or you are looking for someone who can develop a SaaS application for your business, we will be happy to support you on your journey! Write to us and we will discuss all the details.

Let's create SaaS products together!

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