What Are SaaS Management Solutions?

SaaS management solutions are solutions (typically software) that handle the many challenges in SaaS management for an organization. Some of the things a SaaS management tool may address include:

• Monitoring software spending
• On-boarding and off-boarding users
• Maintaining organizational security
• Tracking license agreements and usage

SaaS management solutions exist because, frankly, companies have a SaaS management problem—rather, multiple problems. According to a 2023 report by Gartner, companies have about 125 SaaS apps on average, but don’t use about 25% of their software licenses. On top of that, spending on software is only going up—about 15-20% every year. This is happening despite the fact that about a fourth of those licenses aren’t being used and half are “not entirely maximized,” which basically means they’re not getting used. And since SaaS costs over $1,000 per employee per year, that can add up fast.

We don’t have a calculator on hand, but we’re guessing that if you multiply your employee headcount by $1,000, it’ll be a dollar amount that draws concern. And that concern would probably increase if you found out a fourth of it was essentially going down the toilet (though, we suppose since money’s made of cotton it might make good toilet paper?). This is to say that, no matter what size your organization is, it’s important to track software usage. And while writing it down by hand or in a spreadsheet may be fine for a couple employees, you’re likely gonna be better off with the help of software. But what SaaS tools are there to actually help with the problem, rather than compound it?

SaaS management platforms (SMPs) are exactly the kind of software for these issues. We know, adding another piece of software sounds counterintuitive, but unlike the other software on a stack, this one does for your tech stack what SaaS platforms typically do for companies: reduce spending, increase security, and streamline operations. A SaaS management tool like Lumos helps you keep track of the software you have, cut unused licenses, monitor access to different software, and so much more. Keep reading to learn more about SMPs, why your organization needs one, and why you should look to Lumos as one of the top SaaS management companies to get your tech stack on track.

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What Are the Different Types of SaaS Tools Businesses Use?

For most companies, the list of SaaS applications can get long rather quickly—especially if you consider all the roles a company requires to function. For example, many organizations use SaaS to support their:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Human Resources (HR)
• Marketing and Content Creation
• Partner Relationship Management (PRM)
• Accounting, Sales, and Finances
• Internal and External Communication

If these operations all happened in a silo, having different software for each of them wouldn’t be a problem. But as we all know, there’s a reason the word “silo” has a bad connotation in business. So, most organizations know it’s important to stay connected…but how do you do that when everyone does different roles, all of which likely require a totally different palette of software?

This is where SaaS management comes in, and along with it SaaS management platforms (SMPs).

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But How Does a SaaS Management Platform Work?

In short, an SMP simplifies, organizes, and reduces costs for your software stack. This happens through:

• Tracking all software a company uses in a single source of truth
• Finding redundant software that can be replaced or cut from costs overall
• User management—including onboarding, offboarding, and tracking license usage
• Streamlining IT tickets, maintenance, and other internal problem-solving

An SMP like Lumos gives you a clear picture of all the software you have—but more importantly, it helps you find ways to operate better, spend less money, and put far less stress on your IT team. Your engineers will be less bogged down with rote tasks and have more time to address tech issues that come up in the moment.

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Lumos: SaaS Management Tools for IT, by IT

The value of IT cannot be understated for a company. And if your organization uses a lot of software, you stand to gain a lot from using SMPs. At Lumos, we’d invite you to see the power of SaaS management firsthand, and what it could do for your org. We’ve proudly helped many organizations clean up their tech stack, reduce operational costs, and prevent a lot of unnecessary burnout.

Every great hero has their support. Bruce Wayne has Alfred, Tony Stark has Jarvis…and IT teams have Lumos. How much do you invest in your IT heroes? Invest a little more, and book yourself a demo today.