How is SaaS Used in Media?

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a cloud-based software solution that offers subscription-based access to applications and services. SaaS applications are typically web-based, eliminating the need for on-premises servers and maintenance. This type of software was originally developed by Salesforce in the early 2000s but has since evolved into an industry standard throughout many industries, including media.

Following are some ways how SaaS is used in media:

1. OTT Video Streaming

OTT is a term for “over-the-top” video streaming, which is a way to stream video content directly to a user’s device without the need for a cable or satellite TV subscription. In 2018 alone, OTT revenues doubled from $7 billion in 2017.

The benefits of using OTT as a marketing platform are numerous: it allows you to reach a wider audience than traditional television broadcasting as it has no geographic limitations. And since users can watch whatever they want at any time of day rather than having to schedule their viewing around scheduled airings (as with linear TV), there is more opportunity for interaction with these viewers on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

In addition, as content can be personalized based on viewer preferences and interactions, brands can also tailor ads specifically for each user based on what they’re watching at that moment (e.g., if someone watches sports programming while eating dinner one night after work).

2. Collaboration Tools for Content Creation

Media companies use collaboration tools to create, manage, and publish content and distribute.

For example:

A collaboration tool like Slack can be used on the go from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows you to work together seamlessly and in real-time with your team members who may be working at a remote location or around the world. This is especially useful for text-based communication, such as managing a blog or an email marketing campaign.

Cloud storage services like Dropbox let media companies share large files with others without having to worry about them taking up space on your hard drive as they live in the cloud instead of on your device. You can also easily share links with anyone who has access so they can view documents without having to download them first (and waste space).

3. An Agile Production Platform for Digital Media Workflow

Media companies use SaaS to manage the entire production workflow from pre-and post-production. While not all media companies use the same software, many do. SaaS allows users to manage their productions from a single location, eliminating the need for multiple programs and services across different platforms. This makes it easier for professionals in the industry who are used to working with multiple programs at once (like Adobe Premiere Pro) or are just learning new skills that they don’t need to learn how one program works before moving on to another program (like Photoshop).

Because of its versatility, SaaS can also be used by smaller teams with fewer resources. Smaller firms often have less money available for expensive hardware, so using cloud storage and cloud-based services instead helps them save money while still being able to provide quality work product.

4. Social Media Management Software

Social media management software is an excellent tool for managing social media accounts. It can be used to schedule posts, measure engagement, and measure reach. Social media management software also allows media companies to create automated posts based on keywords in their existing posts.

Using social media management software can help them manage their time better by allowing them to spend more time doing what’s most important—creating content that engages with their audience—while still maintaining control over how much work gets done at specific times of day (or night).

5. Data Visualization and Reporting

Media companies can use data visualization and reporting software to manage and distribute your data.

You have a lot of information to analyze when you’re a media company. Data visualization and reporting are valuable tools for making sense of this large amount of information. This type of software allows you to collect data from multiple sources and then analyze it for trends and patterns. You can use the information you gather from this software to make smarter decisions about your business. It can also help you identify problems so that you can fix them before they become too big of an issue.

6. Cloud Storage and Backup Systems

Cloud storage and backup systems are used in the media industry to store and share data. The main advantage of cloud storage and backup is that it allows you to access your data from anywhere at any time. This can be especially useful if you are working on a project with a team or need access to certain files for research purposes.

Cloud storage and backup systems are often used in conjunction with other SaaS applications such as email, CRM, HRMS, etc., so the entire software stack can be integrated into one seamless solution.

7. Advertising Management Platforms (AMP)

AMPs provide a single interface for managing all aspects of digital advertising campaigns, including display ads, mobile ads, video ads, and others. They allow marketers to track ad performance across different channels in real-time, optimize bids and bidding strategies based on historical data and perform post-campaign analysis on every campaign they run so they can learn from past mistakes and improve future campaigns accordingly.

8. Content Management

Content Management

Content management systems like WordPress and Drupal allow users to easily publish content on the web through a simple point-and-click interface (or use drag-and-drop functionality when available). In addition, there are more sophisticated CMSs that allow users to create custom layouts for their sites without having to write code themselves by hand or with a WYSIWYG editor.

9. SaaS for D2C

In the digital age, traditional media companies have struggled to compete with the direct-to-consumer (D2C) models that have arisen in recent years. These new models allow content creators to reach their audiences directly, bypassing traditional middlemen like cable providers and publishers. This has resulted in a number of new companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video competing with traditional TV networks.

The rise of D2C models has also led many traditional media companies to adopt SaaS technology. For example, Netflix uses SaaS technology to help manage its streaming infrastructure, while HBO uses SaaS to power its streaming service HBO Now.

10. Disaster Recovery

Media companies are highly dependent on technology and the internet for their business. They use it to manage their finances, create content, and distribute it to their subscribers. Their operations depend on access to their data and systems at all times.

When a disaster strikes, media companies need to be able to quickly restore their systems or get back up and running in another location. SaaS offers an easy way to configure virtual machines (VMs) that can be deployed quickly without any infrastructure investment by the customer. A media company’s IT department might have several different applications running across dozens of servers in multiple data centers around the world.

Using SaaS allows them to move most of these applications into one cloud environment while maintaining control over all of their applications through one interface. This saves time and money by eliminating duplicate hardware purchases and maintenance costs associated with managing multiple locations independently.

11. Live Events as a Service

The New York Times has built an entire business around its live video events, which it calls NYT Now. The company uses the technology to create content for its website, mobile app, and social media channels. It also sells tickets to premium events through its platform.

The Times’ platform is used not only for live video but also for recording audio and video content that can be uploaded later and shared on other platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The platform has been expanded beyond just the New York Times brand and now includes other publications like The Washington Post and BuzzFeed News.

Live Events as a Service (LEAS) is a trend that’s likely to grow in popularity as more publishers look for new ways to monetize their audiences and advertisers continue to demand more personalization of their campaigns.

12. Customer Relation Management (CRM)

Customer Relation Management (CRM) tools are an integral part of the SaaS model and are used by most media companies. CRM helps track all aspects of customer interactions and behavior, from initial lead generation to potential sales.

CRM also allows media companies to use data collected from customer interactions to drive future marketing efforts. This data can be used to segment users based on demographic characteristics, behavioral patterns, or other criteria.

This type of advanced analytics enables media companies to better understand their users and target them with more effective advertising campaigns.

The most popular CRM systems include Salesforce, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and SAP SuccessFactors.

13. Sales Management Software

Sales Management Software can be used by media companies to track the performance of their sales team and analyze their data to determine which salespeople are performing well. This allows them to reward top performers with incentives like bonuses or promotions while helping poor performers improve their skillsets so they can improve in the future.

Conclusion

SaaS is an efficient way for large and small-scale media companies to work with their employees, partners, and consumers. The flexibility of SaaS allows them to use only the features that are most relevant to their business needs, so there’s no need for expensive upfront capital investments or long-term commitments with vendors that might not be around tomorrow when they need them most.