Insights

Software as a service (SaaS) is a software delivery model in which a software application is hosted by a third-party provider and made available to customers over the internet. SaaS has become a popular way for companies to access software and has revolutionized the way that software is developed and distributed.

It is difficult to say with certainty which company was the first to offer SaaS, as the concept of delivering software over the internet has been around for quite some time. However, some of the early pioneers in the SaaS space include:

• Salesforce: Salesforce, which was founded in 1999, is often credited with popularizing the SaaS model. The company offers a range of customer relationship management (CRM) tools that are delivered over the internet.
• NetSuite: NetSuite, which was founded in 1998, is another early pioneer in the SaaS space. The company offers a range of business management software tools, including financial management, customer relationship management, and e-commerce solutions.
• Concur: Concur, which was founded in 1993, is a SaaS company that offers expense management and invoicing solutions to businesses.

These are just a few examples of early SaaS companies, and there were likely many other companies that were also offering software as a service at around the same time.

Interested in learning more about the history of SaaS or SaaS in general? Connect with our Sales & Sales Management Practice Leader, Kyle Sparzo for his industry insights.