Software as a Service (SaaS) has become an increasingly popular model for delivering applications and services. As more businesses adopt SaaS solutions, project managers need to adapt their practices to manage SaaS implementations effectively. This comprehensive guide covers key considerations, best practices, tools, hacks, and tips for managing SaaS projects successfully.
What is SaaS Project Management?
SaaS project management refers to managing the implementation of software delivered through the SaaS model. Unlike traditional, on-premises software deployments, SaaS solutions are hosted and managed by the vendor.
As a project manager, your role is to coordinate activities across team members and stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the new SaaS application. This involves planning, requirements gathering, configuration, data migration, integration, testing, training, and change management.
The main differences from traditional project management include:
- There is less focus on infrastructure and more on adoption.
- The vendor manages hosting and maintenance.
- Frequent updates and releases.
- Pay-as-you-go pricing model.
- Multi-tenant architecture.
- Web-based administration.
Why SaaS Project Management is Different
SaaS projects have unique considerations that project managers should account for:
Limited customization options: As multi-tenant SaaS platforms, customization is limited primarily to configuration settings. This constrains the solution design and requires clear requirements early on.
Data migration complexity: Migrating and integrating data from legacy systems takes planning and compatible data formats.
User adoption: SaaS rollout success depends on user adoption. Change management and training are critical throughout the project.
Vendor management: You need to align closely with the SaaS vendor's processes, release cycles, and support model.
Iterative process: SaaS projects follow an iterative approach to fit vendor application updates. The "project" never ends as enhancements continue.
Hybrid deployments: Most SaaS solutions connect with on-premises systems. Integrations and legacy system impacts must be evaluated.
SaaS Project Management Process Stages
The main project stages for a SaaS implementation include:
1. Initiation
- Document business objectives, pain points, and solution requirements at a high level.
- Build the project team, including vendor reps.
- Develop a project charter, including scope, timeline, and costs.
2. Planning
- Define detailed requirements and configuration options.
- Assess integration needs and the data migration strategy.
- Identify changes to workflows, processes, and reporting.
- Develop a test strategy and acceptance criteria.
- Create an implementation plan and timeline.
3. Execution
- Configure SaaS application settings.
- Build integrations and migrate data.
- Develop reports, dashboards, and workflows.
- Create training materials and provide user training.
- Perform testing and fix issues.
- Deploy to the pilot group for feedback.
4. Monitoring & Control
- Track progress against the plan, and manage risks and changes.
- Gain user feedback and refine training and configurations.
- Ensure vendor SLA adherence and procure support if needed.
5. Closure
- Wrapping up final migrations, testing, and documentation.
- Confirm objectives met and lessons learned.
- Transition to the operations team for ongoing vendor management.
This workflow has iterations as new features roll out from the vendor and enhancement requests emerge.
SaaS Project Management Best Practices
Here are some key best practices for SaaS project managers:
- Start with the end in mind: Focus on business goals, metrics, and desired outcomes.
- Involve users early: Get user input on requirements and test configurations.
- Evaluate integrations upfront: Assess integration needs and complexity before committing.
- Manage with agile principles: Employ iterative delivery and continuous user feedback.
- Leverage vendor resources: Use vendor reps for training, configuration, and support.
- Adoption plan: Drive change management and consistent user communication.
- Maintain flexibility: Accommodate shifts based on vendor changes and new user needs.
Key SaaS Project Management Tools
Useful tools for SaaS project managers include: (as of October 2023)
Jira
Jira is an agile project management tool that allows teams to plan, track, and manage software development projects and other work. It provides flexible Kanban boards and robust tools for agile workflows.
Key Features
- Flexible Kanban boards - Visualize workflows and track progress across projects. Boards are highly customizable.
- Issue tracking - Track bugs, tasks, and other issues in one place. Assign issues, track progress, and manage priorities.
- Agile project management - Plan sprints, distribute tasks, and ship projects iteratively. Supports Scrum and Kanban methods.
- Reporting - Generate real-time reports to visualize progress and identify bottlenecks.
- A limited free option is available, and then pricing starts at $8/month.
Asana
Asana is a web and mobile task management app designed to improve team coordination and workflow. It provides an intuitive interface to manage projects and tasks.
Key Features
- Task management - Create tasks, subtasks, and projects and assign them to team members.
- Team collaboration - Communicate within tasks, create workflows, and approve work.
- Intuitive interface - Simple, flexible web and mobile apps to manage work from anywhere.
- Free for up to 15 users: Take advantage of basic Asana workflows at no cost for small teams.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a collaborative work management platform built around familiar spreadsheet-like sheets. It facilitates project planning, automation, and enterprise integration.
Key Features
- Excel-like sheets - Easily add rows, columns, attachments, reminders, and more.
- Workflow automation - Set up automatic reminders, notifications, and updates.
- Integration capabilities - Connect with tools like Jira, Salesforce, and MS Project.
- Visual reports and charts - Visually track project status, progress, and budgets.
- Free option for 1 user, then pricing starts at $7/month.
Trello
Trello utilizes Kanban-style boards to help teams organize and prioritize projects in a flexible, visual way. It's a simple yet effective tool for task and workflow management.
Key Features
- Kanban boards - Customizable boards to match any workflow. Move cards through lists to track progress.
- Collaboration - Comment on cards, assign members, attach files, and more.
- Simple interface - Intuitive and easy to use on the web and mobile apps.
- Free option - Use basic features forever on the free tier, then pricing starts at $5/month
Google Workspace
Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) provides real-time collaboration tools for teams, including docs, sheets, slides, email, calendar, drive, and more.
Key Features
- Real-time collaboration - Multiple people can edit docs simultaneously.
- Drive file storage - Store, share, and sync files in the cloud.
- Docs, Sheets, Slides - Collaborative editors for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
- Email and calendar - Business email addresses and shared calendaring
- Pricing starts at $6 per user per month.
Monday.com
Monday.com is a customizable work OS that adapts to different teams and projects. It provides visual project management and collaboration tools.
Key Features
- Customizable interface - Tailor views to suit any team and workflow.
- File sharing - Share and collaborate on files directly on Monday.com.
- Visual project management - Kanban, calendar, timeline, and board views
- Team communication - Provide project updates, feedback, and notes.
- A free option is available for up to 2 seats, and then pricing starts at $8 per seat per month.
Wrike
Wrike provides robust project management capabilities for teams that need to plan projects in depth. It offers Gantt charts, workflows, and reporting.
Key Features
- Gantt charts - Visually map out project schedules and timelines.
- Dashboards - Customizable dashboards to track progress and key metrics
- Collaboration - Comment threads, notifications, and activity streams.
- Reporting - Detailed reports on budgets, schedules, resources, and more.
- A limited free option is available, and pricing starts at $9.80 per user per month.
Basecamp
Basecamp is an all-in-one project management platform covering task management, team communication, and document management.
Key Features
- To-do lists - Create task lists to delegate work and track progress.
- Message boards - Centralized team communication and announcements
- Shared docs - Store and collaborate on documents in one place.
- Project timelines - Schedule milestones and track project progress.
- Pricing is $299 per month for unlimited users and projects.
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a long-standing solution for project planning, scheduling, and tracking. It offers robust tools for managing projects from end to end.
Key Features
- Task scheduling - Schedule tasks, assign resources, and manage dependencies.
- Gantt charts - Visually map the project timeline and schedule.
- Resource management - Manage resource capacity and track allocation.
- Reporting - Track progress and costs to identify issues.
- Pricing starts at $10 per user per month.
Key SaaS Project Management Implementation Tips
- Start with a pilot group before a full rollout.
- Have superusers provide training and support.
- Automate tasks like user provisioning where possible.
- Review the vendor roadmap and stay up-to-date on new features.
- Monitor KPIs pre- and post-implementation.
- Keep an open dialogue with vendor account reps.
- Develop a repeatable methodology for onboarding new users.
- Manage end-user expectations on capabilities and timelines.
SaaS Project Management Hacks For Overcoming Implementation Challenges
Here are some handy hacks and tips to navigate common SaaS project obstacles:
Version Control
- Use a versioning tool like GitHub to track configuration and customization changes between SaaS updates.
Requirements Gathering
- Leverage user surveys and focus groups to rapidly gather broad end-user input on needs.
Data Migration
- For large data migrations, import in batches during off-peak hours to minimize downtime.
Testing Bottlenecks
- Employ end-user testing for key workflow validation to distribute the testing load.
Change Management
- Identify influencers or champions within each user group to promote adoption from within.
Unresponsive Vendor
- Escalate to an account executive to get added support when needed.
Stakeholder Alignment
- Create an online knowledge base, or wiki, for real-time access to project updates.
Complex Integrations
- Prioritize integration requirements ruthlessly; start with the absolute must-haves first.
FAQ
What is SaaS project management?
SaaS project management involves coordinating the implementation of a software solution delivered through the SaaS model. It focuses on adoption, configuration, integrations, data migration, training, vendor management, and driving business value vs. infrastructure.
What does SaaS stand for?
SaaS = Software as a Service. It is a cloud-based software delivery model where the vendor hosts and manages the application centrally for customers.
What is an example of a SaaS?
Common SaaS examples include CRM like Salesforce, HRIS like Workday, ERP like NetSuite, marketing automation like HubSpot, email like Gmail, and file sharing like Dropbox.
How do you plan a SaaS project?
SaaS project planning involves phases like initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. Key activities include requirements gathering, vendor selection, data migration planning, user training, configuration, integrations, testing, change management, and measuring outcomes.
Conclusion
SaaS project management comes with its own set of challenges driven by the SaaS model, like limited customization, unpredictable release cycles, and change adoption.
By following agile-inspired best practices, leveraging the right SaaS PM tools, and focusing on driving user adoption, project managers can orchestrate successful deployments that meet business objectives.
Maintaining strong vendor relationships, embracing flexibility, and keeping the end goal in sight are key to navigating the iterative nature of SaaS projects. With the right framework in place, companies can maximize the value realized from SaaS solutions.
We value your insights and experience. Share your thoughts in the comments below to help us improve and continue delivering valuable content.