SaaS Marketplaces are changing the way people use Enterprise Apps

Cloud marketplaces have become immensely popular over the past couple of years. They offer an excellent source to subscribe to software solutions in the cloud hassle-freely. At such SaaS marketplaces (which are synonymous with online storefronts), customers can find, purchase, and manage cloud-based applications within a few clicks.

When Apple launched its cloud marketplace in 2008 with an initial 500 apps targeted for the iOS platform, no one had anticipated that the trend would pick up such momentum that the largest tech players in the world would launch their dedicated marketplaces. With Amazon, Microsoft, and Google competing to capture the largest share of the global cloud marketspace, “cloud wars” has become an area of interest for many.

Enterprise software marketplaces are becoming increasingly popular

Be it for vendors or end customers, applications hosted on software marketplaces have a lot to offer.

  • No hassle in installation and update
    Most apps downloaded from a marketplace install with a single click (within seconds) and come with the auto updates option.

  • Universally accessible
    Unlike licensed software that can be used only on the device where it has been activated, a SaaS app can be accessed from any device with an Internet connection. Same goes with a marketplace.

  • Pay as you go
    There’s no need to purchase a license for a SaaS application. You can pay for a subscription depending on the duration for which you want to use the app.

  • Accessible across devices
    Most marketplace apps can be used on PCs, smartphones as well as tablets. You can have individual installations running on each of your devices.

  • Data security
    SaaS marketplaces have strict security criteria in place which every app has to go through in order to be approved for listing. It’s therefore a must for marketplace apps to offer state-of-the-art data security.

  • Cost Saving
    SaaS platforms help enterprises save 20 to 70 percent on the total cost of ownership (TCO). Marketplace apps are either free or reasonably priced and are easy to install and uninstall. In most cases, no additional hardware or software needs to be purchased to set up or work with such apps. Organizations can thus save on maintenance and management costs.

  • Software promoted by established marketplaces establish trust
    Most consumers look for providers who have a trust level associated with them. Apps listed in the marketplace go through a stringent verification process on different security parameters. Therefore, users trust such apps more as compared to non marketplace apps directly from websites or developers who may not be well known.

  • Integration
    Marketplace providers offer inbuilt integration between the hosted apps and the underlying solution. For example, apps in the Salesforce marketplace integrate seamlessly with Salesforce, and the same goes for Google Cloud or other marketplaces. So an end user who buys a product from a particular provider naturally uses apps from the same provider’s marketplace and can take the benefit of inbuilt integration.

Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular Software Marketplaces

  • Google Cloud
    Launched in 2008, Google Cloud lists over 2 million apps currently. Some of the most popular apps on the marketplace include Google One, TruCaller, Udemy, Bitpod CRM, and a number of other enterprise and gaming apps.

  • Salesforce AppExchange
    This marketplace was launched in 2005, and today it hosts over 5000 business use apps. Among the most popular apps on this marketplace are Salesforce Adoption Dashboard, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, MailChimp Integration app, and more.

  • AWS Marketplace
    Fairly recent in comparison to the above two marketplaces, AWS is home to over 100 enterprise apps at present. Some of the popular apps listed here include Microsoft Visual Studio, Symantec Endpoint Protection, CloudNexa, Eureka, and more.

  • Microsoft AppSource
    Launched in 2016, Microsoft AppSource is home to over 7000 apps from Microsoft and its partners. Among other enterprise apps, you’ll find KPMG Community Care, DocuSign for Dynamics, Work 365, PowerMap, and Bitpod Event here.

  • Zoom Marketplace
    Probably the most recently among all, the Zoom marketplace was launched in 2018 and already hosts hundreds of enterprise ready apps. The most significant apps listed on this marketplace include Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Evernote, and more.

Bitpod Apps can now be found across some of the most popular Software Marketplaces

With an amazing range of user-centric apps that are now hosted on the best SaaS marketplaces, Bitpod promises to be better at delivering bespoke solutions to help businesses realize their short and long term goals. Infused with low-code building elements, integration capability with 700+ third-party tools, and drag-and-drop workflow creation, Bitpod apps are top of the line in terms of cutting-edge tech and user-friendliness.

Starting 2019, the company’s flagship apps – Bitpod Events, Bitpod CRM, Bitpod Expense, and Bitpod Surveys – have been released across multiple marketplaces, allowing more and more customers to take the benefit of easy accessibility, simplified scalability, and enhanced trust. Some of the marketplaces where Bitpos apps are listed include:

  • Bitpod Event - Available on Google Cloud, G Suite, Microsoft App source, Zoom Marketplace and Salesforce AppExchange
  • Bitpod CRM - Available on Google Cloud
  • Bitpod Expense - Available on Google Cloud
  • Bitpod Survey - Available on Google Cloud