Software as a Service (SaaS) is a cloud-based software model that makes it simple to share online productivity-enhancing tools. The SaaS model is likely the one that is most frequently utilized in enterprises and daily life, as opposed to platform as a service (PaaS) or infrastructure as a service (IaaS). If you want to create a new app or are just interested in how they operate, you should understand SaaS.

With a list of some of the top online SaaS courses and training, this article will walk readers through the process of learning SaaS. This article will also assist you in getting started whether you’re an entrepreneur with a great concept for a new software business venture or an app developer who wants to learn SaaS to be more employable.

What Is SaaS?

Instead of installing software directly onto computing devices, SaaS is a method of distributing it through the cloud. By utilizing the Internet, the cloud offers on-demand computer resources and enhances data storage and computational efficiency. Instead of installing software on their device, users access software that is kept on a remote server.

SaaS hosts software applications on the cloud. Even some of the most well-known SaaS applications might already be installed in your web browser. Google Drive, Google Docs, Gmail, Salesforce, Slack, Dropbox, and Zen Desk are a few popular SaaS programs.

SaaS is a pay-as-you-go service, which makes it potentially less expensive than traditional software. Other advantages of SaaS include automatic software updates and the lack of time-consuming installation procedures. Practically speaking, the cloud automatically installs and updates systems, so you won’t require any technicians.

SaaS, a type of cloud service, is adaptable and enables teams to work together from any location with Internet access. When remote work becomes a need, SaaS will be even more valuable.

How to Learn SaaS

You can study SaaS from a variety of online sources and courses. You can study fundamental SaaS concepts or more complex subjects like how to create and develop a SaaS application. We’re concentrating on learning how to implement software as a service product for our step-by-step manual for learning SaaS.

SaaS can be learned in a variety of ways, both online and offline. You can read books and blogs, take free or paid online SaaS courses, or watch brief videos. To get started on your SaaS learning journey, browse the list below.

Read Also: How do You Monetize SaaS?

Below are some of the best online classes and training for a range of SaaS skills. These courses are for anyone who wants to learn SaaS fundamentals and for those looking to develop software and build their own SaaS applications.

Udemy

• Time: 1 to 12 hours
• Price: $19.99 to $84.99

These affordable Udemy classes are perfect for business owners, tech sales representatives, programmers, or software developers. Students will explore key performance indicators (KPIs), business marketing with SaaS, programming languages, and SaaS sales.

LinkedIn Learning

• Time: 1 to 4 hours
• Price: $19.99/month to $39.99/month

These courses will give you a basic understanding of software as a service. Learn about software licensing, SaaS vendors, and core cloud computing concepts, and earn certificates that will be shared right on your LinkedIn profile.

Future Learn

• Time: 1 to 12 weeks
• Price: Variable

These Future Learn courses, co-developed with Microsoft and Amazon, get straight to the heart of valuable SaaS skills. Each course also offers micro-credentials to show future employers that you have specific skills needed to break into cloud computing industries. Some of these courses are equivalent to academic credits at participating UK universities.

Google Digital Garage

• Time: 10 to 40 hours
• Price: Variable

Google and the University of Illinois provide these courses through Google Digital Garage and Coursera, covering in-depth cloud computing concepts. The first two are for intermediate-level students looking to gain a better understanding of PaaS for machine learning and infrastructure. The last class is beginner-friendly and covers cloud computing concepts. 

Best Free Online SaaS Training

Below are a few free SaaS-related training courses that could be a great start for your cloud computing learning journey. These classes will give you a taste of whether software as a service is right for you and learn about SaaS for free.

Google Digital Garage

• Time: 1 hour
• Price: Free

Google Digital Garage offers free courses to help you learn how to boost your workplace productivity with cloud collaboration tools. It also has a free programming basics course where you’ll learn about coding languages and how coding can help you achieve specific tasks.

Pluralsight

• Time: 2 hours
• Price: 10-day free trial

This online class taught by David Chappell is an excellent beginner course on cloud computing. With the 10-day free trial, students can learn all the basics of SaaS and cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services.

edX

• Time: 14 weeks
• Price: Free ($149 for certificate)

This online course on edX is provided by The Linux Foundation, a leader in open-source content. Students in this course will get an introduction to building and managing cloud technologies. They will also learn about network and storage solutions, plus all the next-generation cloud technologies.

Best SaaS Books

If you want another option for gathering information about SaaS, books are a great alternative. The best SaaS books can teach you a wide variety of SaaS topics, from technical instruction on how to build a SaaS app to business advice on how to build a profitable SaaS product. See our software as a service book selection below.

Blueprints for a SaaS Sales Organization: Design, Build & Scale a Customer-Centric Sales Organization by Jacco Van Der Kooij

This updated SaaS book is intended for sales teams. It teaches you the SaaS Sales Method which is all about building your sales, marketing, and customer service success. This is one of the best SaaS sales books because the text has useful information for both beginners and more experienced SaaS salespeople revisiting the material.

From Impossible to Inevitable: How SaaS and Other Hyper-Growth Companies Create Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross

In this book, Aaron Ross explains the template that the world’s fastest-growing SaaS companies are using to accelerate their growth. Ross simplifies the lessons from the most successful SaaS companies and shows you how you can use these insights to improve your own SaaS business.

Cloud Computing: A Complete Guide on the Concepts and Design Of Cloud Computing by Jason Hoffman

Jason Hoffman has authored this complete guide to SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS frameworks with descriptions of how each framework can be applied to different business models. The book also gives a description of what kinds of jobs you can get as a cloud specialist.

Rapidly Scale Your SaaS Business by Nicholas Brown

This book promises to explain how to find new customers, drive traffic to your site, keep visitors on your site for longer, and help secure investments. It covers lots of basic business and marketing topics and how they apply specifically to SaaS businesses.

Best SaaS Learning Resources

Beyond books and courses, the Internet is full of other ways to learn about software as a service. Below are some extra resources to help you get a firmer grasp on SaaS, from marketing a product to coding an app. 

YouTube

Explore the plethora of free videos YouTube has to offer for SaaS-related learning. This is a wonderful resource to learn just about anything that strikes your fancy. Keep in mind that anyone can post videos to YouTube, so make sure you are learning from trusted channels run by experts.

freeCodeCamp

FreeCodeCamp is a great resource for learning to code, but you can also search for posts on SaaS to learn tips and tricks that are specific to cloud hosting services. There are over a dozen in-depth articles, including The SaaS Handbook, a free detailed guide to building a SaaS product.

Stack Overflow

Once you get to a stage where you are developing SaaS software, you’re going to need a place to go to ask specific questions when you get stuck. Stack Overflow is a great forum for all kinds of programming problems. Search for the topic you need help on to browse previous question and answer threads or post a new question.

How do I Become a SaaS Expert?

$307.3 billion. That’s how much SaaS, as a global industry, is projected to be worth by 2026 — nearly double how much it was worth in 2020 ($158 billion).

This booming sector can offer sales professionals huge growth opportunities, financially and professionally. According to Glassdoor, the median annual salary for tech sales pros is $111,201 — twice as much as the average median salary of all U.S. occupations.

In addition to the great income potential, roles in SaaS tech often offer other perks, including

• Remote work opportunities.
• Professional growth.
• A valuable network.
• Skill development.
• And the opportunity to play an active role in the global adoption of technology without having to write a line of code.

Furthermore, there are probably many work prospects in the field. The need for SaaS sales specialists will increase as more software is released into the market practically daily.

For businesses to achieve their revenue and growth targets, they will need additional salespeople. In fact, LinkedIn had over 100,000 open positions for SaaS sales at the time this article was being written. And that only applies to Americans.

You may advance your career in tech sales regardless of how much or how little experience you have in the sector.

With enough experience, you can advance from the position of sales development representative (SDR) to account executive, sales manager, and even vice president of sales in the SaaS industry.

Becoming an expert in SaaS sales is no easy feat and requires a lot of hard work and dedication. However, with the right mindset and approach, you can become an expert in this field. Here are five tips to help you become an expert in SaaS sales:

1. Read SaaS sales blogs

Reading blogs and case studies from SaaS sales experts can help you stay ahead of the curve and improve your knowledge and skills. There are many blogs available online that provide valuable insights into the industry. 

Reading these SaaS sales blogs can help you stay informed about the latest trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in the industry. It can also help you learn from the experiences of others and avoid making common mistakes.

2. Attend webinars

Attending webinars and online events focused specifically on SaaS sales can help you gain valuable insights and keep up with emerging trends. These events provide an opportunity to connect with industry thought leaders, network with other sales professionals, and learn new skills.

3. Shadow successful SaaS sales reps

Working alongside a seasoned sales representative can be an effective way to learn new techniques and improve your skills. 

Observe how they interact with customers, handle objections, and close deals. This will help you learn from their experiences and gain valuable insights into their approach. You can also ask them questions and get feedback on your own sales approach.  

4. Practice makes perfect

Practice your SaaS sales pitch, objection handling, and other sales techniques regularly to improve your skills. 

Take advantage of all the opportunities you have to practice your SaaS sales approach to identify areas of improvement. It can also help you build confidence and become more comfortable with the SaaS sales process.

5. Learn from your mistakes

Every failure can be an opportunity to learn and grow. Analyze your SaaS sales process to identify areas where you can improve and adjust your approach accordingly. 

When you encounter a setback, take the time to reflect on what went wrong and how you can avoid making the same mistake in the future. This can help you develop a more effective SaaS sales approach and improve your overall performance.

Final Words

The expansion of SaaS has only just begun, if the statistics are to be believed, and they are. SaaS will become increasingly more prevalent in the coming years. Because of this, it’s a fantastic career path for salespeople seeking employment in the technology sector.If that describes you, you would be well on your way to finding your dream sales job and succeeding in it if you followed the advice provided by experts in this piece.