日本語
SaaS (Software as a Service) development plays an extremely important role in the modern business environment where digitalization is accelerating. With the spread of cloud services and the promotion of DX (digital transformation), many companies are focusing on SaaS development.
However, there are many companies that handle SaaS development, and it is not easy to find the development partner that best suits your needs.
"I want to know companies that specialize in SaaS development"
"I want to know how to choose a development company"
For those of you in this situation, here are 10 companies that excel in SaaS development. We will also explain how to choose a company, so please use this as a reference.
Akira Shimazoe
CEO of Solashi Japan LLC. Engaged in the development and operation of internal systems at Suntory. Founded Yper Inc., serving as CTO and CPO, contributing to product launch and growth.
What is SaaS?
SaaS (Software as a Service) is a service that allows you to use software hosted in the cloud via the internet. As long as you have an internet connection, users can access it from anywhere, whether at the office, at home, or in a cafe. Because it can be used flexibly outside of the office, it can have various effects, such as improving operational efficiency and productivity.
On the other hand, since the software is hosted by the vendor, they can always reflect the latest updates. Additionally, SaaS generally adopts a subscription model. Compared to one-time purchase services, it ensures a steady and continuous revenue stream.
4 Companies with Rich SaaS Development Experience
First, let's introduce four companies with abundant experience in SaaS development.
Companies with extensive development experience have successfully completed many SaaS projects in the past. They are capable of quickly solving problems and risks that arise during development, allowing projects to proceed smoothly.
1. NOVEL Inc.
NOVEL Inc. is a system development company based in Tokyo. They provide generative AI consulting and AI talent development.
In SaaS, they operate the AI writing service "SAKUBUN". They specialize in consulting and development based on their operational experience. With the monthly subscription agile development "Tech Unit", flexible project progression is possible.
Additionally, NOVEL has developed the following AI solutions:
- A package for practicing business negotiations with AI
- A package for searching past case responses
- A package for translating videos and audio
- A package for searching negative data such as images, videos, and audio
This company is recommended for businesses that want to create SaaS utilizing generative AI.
| Item | Details |
| Company Name | NOVEL Inc. |
| Established | 2019 |
| Capital | 9 million yen |
| Headquarters Address | 1-15-4 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Ginza 1-chome Building 7F |
| Features | Specializes in generative AI SaaS development and consulting |
| Website | https://n-v-l.co/ |
2. Emplayee Inc.
Emplayee Inc. is a development company based in Osaka Prefecture. They engage in the design and development of computer software, networks, and servers, IT consulting, and system operation and maintenance.
Emplayee's strength lies in its rich experience in developing systems and applications for various industries. They have developed many services, including systems supporting DX in air cargo, sales management systems, and systems supporting smart agriculture. Their strong point is their thorough support for stable system operation.
Emplayee is recommended for companies that want to develop SaaS that is tailored to their needs while receiving solid support.
| Item | Details |
| Company Name | Emplayee Inc. |
| Year Established | 2019 |
| Capital | 25 million yen |
| Headquarters Address | 3-2-1 Minamihonmachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Suzuki Yasuo Building |
| Strengths | Rich experience in developing systems and applications across various industries |
| Website | https://emplayee.co.jp/ |
3. S Technology Inc.
S Technology Inc. is a development company based in Tokyo. They engage in system proposals, development, operation, and maintenance.
The strength of S Technology lies in its ability to customize according to the customer's business. They have a proven track record in developing various systems, including sales management systems, inventory management systems, and customer management systems. They specialize in customizing systems to fit business needs, helping to improve and streamline business processes.
S Technology is recommended for companies that want support from system planning and proposal stages.
| Item | Details |
| Company Name | S Technology Inc. |
| Year Established | 2007 |
| Capital | 18 million yen |
| Headquarters Address | 5F, Nikkei Tokyo Building, 4-14-7 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo |
| Strengths | Ability to customize according to the customer's business |
| Website | https://sincerity-trust.com/ |
4. The Third Place Inc.
The Third Place Inc. is a development company based in Tokyo. They provide SaaS development support and system development support.
The strength of The Third Place lies in its well-established system to maximize the effectiveness of SaaS. From service planning and development to implementation and sales, they offer consistent support for SaaS business operations.
The Third Place is recommended for companies that want broad support in SaaS-related roles from members with rich development experience and a proven track record.
| Item | Details |
| Company Name | The Third Place Inc. |
| Year Established | 2021 |
| Capital | - |
| Headquarters Address | 11F, Shinjuku Mitsui Building, 2-1-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
| Strengths | Established system to maximize the effectiveness of SaaS |
| Website | https://www.ttp.co.jp/ |
3 Companies with Excellent Support Systems
Next, we will introduce three companies with excellent support systems.
Companies with strong support systems can quickly respond when issues or failures occur in SaaS. By outsourcing SaaS operation and maintenance, you can benefit from reduced burdens.
1. Glorious Future Inc.
Glorious Future Inc. is a system development company based in Tokyo. They carry out contracted system development, operation and maintenance, data analysis using BI tools, and consulting services.
The strength of Glorious Future is their expertise in solving problems using big data. They support various aspects of big data utilization, including building big data infrastructure, reporting, operations, and the introduction of analysis tools.
Recommended for companies that want to effectively utilize their data and improve the quality of their data analysis.
| Item | Details |
| Company Name | Glorious Future Inc. |
| Year Established | 2019 |
| Capital | 5 million yen |
| Headquarters Address | 16F, Link Square Shinjuku, 5-27-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo |
| Strengths | Expert in solving problems using big data |
| Website | https://glorious-future.co.jp/ |
2. LillyHoldings Inc.
LillyHoldings Inc. is a system development company based in Aichi Prefecture. They provide innovative web customer acquisition solutions, focusing on digital marketing, MEO strategies, and website creation.
The strength of LillyHoldings is their expertise in MEO strategies. MEO (Map Engine Optimization) refers to optimizing the ranking of stores or businesses in map search engines such as Google Maps. They support web customer acquisition through this MEO strategy.
Recommended for companies focusing on expanding SaaS deployment and increasing brand recognition.
| Item | Details |
| Company Name | LillyHoldings Inc. |
| Year Established | 2017 |
| Capital | 20 million yen |
| Headquarters Address | 1F, Art Place T2, 23-3 Kiocho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi |
| Strengths | Expert in MEO strategies |
| Website | https://lillyholdings.co.jp/ |
3. Info Lounge Inc.
Info Lounge Inc. is a system development company based in Kanagawa Prefecture. They provide planning, design and development of cloud services and applications, as well as operation and maintenance.
The strength of Info Lounge lies in their DX support and data management for local governments and public institutions. They offer DX support for public and private sector organizations, along with services like data inventory and cleaning.
Recommended for companies that want to organize their data and build an environment for utilizing that data.
| Item | Details |
| Company Name | Info Lounge Inc. |
| Year Established | 2007 |
| Capital | 5 million yen |
| Headquarters Address | 402, South Core, 8-33 Chigasaki Chuo, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa |
| Strengths | DX support and data management for local governments and public institutions |
| Website | https://info-lounge.jp/ |
3 Development Companies with Excellent Proposal Skills
Here are three development companies with excellent proposal skills.
Companies with excellent proposal skills not only listen to clients' requests but also understand the core business challenges and present the best solutions. Especially when detailed requirements are difficult to define, such companies are invaluable.
By working with such companies, you can create a SaaS that meets your company's needs.
1. Solashi Co., Ltd
"Solashi Co., Ltd" is a development company based in Vietnam with extensive experience in developing SaaS for Japanese companies. The company has worked on system development across various industries.
- Todobukeru: Delivery and postal management tool
- EdvPath: Tool for measuring non-cognitive abilities in educational settings
- TAAAN: Matching service between startups and sales agents
- SEARCH PROTOCOL: Cryptocurrency protocol
Solashi's strength lies in its staged development approach that emphasizes effectiveness verification. The company develops initial systems with minimal features, carefully measuring their effectiveness and expanding the functionalities accordingly. This approach reduces development risks and ensures the system aligns with market needs.
Furthermore, the company offers thorough needs analysis and optimal system proposals by Japanese staff who are well-versed in business matters. This enables companies with limited experience in SaaS development to proceed with projects with confidence.
Therefore, Solashi is particularly recommended for companies aiming for flexible and effective SaaS development.
| Company Name | Solashi Co., Ltd |
| Established Year | 2019 / 2022 |
| Capital | 30 million JPY |
| Headquarters Address | 18-4 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, billage SHIBUYA Ninomiya Building 1F |
| Feature | Thorough support from analysis to improvement after release |
| Website | https://solashi.com/en/ |
2. Jitera Co., Ltd.
Jitera Co., Ltd. is a system development company based in Tokyo. They are engaged in software development, digital consulting services, and the development of the AI agent "Jitera" for development purposes.
The company's feature is its use of an AI development agent to achieve speedy development. In addition to development speed, Jitera also provides thorough support. They listen to the SaaS needs and propose the best measures. Furthermore, they offer comprehensive support including operation, maintenance, and security measures.
This company is recommended for those looking to efficiently progress a project while consulting with the development team.
| Company Name | Jitera Co., Ltd. |
| Established Year | 2017 |
| Capital | 99 million JPY |
| Headquarters Address | 1-2-9 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Hibiya Central Building 14F |
| Feature | Speedy development using an AI development agent |
| Website | https://jitera.com/en |
3. Mikoto Co., Ltd.
Mikoto Co., Ltd. is a system development company based in Tokyo. They are involved in big data analysis, digital marketing, and content consulting services.
Mikoto's feature is providing one-stop support from big data analysis to marketing. They help identify the issues at hand and accompany the analysis, operation, and improvement processes. The company is also skilled in consulting, offering proposals to maximize the potential of SaaS content.
This company is recommended for businesses that are not effectively utilizing their data or those who need marketing support.
| Company Name | Mikoto Co., Ltd. |
| Established Year | 2005 |
| Capital | 20 million JPY |
| Headquarters Address | 4-20-3 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Ebisu Garden Place Tower 18F |
| Feature | One-stop support from big data analysis to marketing |
| Website | https://mikoto-style.co.jp/ |
Cost Estimate for SaaS Development
The cost of SaaS development can vary greatly depending on the project's scale and complexity. Here, we will explain the general cost range.
In many cases, SaaS is developed from scratch. "From scratch" means developing a system from zero, without using existing packages or solutions. Developing from scratch allows you to create a service that perfectly fits the company's unique needs, but it also comes at a higher cost.
The initial development cost is typically around 10 million JPY. This includes implementing basic features, designing the user interface, and initial testing. Additional features, security enhancements, and performance optimization may significantly increase the total cost. Moreover, due to the nature of SaaS, ongoing maintenance and feature updates will be necessary, adding to the operational costs. Therefore, SaaS development requires long-term cost planning.
Our company, "Solashi Co., Ltd", is based in Vietnam, where the cost of living is lower and IT talent is abundant, enabling us to offer cost-effective development and maintenance. We also provide long-term support through dedicated teams, offering efficient SaaS development at competitive prices.
Japanese PMs Handle Communication
Looking for an Offshore Development Company
For such individuals, we recommend Solashi’s Vietnam offshore development
Points to Consider When Choosing a Development Company
When choosing a company for SaaS development, it is important to consider the following points:
- SaaS development track record
- Ease of communication
- Support system
- Operations and maintenance
- Proposal capabilities
Let's look at each of these points.
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SaaS Development Track Record
The track record of SaaS development is an important indicator when choosing a development company. A company with extensive experience can handle various technical challenges and specification changes flexibly. Thanks to the experience gained in past projects, they can respond quickly to unforeseen problems and minimize project delays and risks.
Check the development company's website and case study page to confirm the content, scale, and results of their past projects. This will help you find the best partner that suits your company's needs.
Ease of Communication
Frequent communication is essential in SaaS development, including requirement confirmation, consultations on specification changes, and progress reports. Smooth communication is a crucial factor for project success. Especially with the increase in remote development, the quality of communication has become even more important.
When selecting a development company, check their response speed and the communication tools they use (email, chat, online meeting tools, etc.). Having an environment that enables smooth communication will result in smoother project progress and the development of high-quality SaaS.
Support System
The success of SaaS depends heavily on post-release operations and maintenance. It is important to check if the company has a support system that can quickly handle technical issues, bugs, and security risks.
Additionally, it is essential to understand the support hours and methods of contact (phone, email, chat, etc.) in advance.
Operations and Maintenance
When selecting a development company, make sure they also provide post-release operations and maintenance. SaaS requires continuous evolution, and proper operations and maintenance are key to the long-term success of the service.
Check the following aspects carefully:
- Regular update plans: Security patches and new feature implementations.
- User feedback collection system: Utilizing customer needs to improve the service.
- Scalability support: A system that can flexibly handle increases in users and transaction volumes.
- Long-term roadmap: Future feature expansions, etc.
By choosing a development company that can provide all of these elements, you can operate SaaS that continues to add value even after release.
Proposal Capabilities
In SaaS development, the proposal capabilities of a development company are a crucial element for business success. A company with strong proposal abilities can propose the optimal solution while understanding the business objectives and long-term goals.
During your interactions with the development company, check if they can propose solutions that align with your business goals and take a cost-efficient approach.
By collaborating with a development company with high proposal capabilities, you can create competitive SaaS and generate new business opportunities.
Key Points for SaaS Development
There are three key points to consider in SaaS development:
- Clarifying user needs and challenges
- Creating solid UX/UI
- Designing a scalable structure
By clearly communicating these points to the development company, you can develop a service that delivers high user satisfaction.
Clarifying User Needs and Challenges
In SaaS development, it is extremely important to deeply understand the user's needs and the challenges to be solved. If development proceeds without accurately grasping these needs, there is a risk of creating unnecessary features or a difficult-to-use system.
By clarifying user needs and challenges, you can gain the following benefits:
- Realizing a valuable service
- Easy prioritization of features
- Efficient development process
Methods to understand needs include user interviews, surveys, and competitor analysis. By reflecting the insights gained from these, you can build highly satisfying SaaS for users.
Creating Solid UX/UI
For SaaS business success, excellent UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) are indispensable. The ease of use of SaaS directly correlates to continuous use and improved user satisfaction.
In UX/UI design, focus on the following points:
- Simple and intuitive design
- Clear navigation to key features
- Consistent layout and operations
- Clear visibility of information
By carefully designing these elements, users will be able to navigate the service comfortably, leading to long-term usage.
Designing a Scalable Structure
In SaaS development, it is important to design a scalable structure that can handle future user growth. Scaling up refers to expanding system performance and capacity to accommodate an increase in users.
The benefits of a scalable design include:
- Prevention of server downtime and response delays
- Maintaining service reliability
- Flexible response to rapid growth
Specific methods include multi-tiered server and storage structures. Additionally, using cloud services such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure allows for easy resource expansion when necessary.
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By considering scalability from the initial stages, you can flexibly respond to future growth and ensure stable service delivery.
Looking for a SaaS Development Company? Contact "Solashi"
This article introduces 10 companies with expertise in SaaS development and how to choose the right development company. To ensure SaaS development success, it is crucial to evaluate a partner's track record, communication skills, support system, and proposal capabilities.
Our company, "Solashi Co., Ltd," can provide SaaS development that balances both price and quality. Based in Vietnam, where IT talent is abundant and the cost of living is lower, we offer competitively priced, high-quality systems. We specialize in:
- Thorough needs assessment and goal setting
- Step-by-step progress checks and flexible adjustments
- Support throughout the process and IT consulting
- Proposals considering future costs and risks
If you're looking for a SaaS development partner, please consult with "Solashi Co., Ltd". We will help you develop effective SaaS to support your business success.
Akira Shimazoe
Representative of Solashi Japan LLC. Born in April 1989 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Graduated from the Graduate School of Information and Mathematical Sciences at Osaka Prefecture University. Joined Suntory System Technology Co., Ltd., an IT subsidiary of Suntory Holdings, in 2014. Broadly responsible for the development, operation, and implementation of vending machine delivery management, efficiency improvements, and sales management systems. Founded Yper Inc. in 2017, serving as CTO and CPO. Contributed to the launch and growth of the app-linked delivery bag "OKIPPA." Selected for Toyo Keizai's prestigious "Amazing Venture 100" and Forbes' "Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2019."
