SaaS Updates Summary of 2016

Can’t stop, won’t stop. 2016 was a big year for SaaS applications; we saw dozens of new features, updates, and products rolled out every day. Below are just a few of the key high-level trends and highlights we saw across SaaS applications this year:

• Machine intelligence. Everything is getting smarter. Google rolled out smarter Docs, Sheets, and Slides that can automatically make recommendations and answer questions; Forms can predict question types and suggest answers now. Microsoft is trying out AI through bots and voice assistants, and also using it to automate tasks in Office 365. Word and Outlook will suggest relevant content for you; PowerPoint and Sway will provide curated outlines for given topics. Excel can turn raw geographic data into Bing-based maps. Microsoft even made a new smartphone that predicts your next move with hover gestures.

• New collaboration tools and features–the race is heating up. Dropbox introduced Dropbox Paper, a collaborative writing tool that some say could have an edge over Google Docs. Asana took a swipe at competitor Trello with its new Boards feature, allowing users to visualize their work in columns on a board.

• Microsoft Teams… Microsoft launched Teams, the new chat-based workspace in Office 365, to take on Slack in the workplace. With built-in access to SharePoint, OneNote, and Skype for Business, it’s meant to give teams instant access to everything they need right in Office 365.

• …And of course, Slack’s open letter to Microsoft in the New York Times. Who can forget Slack’s bold full-page ad in the The Gray Lady? The letter welcomed their competition into the messaging market with some “friendly advice.”

• New SMS communication channels. Sure, you can call or email… but what about texting? SaaS apps are expanding their communication channels. Zendesk launched a new native SMS support channel to enable businesses to receive and respond to texts from their customers. Salesforce announced LiveMessage, which lets service reps talk with customers on Messenger, Line, SMS, and WeChat.

• Integrations… integrations everywhere. 2016 saw lots of integrations across SaaS apps, making it easier to work and share information. Just to name a few: Zenefits + Slack. Slack + Google Drive (this integration allows you to create and share Google Docs and Drive files directly within Slack). Google Slides announced the general availability of the Google Slides API, as well as four third-party app integrations (Conga, Trello, Lucidchart, and Zapier). Freshservice announced an Office 365 Calendar integration. HipChat introduced an integration with Alexa, Amazon’s artificial intelligence system.

• A new name. In September, Google officially rebranded Google for Work as Google Cloud, and Google Apps for Work as G Suite. Google explained that the new name better reflected its mission “to help people everywhere work and innovate together, so businesses can move faster and go bigger.”

• A brand new, first-ever unified SaaS management platform. 2016 was the year we made the most significant announcement in BetterCloud history. We proudly announced our new unified SaaS management platform and integrations with our technology partners G Suite, Slack, Dropbox, and Zendesk–with more to come in early 2017.

What will 2017 hold in the SaaS world? Stay tuned. We can’t wait to find out.

For yesterday’s SaaS updates (and beyond), click here for our archive.