Software as a Service (SaaS)

A software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally (typically in the internet/cloud) and are accessed by users using a thin client, such as a web browser over the Internet. SaaS has become a common delivery model for most business applications, including accounting, collaboration, customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), invoicing, human resource management (HRM), content management (CM) and service desk management. SaaS has been incorporated into the strategy of all leading enterprise software companies. Sometimes referred to as on-demand software.