Bastiaan Amsing’s 7 tips for SaaS CEOs

Running a SaaS company requires a unique set of skills and strategies. As the head of a company, you need to be on top of your game to succeed in a highly competitive market. Being the founder and CEO of MagicInfo Services for over 10 years, I have valuable insights for like-minded digital signage entrepreneurs. In this article, I will share my top 7 tips for SaaS CEOs. 

Best advice for SaaS CEOs

CEOs in the SaaS industry need to be proactive and make strategic decisions. Below you can find my advice for SaaS CEOs that may help you lead your company to success:

1. Make security a priority
2. Build long-lasting relationships with clients and partners
3. Identify and measure the right metrics
4. Have unrelenting optimism & perseverance
5. Be tech-savvy
6. Build a great team
7. Stay agile and adaptable

1. Make security a priority

In SaaS, especially in digital signage, security is one of the most important elements. As a CEO, you are responsible for ensuring that your customer's data is secure. You should take a proactive approach to security by investing in the right technology, hiring the right people, and implementing the right policies and procedures. For instance, the International Organization for Standardization issues certificates to companies that pass its strict process. Hence, you can be sure that all ISO-certified businesses protect clients’ sensitive information.

2. Build long-lasting relationships with clients and partners

Building strong relationships with your clients and partners is essential for the long-term success of any business, including SaaS. My advice for SaaS CEOs is to focus on providing exceptional customer service and creating a culture of collaboration and trust. This will help you build long-lasting relationships that will benefit your business in the long run.

3. Identify and measure the right metrics

In order to make informed decisions, you need to identify and measure the right metrics. You should focus on the metrics that matter most to your business, such as customer acquisition cost and customer lifetime value. By measuring these metrics, you can make data-driven decisions that will help you grow your business. Of course, you want to align the results with your business objectives to reach your goals. 

Bonus tip: Give your team the right tools to gain access to those insights. This will help you and your employees make better decisions based on data rather than a hunch. When you combine tech-savviness and a great team, work becomes easy, fun, and effective.

4. Have unrelenting optimism & perseverance

Building a successful SaaS business takes time, effort, and a lot of hard work. As a CEO, you need to have unrelenting optimism and perseverance to overcome the challenges that come your way. You should be able to stay focused on your goals and have the determination to push through tough times.

5. Be tech-savvy

As a SaaS CEO, you need to be tech-savvy to stay on top of the latest trends and technologies. You should be aware of the latest software development methodologies, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. By being tech-savvy, you can make informed decisions about your company's technology infrastructure. 

It is absolutely vital to keep up with the latest trends in data collection, AI, and machine learning, in our sector. These technologies can disrupt any SaaS business, so make sure you do your homework. Personally, I have a vested interest in digital signage and AI and how artificial intelligence can affect our business model.

6. Build a great team

Building a great team is essential for the success of your SaaS business. You should focus on hiring the right people who have the skills and experience needed to take your business to the next level. You should also create a culture of collaboration and teamwork to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals. 

For example, my team is located in several offices across the EMEA region and works efficiently despite the time zone differences, thanks to the work culture we’ve cultivated. Furthermore, I talked about how creative people are essential for the success of a SaaS business in the digital signage industry in one of my previous articles about How data-driven content is shaping the future of digital signage.

7. Stay agile and adaptable

The SaaS industry is constantly evolving, and as a CEO, you need to be agile and adaptable to keep up with the changes. You should be open to new ideas and willing to pivot when necessary. By staying agile and adaptable, you can ensure that your SaaS business stays ahead of the curve. Machiavelli said, “All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively…” which is a piece of great advice for any company leader.

In conclusion, running a successful SaaS business requires a unique set of skills and strategies. By following my top 7 tips for SaaS CEOs, hopefully, you can reach your company goals. I am enthusiastic about sharing my knowledge and experience with like-minded entrepreneurs and digital signage experts. Hence, I publish my thoughts and comments online. You can find some of my previous articles here.