“How do you develop a digital service / Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering?”
Are you thinking about launching a digital product/Software-as-a-Service model? A digital business model really does have many advantages. Amongst other things, it makes it possible to improve customer interaction and experience, generate more recurring revenue, create access to new markets, and improve data collection and analytics. Nevertheless, there are also significant challenges to be met when introducing a digital business/SaaS model. This is because the development and marketing of a digital service differs radically from that of a traditional service or physical product.
Who is this intended for?
As chief experience officer, innovation manager or product manager, are you involved in or responsible for developing the product roadmap? Do you find it hard to convince management or colleagues that things should be done differently? Or are you still looking for the best approach for developing and marketing a digital offering?
People from both non-technical and technical profiles will find the masterclass accessible. It is for companies that either have a concrete idea for developing a digital business or that are still in the exploratory phase.
What can you expect?
This masterclass from Sirris and Agoria will give you all the knowledge and tools you will need to make a convincing and substantiated case for the potential and effect of a new digital product. To do this, we delve deeper into four core domains: the process, the technology, the team and the business.
Some questions about developing digital services will be discussed:
- How do you build a strong relationship with the user online?
- How can you use R&D to better understand the needs of end users?
- Which is the best development strategy?
- What technological knowledge do you need to acquire?
- How will it affect your business model and cash flow?
- What about legal aspects such as service levels and data security?
In the course of the day, we will delve deeper into the four sub-areas:
Process: By working incrementally and exploratively, you minimise the risk of developing a service that the customer sees no value in.
Technology: By making maximum use of existing components, you can focus on the unique selling points of your service and gain insight into how it is used.
Organisation: By integrating different disciplines into one team with sufficient decision-making authority, you can optimise the service for the user.
Business: By finding a good balance between price and customer loyalty, you ensure recurring revenues and a predictable business.
There is always an extensive ex-cathedra part followed by an exercise (or room for discussion) with the other participants based on their own examples and experience.
The sessions are given in Dutch but the material provided is in English.
Who are the teachers?
- Peter Verhasselt, Senior Advisor Digital Product Management and Nick Boucart, Senior Advisor Software Engineering & ICT at Sirris.
- Peter and Nick are the authors of the book 'Hyperscale and Microcare, The Digital Business Cookbook'. Every participant will receive a copy of this.
- Carine Lucas and Isabel Michiels are Digital Innovation Experts at Agoria.
Participation fee
The participation fee for a masterclass is € 1,340. Companies established in Flanders pay only € 425 thanks to the support from VLAIO (Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship) under the #industriepartnerschap partnership.
This initiative is not eligible for the SME portfolio.