Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered Clearly

SaaS, or "Software as a Service," is a model for delivering applications over the internet, which users can access through a web browser or app. The SaaS provider takes care of data storage, updates, and security, so users can focus on enjoying the service without worrying about backend maintenance.

Examples of popular SaaS platforms include:

• Dropbox – A cloud storage service for securely saving, accessing, and sharing files from anywhere.

• Salesforce – A customer relationship management (CRM) tool for tracking and managing client interactions.

• Zoom – A video conferencing tool that connects people virtually, without complex installations.

Some key components of a successful SaaS platform include:

• User Management and Authentication Ensures secure sign-in and profile management. Example: Dropbox enables users to create accounts and access files securely from various devices.

• Subscription and Billing Management Manages pricing tiers, usage-based billing, and payment processing. Example: Salesforce offers various pricing plans and handles payments through its billing system.

• Data Storage and Database Management Provides reliable storage for user and application data. Example: Dropbox securely stores user files in the cloud; Salesforce stores customer data for easy access.

• Scalability Allows the platform to handle increasing users and workloads smoothly. Example: Zoom supports everything from one-on-one calls to large webinars, scaling infrastructure as needed.

• API Integrations Enables connection with other tools and services for enhanced functionality. Example: Salesforce integrates with tools like email platforms and marketing software for a seamless experience.

• Analytics and Reporting Delivers insights into user activity and platform performance. Example: Zoom provides meeting attendance reports; Salesforce gives sales and engagement insights.

• Security and Compliance Ensures data protection and adherence to industry standards. Example: Dropbox uses encryption and secure protocols; Salesforce complies with major data privacy regulations.

For entrepreneurs using GraniteStack, these components are readily available to configure and customize. This setup enables you to launch a robust, scalable SaaS solution with all the essential core features—without having to build from scratch.

Vendor lock-in occurs when you rely heavily on a specific software provider’s technology, making it costly or challenging to switch providers without disruption. This dependence can limit your ability to customise, scale, or control your software and data, as you’re often bound by that vendor’s proprietary setup. GraniteStack is designed to eliminate vendor lock-in by giving you full control over your infrastructure. With its "Platform on Demand" model, GraniteStack provides dedicated, scalable architecture that allows you to customize and grow independently. Unlike traditional low-code platforms, where you are just a “tenant” with limited flexibility, GraniteStack empowers you with a fully independent, customisable platform built for scalability and freedom​​.

No-code and low-code platforms both streamline app development using visual, drag-and-drop tools, but they serve different purposes:

• No-Code is designed for complete ease of use, enabling anyone to build applications without any coding knowledge. It’s perfect for simple apps, quick prototypes, and smaller projects that don’t require much customization. However, it has limited scalability for complex needs.

• Low-Code platforms also offer visual building tools but allow users to add code as needed. This flexibility makes low-code suitable for more complex, scalable applications, empowering both technical and non-technical users to collaborate on projects that might need custom features or advanced integrations.

GraniteStack takes the best of both worlds. With intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, it allows non-technical users to easily build and deploy applications like a no-code platform. At the same time, it includes the powerful customisation options of low-code, so users can add custom code, integrate advanced features, and scale their solutions as needed. GraniteStack’s "Platform on Demand" model ensures you get both the speed of no-code and the flexibility of low-code, enabling the creation of robust, scalable platforms without vendor lock-in​​.

Multi-tenancy is a software architecture where a single platform can serve multiple “tenants”—such as different client organizations or user groups—each securely isolated within the same application environment. This setup is ideal for SaaS businesses that want to manage multiple customers on one platform, providing cost efficiency and streamlined updates while securely isolating each tenant’s data.

GraniteStack allows businesses to launch their own multi-tenant platforms with ease. Through its "Platform on Demand" model, GraniteStack enables each client to deploy a fully independent, customisable platform that supports multi-tenancy out of the box. This means you can serve multiple clients or user groups on one platform, maintaining strong data security and individualized user experiences, while also benefiting from the scalability and control of GraniteStack’s dedicated infrastructure​​.

• An "IO" in GraniteStack stands for "Input Output" and represents an API call—essentially, the communication between different parts of a platform or with external services. Every time a platform sends a request or receives data through an API, it counts as an IO. These IOs are crucial for integrating with other systems, automating tasks, and ensuring platforms function seamlessly. In terms of pricing, GraniteStack’s model is designed to scale with usage, being billed based on the number of IOs a platform utilizes. This approach offers flexibility, allowing to manage costs effectively while ensuring a platform's performance and integration capabilities can grow alongside business.

When you build on GraniteStack, the platform owner retains complete ownership of all the technology created. GraniteStack provides the robust infrastructure, powerful tools, and expert support necessary to help develop, launch, and scale software, but the intellectual property remains entirely in the hands of the platform owner. This includes any custom features, integrations, designs, and unique business logic that are implemented on the platform.

We believe in empowering entrepreneurs and businesses, which is why we ensure that all your assets and code are fully owned by the platform owner. Whether creating a proprietary app, integrating specialized APIs, or developing unique workflows, the platform owner maintains control and rights over technology. This ownership gives the flexibility to adapt, license, or sell technology as business grows, without worrying about losing control over innovations.

In the unfortunate event that the platform owner chooses to leave GraniteStack, there is no vendor lock-in. For a fee, we’ll ensure a seamless transition so the platform owner can take all technology with them. GraniteStack simply provides the platform to bring the vision to life, while the platform owner remains the sole proprietor of everything they create.

Security and compliance are fundamental aspects of the GraniteStack platform. We implement industry-leading security practices, including robust encryption, secure data storage, and regular security audits, to ensure that your data is protected and your software remains secure. GraniteStack is also designed to meet global standards and regulations, such as GDPR, along with other industry-specific requirements, to help you stay compliant.

That said, security and compliance are a shared responsibility. GraniteStack provides a secure foundation, but users must configure their platforms appropriately to maintain this high level of security. This includes managing access controls, defining data handling procedures, and configuring APIs effectively. Following best practices and avoiding settings that could introduce vulnerabilities or compromise compliance is essential.

To support you in this, GraniteStack offers guidance and resources for implementing secure and compliant configurations. While we provide the tools and infrastructure to safeguard your operations, ensuring that your platform’s security measures function effectively requires proactive engagement from users.

By working together, we can ensure that your platform remains secure, resilient, and compliant with all necessary regulations.

If GraniteStack is configuring your platform, wireframing is generally the first step in building a platform because it allows to visualize and plan the structure, layout, and user experience before diving into development. This crucial step helps map out the functionality of a platform, ensuring that every feature, page, and interaction is thoughtfully designed to meet business goals and user needs.

By creating a wireframe, it's possible to:

1. Clarify Vision: Wireframing helps translate ideas into a tangible blueprint, making it easier to communicate vision to stakeholders, designers, and developers.

2. Identify Potential Issues Early: It allows to spot and resolve potential usability or navigation issues before they become costly to fix during the development phase.

3. Save Time and Resources: A well-planned wireframe can streamline the development process by providing a clear roadmap, reducing the need for revisions and changes later on.

4. Ensure a User-Centric Design: Wireframing focuses on the user experience, ensuring that a platform is intuitive, user-friendly, and aligned with the target audience’s needs.

Here are a few wireframe examples:

Starting with a wireframe sets the foundation for a successful platform, helping build with confidence and efficiency while minimizing risks and rework.