Analysis and selection of methods for customizing SAAS solutions built using Cloud-Native technologies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30837/ITSSI.2023.26.068

Keywords:

SaaS; customization; web; webhooks, Iframe, API-first

Abstract

The subject of the study is the methods of customization of SaaS solutions. The purpose of the article is to determine a holistic strategy for customizing SaaS solutions developed using cloud-native technologies. Objectives: to analyze modern approaches to the architecture of SaaS applications; to identify the main methods of customization for modern SaaS applications; to investigate and establish a method for customizing the interface of SaaS applications; based on the study, to determine a comprehensive strategy for customizing SaaS applications. The following methods are implemented: analysis and synthesis - to study the technologies that are used to build SaaS applications; abstraction and generalization - to determine the overall architecture of the SaaS application; synthesis of web technologies - to select methods of customization of SaaS applications and build an algorithm for selecting a customization method. Results achieved: the modern architecture of SaaS applications is studied; methods of customization of SaaS applications are selected, and a holistic strategy for customization of SaaS applications is defined; a method for modifying the interface of SaaS applications is determined, which allows customization of the web interface of a SaaS application regardless of the specific front-end framework. Conclusions: modern architecture of SaaS applications is complex and based on microservice architecture, multi-tenant approach, cloud technologies and web browser; methods of customization of SaaS applications should be developed independently of certain technology stacks to meet the customization needs of most or all users of SaaS applications; the API-first approach is fundamental in building a customized SaaS, as it is the basis for creating any automation or related business logic; webhooks are the best option for implementing subscriptions to events occurring in a SaaS application, regardless of the technology stack; a defined strategy for customizing SaaS applications allows customization regardless of a particular technology stack and, in addition to implementing business logic, also covers interface modifications.

Author Biographies

Nazarii Romankiv, Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics

Student at the Department of System Engineering

Dmytro Sytnikov, Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics

PhD (Engineering Sciences), Associate Professor, Professor at the Department of System Engineering

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"Composable Commerce", available at: https://www.elasticpath.com/composable-commerce (last accessed: 27.11.2023)

Hui, Song, Franck, C., Arnor, S., Bent, F., Tony, Y. (2017), "How to support customization on SaaS: A Grounded Theory from Customisation Consultants". 2017 IEEE/ACM 39th International Conference on Software Engineering Companion (ICSE-C). P. 247–249. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSE-C.2017.136

Ralph, M., Andreas, М, Frank, L., Klaus, P. (2009), "Variability modeling to support customization and deployment of multi-tenant-aware Software as a Service applications". 2009 ICSE Workshop on Principles of Engineering Service Oriented Systems. 814 р. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/PESOS.2009.5068815

Wei, Sun; Xin, Zhang, Chang, Jie Guo, Pei, Sun, Huis, Su. (2008), "Software as a Service: Configuration and Customization Perspectives". 2008 IEEE Congress on Services Part II (services-2 2008). 2946 р. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/SERVICES-2.2008.29

Franck, C., Arnor, S. (2018), "Using Intrusive Microservices to Enable Deep Customization of Multi-tenant SaaS". 2018 11th International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology (QUATIC). 225 р. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/QUATIC.2018.00015

Hui, Song, Phu, H. Nguyen, Frank, C., Jens, G., Thomas, S. (2019), "Customizing Multi-Tenant SaaS by Microservices: A Reference Architecture". 2019 IEEE International Conference on Web Services (ICWS). 710 р. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICWS.2019.00081

Espen, T., Phu, H. Nguyen, Franck, C., Hui, Song (2020), "Event-Based Customization of Multi-tenant SaaS Using Microservices". 2020 International Conference on Coordination Languages and Models. Р. 171-180. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50029-0_11

"What is SaaS Architecture? 10 Best Practices For Efficient Design", available at: https://www.cloudzero.com/blog/saas-architecture/ (last accessed: 29.11.2023)

"SaaS application architecture best practices", available at: https://acropolium.com/blog/saas-app-architecture-2022-overview/ (last accessed: 29.11.2023)

Eng, L., Benjamin, K. (2023), "An Exploratory Study of Architectural Style and Effort Estimation for Multi-Tenant Microservices-Based Software as a Service (SaaS)". 2023 IEEE 20th International Conference on Software Architecture Companion (ICSA-C). 103 р. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSA-C57050.2023.00043

Wei-Tek, T., Peide, Z. (2014), "Multi-tenancy and Sub-tenancy Architecture in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)". 2014 IEEE 8th International Symposium on Service Oriented System Engineering. 519 р. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/SOSE.2014.20

"Worldwide market share of leading cloud infrastructure service providers", available at: https://www.statista.com/chart/18819/worldwide-market-share-of-leading-cloud-infrastructure-service-providers/ (last accessed: 29.11.2023)

"JavaScript frameworks technologies market share", available at: https://www.wappalyzer.com/technologies/javascript-frameworks/ (last accessed: 29.11.2023)

Leonard Richardson, Mike Amundsen, Sam Ruby. RESTful Web APIs: O’Reilly Media, Inc. 2013, 406 р.

"Webhook", available at: https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webhook (last accessed: 29.11.2023)

Published

2023-12-27

How to Cite

Romankiv, N., & Sytnikov, D. (2023). Analysis and selection of methods for customizing SAAS solutions built using Cloud-Native technologies. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIES, (4(26), 68–77. https://doi.org/10.30837/ITSSI.2023.26.068