Building and launching a SaaS app has become extremely easy now. Whether you’re a coder or a non-coder, all it takes an AI app builder, an idea, and several weeks to launch your full-fledged business.

But why not choose traditional development instead? How is it even possible to build a SaaS business with an AI native app builder? Let’s find out in this quick guide.

AI vs. Traditional Development: Which One’s Better for Your SaaS App?

Traditional development, as we know, takes months of coding and iteration to build an app. You also need to code with different programming languages and frameworks to build Android and iOS apps.

It can take extensive amount of resources and time as you code. While this approach gives you a full-fledged app, you can’t validate your ideas until months later. In a competitive market, this isn’t exactly what you want.

AI native app builders are different, though. They can help you test and validate ideas, create prototypes, and build MVPs. You don’t need to code (or you can, if you want) exactly to build an Android or iOS app.

This approach allows you to launch a SaaS app in a few weeks. Iteration and building blocks are also easier with an AI builder like Natively. Thus, you get full control over your app and ideas.

How to Launch a SaaS App with AI in 7 Steps?

AI app builders allow you to launch a full-fledged SaaS business in 7 steps. It’s the planning that’s extensive but the execution, it’s all easy.

1. Find a great app idea

Before you build an app, you need to validate the app idea first. It ensures that you are building an app with market demand. In addition, it saves you from more iterations and a completely developed app that lacks product-market fit.

To validate your app idea, start by refining it even more. Ask yourself questions such as:

Who is your app for? What are their pain points and why can't other solutions help them?
What problem statement does your app solve for your audience?
What are the key features and functionalities of your app?
Why should your audience choose your app to solve their problem?
What makes your app a good solution for the problem?

You need to ensure that your app is solving a real problem. If it isn't a painful problem, why would your audience use it?

2. Outline core features

Once you have validated your idea, we need to identify the core features for your app’s first version. This is where your market and competitive research will be helpful. Consider questions like:

What solution does my app provide for the core problem?
What other features can I add?

In addition, you can use the MoSCow method: Must-Have, Should-Have, Could-Have, and Won’t-Have. Prioritize the core features for the first version. As you iterate, you can add more features that the app should have.

The ‘Could-Have’ features aren’t necessary. Lastly, the ‘Won’t-Have’ are features that your product shouldn’t have. Based on this rule, you can outline the features for the MVP.

3. Choose your monetization model

Your app’s monetization method determines how it generates revenue, and how users engage with your app. Here are a few popular monetization models most SaaS apps use:

Freemium: It includes both free and paid plans.
Subscription: It charges users a recurring fee on a monthly or annual basis.
One-time payment: A flat fee to use the app forever.
In-app purchases: It involves microtransactions for additional features or upgrades in the app.
Hybrid: It’s a combination of two or more of these models.

Since each model has its own advantages and limitations, you need to be intentional with your pricing strategy. Consider your competitors’ strategies, your users’ willingness to pay, and how each model supports your app’s longevity.

4. Build your MVP

A minimum viable product, popularly known as an MVP, is your app’s first version consisting of its core features and basic functionalities. The goal is to get user feedback and iterate on it until you get the final version ready.

MVPs are supposed to create an app with a strong product-market fit. With traditional development, it can take months to develop an app’s first version and another several months of iteration. It can be time-consuming.

That’s when an AI native app builder can boost the process. You can build mobile apps with builders like Natively within minutes and no code. All that it takes for you is to prompt the app about your idea and iterate on it.

5. Gather user feedback

Once you’ve built your app, you need to know if users actually love it. This is where user testing comes into play.

There are two ways you can test your app’s usability:

Preview the app: You can preview your Natively app on Expo Go. It can help you determine whether your app works well or it needs more iterations.
Usability testing: It allows you to find loopholes for improvements in your app’s user experience. Ask your users to perform a task and collect feedback on how their experience was like.

Using this feedback, you can iterate and build the next versions of your app. On Natively, iteration is fairly easy with prompting on the chatbot.

6. Create a GTM strategy

A go-to-market (GTM) strategy allows you to launch your app into the market smoothly. It involves steps from the building steps to the final launch.

The sixth step to your SaaS app’s launch isn’t the actual launch, but the strategy for it. Basically, a GTM strategy can help define the following aspects for your app:

Your target audience
Problem-market fit
Positioning and value proposition
Distribution and sales model
Acquisition and retention

Since a GTM strategy is different from a marketing strategy, you need to define your monetization model, marketing channels, and track KPIs. Prepare a strategy for your app launch — ensuring it builds momentum.

7. Launch and scale

There's no ‘real’ time to launch your app. So, if your GTM strategy is ready, the app has been tested, and the features are user approved — it's time to finally launch it.

Your post-launch strategy should involve consistent customer support, testing, and iteration. Feedback from real users will give you more insight to iterate and scale your app, so don't miss on that.

Build your SaaS app on Natively

With Natively’s AI capabilities, you can turn any idea into a functional and secure SaaS app in minutes. If you’re a coder — you can add your own code or if not — the AI can build the app for you.

Natively’s integrations can help you add any feature you want on the app. If you want to iterate, just speak to the chatbot. Build SaaS apps with full control on your ideas — start today.