Is Localization The Farthest SaaS Customization Can Take You?

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It must have begun with 37 signals advocating this, a masterpiece of business letter indicating good riddance. “If you need something we don’t have, if you’ve outgrown our software, we wish you the best.” Byron wrote an interesting post to keep the SaaS discussion alive and many a good SaaS startups would do well to follow his rules. (I especially love the hunter vs farmers strategy.) But then again, not all says Martin Snyder. As far as he is concerned, cash on hand is well cash that goes to the coffers, anywhere in the planet they might be calling from.

Then comes Ben's rejoinder that does merit your attention. He adds something that deserves special recognition - of SaaS needing to be viral. How can anyone miss that? Businesses are still made up of users and individuals, right?

So what of customization? Though requests are inevitable, most agree that it just eats too much of the resources and for a SaaS startup it really isn't a priority. But is it easier to capitulate once the company is big and awash with cash and resources already? I get the feeling that it won't make sense either. But then again, is there a cash amount that could help sway the vote, Martin? I wonder.