SaaS Toolkit
Diagrams | Matrices | Thinkers
Systems Integration:
- Flow of Information: For information to be valuable it must be timely and actionable.
- Flow of Value: The flow of value focuses on delivering maximum value to the customer with minimal waste. This involves value stream mapping, lean principles, and continuous improvement. Strategies include implementing lean methodologies and regularly assessing and improving processes.
- Flow of Progress: The smooth, uninterrupted advancement of a project. Principles include clear process logic, synchronization, and minimizing waste. Practical steps to achieve this include defining clear steps and responsibilities and coordinating tasks and timelines.
Data Integration
Your data footprint is your business. Understand how data flows, how it created, stored, what impacts it's change of state, and who/what needs to know about that. Use flow diagrams to map the transformation of intent into valuable actions. Bad systems integration is a multi-trillion waste to the global economy.
What functions and features are essential for running your business with optimum effectiveness?
- What is your most valuable data?
- What products manage that data?
- What processes does it relate to?
- Input Workflows
- Output Workflows
Platform Stack
Take control of your data and destiny by developing an AI Coding Playbook to replicate then integrate your own system of record to maximize leverage and operational efficiency.
| JOB TO BE DONE | PRODUCT | MONTHLY COST | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Interface | Perplexity Pro, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, ChatGPT-4o | $20-30 | ChatGPT-4o now free for basic tier |
| Sales Support | HubSpot Sales Hub, Gong, LeadSquared | $500+, Custom | Gong offers AI conversation intelligence |
| Business Suite | Midday AI, HubSpot, Zoho One | Custom pricing | All-in-one business solutions with AI |
| Automation | Gumloop, Zapier, Workato | $20+, $20+, Custom | Gumloop combines AI with automation |
| Accounting | QuickBooks Online, Xero, Zoho Books | $20+, $20+, $20+ | All major options with similar starting prices |
| Advertising | Albert.ai, Adzooma, Metadata.io | Custom pricing | AI-driven ad optimization platforms |
| Affiliate Marketing | Influencity, Impact, Refersion | Custom pricing | Influencer and affiliate marketing platforms |
| Analytics and Tracking | FullStory, Brand24, Mixpanel | Custom pricing | Digital experience and audience analytics |
| Business Intelligence | Algolia, Looker, Tableau | Custom pricing | Data visualization and insights platforms |
| Community Building | Circle, Discourse, Mighty Networks | $49+, Custom, $33+ | Modern community platforms |
| Content Marketing/Writing | ContentShake AI, Jasper AI, Copy.ai | Custom pricing | AI content generation and optimization |
| Content Management System | WordPress, Contentful, Sanity | $0-25, Custom, Custom | WordPress remains dominant with AI plugins |
| Customer Relationship Management | Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Zoho CRM | $25+, Free-Premium, $20+ | Options for different business sizes |
| Customer Success/Support | SiteGPT, Tidio AI, Hiver | Custom pricing | AI website assistants and support tools |
| Data Strategy and Security | Dynatrace, Immuta, OneTrust | Custom pricing | Data governance and security platforms |
| Design and Visuals | Canva, PhotoRoom, DALL-E 3 | $12.99+, Custom, Varies | AI-enhanced design and image tools |
| Drawing Tools | Lexica Art, Crayo, Excalidraw | Free-Premium, Custom, Free-$5 | AI-powered drawing and diagramming tools |
| Direct Mail | Postalytics, Lob, Inkit | Custom pricing | Modern direct mail automation platforms |
| Document Management | Notion AI, Monday Docs, Google Workspace | $8+, $12+, $6+ | AI-enhanced document management |
| Ecommerce | Shopify, Dokan Cloud, BigCommerce | $29+, Custom, $29.95+ | Leading ecommerce platforms |
| Email Management | Front, Reply.io, Superhuman | Custom, Custom, $30 | Email productivity and optimization tools |
| Email Marketing | Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot Email | $25+, $15+, Part of suite | Top email marketing platforms |
| Knowledge Sharing | Notion AI, Guru, Bloomfire | $8+, Custom, Custom | Knowledge management systems |
| Legal Compliance | Termly, PandaDoc, DocuSign | Custom pricing | Contract and compliance management |
| Link Shortener | Bitly, Rebrandly, Short.io | $29+, $29+, $24+ | Link management platforms |
| Loyalty Games and Rewards | Loyalty Lion, Smile.io, Yotpo | Custom pricing | Customer loyalty platforms |
| Marketing Strategy | HubSpot, Marketo Engage, Semrush | $500+, Custom, $129.95+ | Marketing automation platforms |
| Pitch Deck | Beautiful.ai, Pitch, Slidebean | $12+, $8+, $24+ | AI-enhanced presentation tools |
| Process Optimisation & Quality Control | Kissflow, Pipefy, ProcessMaker | Custom pricing | Business process management platforms |
| Product Management | ProductBoard, Aha!, Notion Product | Custom pricing | Product roadmap management tools |
| Project Management | Asana, ClickUp, Monday.com | $10.99+, $7+, $8+ | Leading project management platforms |
| Sales Pipeline | Pipedrive, Monday Sales CRM, Close | $14.90+, $10+, $25+ | Visual pipeline management tools |
| Search Engine Optimisation | Surfer SEO, Ahrefs, Semrush | $59+, $99+, $129.95+ | SEO and content optimization tools |
| SMS Marketing | Twilio, SimpleTexting, Attentive | Usage-based, $29+, Custom | Programmable messaging platforms |
| Social Media Management | Vista Social, Buffer, Hootsuite | $15+, $12+, $99+ | Social media management tools |
| Spreadsheets | Airtable, Smartsheet, Coda | $20+, $7+, $10+ | Modern spreadsheet alternatives |
| Time Management (Scheduling, Appointments, Meetings) | Reclaim, Clockwise, Calendly | $8+, $6.25+, $8+ | AI calendar and scheduling assistants |
| Websites and Landing Pages | Webflow, Unbounce, Headlime | $14+, $90+, Custom | Website and landing page builders |
| Writing | Writer.com, Grammarly Business, Hemingway | Custom, $15+, $19.99 | AI writing and editing tools |
| Video Conferencing | Zoom AI Companion, Whereby, Microsoft Teams | Add-on, $9.99+, $4+ | AI-enhanced video platforms |
| Video/Audio Production | Synthesia, ElevenLabs, Runway | $30+, Custom, $15+ | AI video and audio creation tools |
See Business Analysis Workbook for more.
Business Operations
| FUNCTION | PRODUCT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Strategy | Gummy Search, Treendly, Glimpse, Product Hunt | Business Opportunities |
| Sales | Salesforce | Build closer real world connections |
| Marketing | Hubspot | Automated storytelling |
| Human Resources | Workday, Deel | Deterministic |
| Software Development | Cursor, Windsurf | Every business is a software business |
Vertical SaaS
VSaaS refers to software solutions tailored to specific industries and verticals.
Analysis Meta
- JTBD: Understanding of the JTBD and desired outcomes
- AI Agent: Best AI Agent for JTBD
- Agent Platform: Agent Architecture
- DePIN: Decentralized Business Rails Potential/Impact
- Open Source: Best Open Source solution
Procurement Protocol
Steps to follow when evaluating where to Buy or Build your competitive advantage.
- Understand the job to be done
- Form a selection team
- Identify problems
- Map the flow of value (Actual vs Desired)
- Required performance outcomes
- Create a Decision Checklist / Request For Proposal (RFP)
- Search/Demo for Vendor Solutions
- Research Reference Checks
- Model Cost of ownership
- Negotiate
Compare the following vendor analysis checklist against the ease of building an integrated stack with AI Coding Tools
AI will make SaaS a utility, pricing models are in a race for the bottom.
| Checklist | Importance (weight) A | Fit (rating) B | Combined Score C = A x B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required Functionality Match | |||
| AI Workflow Integration | |||
| Pricing Terms and Conditions | |||
| Data Security & Privacy Compliance | |||
| Systems Data Integration | |||
| Data Access for Analysis and Custom AI Training | |||
| Data Onboarding Migration | |||
| Data Backup and Recovery | |||
| User Experience Complexity | |||
| Customization | |||
| Availability/Uptime | |||
| System response time | |||
| Accountability for QoS | |||
| Responsiveness to support requests | |||
| Responsiveness to enhancement requests | |||
| User community and network effects | |||
| Unnecessary Functionality |
Directories
Curated lists of tools. See which apps are used to research, design, code, support, gather feedback and market the products you use.
- App Sumo
- Capterra
- Product Hunt
- Tiny Wow (Online tools)
Open Source
Open Source business tools you don't need to pay subscription fees to run.
| Project | JTBD |
|---|---|
| Appflowy | |
| Cal.com | Scheduling infrastructure for absolutely everyone |
| Coolify | |
| Dokku | |
| ERPNext | |
| Instant | |
| Jitsi | |
| LibreOffice | |
| Mattermost | |
| Nocodb | Open Source Airtable Alternative |
| Plane | Open Source JIRA, Linear, Monday, and Asana Alternative |
Awesome GitHub Repos:
AI Products
- AI Tools Club
- AI Tools Database
- Companies Tools
- Future Tools
- G2
- Tools For Humans
- Top AI Tools
- The Rundown AI
Onchain Apps
Best products that leverage DePIN tech and crypto incentives.
See Crypto Toolkit for more detailed analysis.
Context
- AI Coding
- Agent Development
- Product Development
- Platform Engineering
- DePIN Tech
- Business Operations
- Operations as a Service