Before we dive in, let me provide some context. This article explores the 10 largest global enterprise software companies that provide solutions via the SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) cloud delivery model.
We‘ll look at when and how these highly valuable companies were started, break down their major product offerings, review some key customers and acquisitions, examine their massive growth and current market valuations.
My goal is to help you, the reader, understand what sets these SaaS leaders apart and what factors have allowed them to scale so successfully over time. Let‘s get started!
1. Adobe Inc
Founded in 1982 by John Warnock and Charles Geschke, Adobe began as a provider of graphical software solutions, starting with their pioneering PostScript page description language.
Today, Adobe is best known for creative products like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Illustrator – used by creative professionals worldwide to craft visual content. Beyond the creative world, Adobe also provides marketing automation platforms like Adobe Campaign Classic for enterprise.
Some major customers include top media companies like NBC, the BBC, and Conde Nast. As well as leading brands like Microsoft, Nike, and FedEx relying on Adobe‘s analytics capabilities.
In 2021, Adobe brought in record revenue of $15.8 billion. This represents 23% year-over-year growth, showing their longstanding solutions continue gaining traction across segments.
| Year Founded | Key Founders | Core Products | 2021 Revenue | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | John Warnock, Charles Geschke | Photoshop, Acrobat, Marketing Cloud | $15.8B | $198.9B |
Let‘s move on to the global CRM leader, Salesforce.
2. Salesforce
Salesforce began in 1999 when Marc Benioff, Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff and Frank Dominguez sought to disrupt the CRM software industry.
At the time, CRM solutions for managing customer data and interactions required significant investments and on-premise infrastructure upgrades before implementation. Salesforce‘s cloud delivery model eliminated this barrier to adoption.
Core products today include Sales Cloud for sales force automation and Service Cloud for customer service management. Major clients span all industries – some notable names are Adidas, L‘Oreal, HP and Amazon Web Services.
In 2021, Salesforce acquired business communication solution Slack Technologies for $27.7 billion. This provides Salesforce customers with a centralized hub to collaborate across siloed systems – a major upgrade enhancing internal team productivity.
| Year Founded | Key Founders | Core Products | 2021 Revenue | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Marc Benioff, Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff, Frank Dominguez | Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud | $26.5B | $182.9B |
Next up is Intuit, the financial software specialist.
3. Intuit
Founded in…
