Singer to SaaS

In the mid-1800s, Isaac Singer made two changes that transformed an industry. He invented an affordable sewing machine and sold it with a payment plan. Workshops and individuals could now access technology previously limited to manufacturers. Within decades, thousands of small producers replaced the few professionals who had controlled the industry.

We’re at a similar threshold for AI and software as a service (SaaS). The tools to build software are becoming more accessible every day.

It makes creation possible for everyone. Small teams and individuals can now build tools in days and weeks instead of months and years. Technical complexity that once required years of experience and specialized knowledge is now simplified with AI that can write code, design interfaces, and implement features using natural language.

However, Singer’s sewing machines didn’t eliminate the need for basic sewing skills and AI tools won’t remove the requirement for basic tech knowledge. What changes is the barrier to entry.

Like Singer paved the way for thousands of at-home tailors, I predict thousands of specialized micro-SaaS products emerging at relatively low costs.

Established SaaS companies face a crucial tipping point. Will they become the Singer of the AI age, adapting their business models to this new reality?

History suggests that when barriers collapse, markets change permanently. We saw it with Kodak losing to digital cameras, Blockbuster missing out on streaming, and AltaVista bypassed by a single input field.