Verifying the Truth of 'SaaS is Dead' — Redefining SaaS for the AI Era and the Dilemma of Japanese Companies
A survey by Techtouch Inc. reveals that over half of large companies feel challenged by manual tasks on SaaS. While expectations for AI automation are high, there is a cautious stance towards adopting new AI-first SaaS, indicating Japanese companies face the need to redefine SaaS.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 15:00 (28 min after Collected)
Techtouch Inc. conducted a verification survey on "SaaS is Dead" targeting 109 information systems and DX promotion managers and executives at large corporations with 1,000 or more employees.
In recent years, as the discourse "SaaS is Dead" has been whispered in some circles, this survey aimed to clarify whether large corporations are actually experiencing "DX outcomes" through SaaS adoption, or what kind of challenges are arising at the operational level. The results showed that while over half feel challenged by still performing tasks manually on SaaS that "AI should be able to automate," only 24.8% of companies prioritize "introducing new AI-first SaaS." The issue is not whether SaaS is good or bad, but "how to redefine it in the AI era." Japanese companies are now at that threshold.
01｜Over half feel challenged by manual tasks on SaaS
02｜The value sought from SaaS shifts from "operability" to "AI-driven business execution support"
03｜However, a cautious stance on introducing new AI-first SaaS (limited transition)
Download the full survey report here: https://techtouch.jp/resources/ebook_saas-is-dead2026/
◾️Survey Overview
Survey Name: "SaaS is Dead" Verification Survey 2026
Survey Method: Internet survey planned by IDEATECH's research marketing "Resapii®︎"
Survey Period: April 9, 2026, to April 10, 2026
Valid Responses: 109 information systems and DX promotion managers and executives from large corporations (1,000 or more employees)
*Percentages are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not necessarily be 100.
◾️What Japanese Companies Feel Beyond the "SaaS is Dead" Argument
The proportion of respondents who answered "know" or "have heard of" the discussion about "SaaS is Dead" was 53.2%, more than half. On the other hand, about 45% answered "don't know," indicating a variation in awareness.
However, what is noteworthy is that regardless of this difference in awareness, common challenges are already evident at the operational level.
When asked "Q1. Are you aware of the spreading discussion 'SaaS is Dead'?" (n=109), 28.4% answered "know," and 24.8% answered "have heard of it but don't know the details" regarding the "SaaS is Dead" discussion. Meanwhile, 45.0% answered "don't know," revealing a variation in awareness.
・Know: 28.4%
・Have heard of it but don't know the details: 24.8%
・Don't know: 45.0%
・Don't know/Cannot answer: 1.8%
◾️The problem was not SaaS, but "what people are doing"
The survey results showed that over half (50.5%) felt challenged by the situation where tasks that "AI should be able to automate and streamline" are still being performed manually on SaaS.
Specifically, routine information processing tasks such as "data aggregation and processing" (56.4%) and "creating routine reports" (50.9%) were cited as top concerns.
Furthermore, tasks such as "data entry," "checking and correcting input errors," and "approval and confirmation work" still rely on human effort, revealing the reality that SaaS continues to be used as a "tool operated by people."
This result indicates that the essence of the problem is not SaaS itself, but "how work is done."
When asked "Q2. How do you feel about the situation where tasks that 'AI should be able to automate and streamline' are still being performed manually by humans in the SaaS you currently use at your workplace?" (n=109), 19.3% answered "feel very challenged," and 31.2% answered "feel somewhat challenged."
・Feel very challenged: 19.3%
・Feel somewhat challenged: 31.2%
・Don't feel much challenged: 28.4%
・Don't feel challenged at all: 7.3%
・Don't know/Cannot answer: 13.8%
When asked "Q3. For those who answered 'feel very challenged' or 'feel somewhat challenged' in Q2, what specific situations do you feel challenged by? (Multiple answers)" (n=55), 56.4% answered "manually aggregating and processing data," 50.9% answered "manually creating routine reports and documents," and 34.5% answered "the burden of learning how to operate SaaS itself."
<Main Answers
In recent years, as the discourse "SaaS is Dead" has been whispered in some circles, this survey aimed to clarify whether large corporations are actually experiencing "DX outcomes" through SaaS adoption, or what kind of challenges are arising at the operational level. The results showed that while over half feel challenged by still performing tasks manually on SaaS that "AI should be able to automate," only 24.8% of companies prioritize "introducing new AI-first SaaS." The issue is not whether SaaS is good or bad, but "how to redefine it in the AI era." Japanese companies are now at that threshold.
01｜Over half feel challenged by manual tasks on SaaS
02｜The value sought from SaaS shifts from "operability" to "AI-driven business execution support"
03｜However, a cautious stance on introducing new AI-first SaaS (limited transition)
Download the full survey report here: https://techtouch.jp/resources/ebook_saas-is-dead2026/
◾️Survey Overview
Survey Name: "SaaS is Dead" Verification Survey 2026
Survey Method: Internet survey planned by IDEATECH's research marketing "Resapii®︎"
Survey Period: April 9, 2026, to April 10, 2026
Valid Responses: 109 information systems and DX promotion managers and executives from large corporations (1,000 or more employees)
*Percentages are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not necessarily be 100.
◾️What Japanese Companies Feel Beyond the "SaaS is Dead" Argument
The proportion of respondents who answered "know" or "have heard of" the discussion about "SaaS is Dead" was 53.2%, more than half. On the other hand, about 45% answered "don't know," indicating a variation in awareness.
However, what is noteworthy is that regardless of this difference in awareness, common challenges are already evident at the operational level.
When asked "Q1. Are you aware of the spreading discussion 'SaaS is Dead'?" (n=109), 28.4% answered "know," and 24.8% answered "have heard of it but don't know the details" regarding the "SaaS is Dead" discussion. Meanwhile, 45.0% answered "don't know," revealing a variation in awareness.
・Know: 28.4%
・Have heard of it but don't know the details: 24.8%
・Don't know: 45.0%
・Don't know/Cannot answer: 1.8%
◾️The problem was not SaaS, but "what people are doing"
The survey results showed that over half (50.5%) felt challenged by the situation where tasks that "AI should be able to automate and streamline" are still being performed manually on SaaS.
Specifically, routine information processing tasks such as "data aggregation and processing" (56.4%) and "creating routine reports" (50.9%) were cited as top concerns.
Furthermore, tasks such as "data entry," "checking and correcting input errors," and "approval and confirmation work" still rely on human effort, revealing the reality that SaaS continues to be used as a "tool operated by people."
This result indicates that the essence of the problem is not SaaS itself, but "how work is done."
When asked "Q2. How do you feel about the situation where tasks that 'AI should be able to automate and streamline' are still being performed manually by humans in the SaaS you currently use at your workplace?" (n=109), 19.3% answered "feel very challenged," and 31.2% answered "feel somewhat challenged."
・Feel very challenged: 19.3%
・Feel somewhat challenged: 31.2%
・Don't feel much challenged: 28.4%
・Don't feel challenged at all: 7.3%
・Don't know/Cannot answer: 13.8%
When asked "Q3. For those who answered 'feel very challenged' or 'feel somewhat challenged' in Q2, what specific situations do you feel challenged by? (Multiple answers)" (n=55), 56.4% answered "manually aggregating and processing data," 50.9% answered "manually creating routine reports and documents," and 34.5% answered "the burden of learning how to operate SaaS itself."
<Main Answers