Guest Article
With the SaaS market set to grow by 22% in 2025 alone, the way SaaS companies hire is changing fast. New tech, changes to the SaaS business opportunity, and shifts in how and where people work are behind these changes.
In this article, we explore the trends HR leaders need to watch and prepare for to stay competitive in the coming year.
Artificial intelligence is now in everyday use within HR teams, especially in the SaaS space. AI is changing how companies approach hiring by handling time-consuming tasks like sourcing candidates, screening CVs, and even sending out initial communications.
According to IBM, over 40% of enterprise-level businesses are actively using AI, and that figure is set to rise. A Gartner report found that 87% of employees believe algorithms could give fairer feedback than their managers.
Given this picture, we predict that HR leaders will move from cautiously exploring AI to making it a central part in their recruitment strategies.
Hiring managers now have access to tools that help them better understand which candidates are likely to succeed in a role or fit the company’s culture. But a delicate balance must be struck: SaaS companies that use AI recruitment tools risk losing the human-to-human experience that candidates value.
On the flip side, the rise of AI-driven recruitment has created a demand for tech-savvy professionals who can build and refine these tools. In 2025, machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI experts will be critical hires.
VivaHR is leading the charge in recruitment tools. Their platform makes it easier to screen candidates with questionnaires and even send out all-important candidate offer letters, cutting down on time-to-hire making HR teams operate more efficiently. In a fast-moving market like SaaS, tools like these can have a significant impact. With a 4.9/5 customer rating, VivaHR is the #1 hiring software for SMBs.
Learn more about 2025 Hiring Challenges & How to Overcome Them here.
SaaS companies are shifting from individual tools to all-encompassing platforms that cover HR, CRM and project management. According to Gartner, by 2028, 75% of businesses will treat SaaS application backup and integration as a top priority. This signals a clear trend. Businesses want connected ecosystems without the hassle of managing many different platforms.
For SaaS recruiters, this brings a demand for candidates who know how to manage these integrated ecosystems. Roles like SaaS platform managers, integration specialists and product architects are in the spotlight. These roles ensure tools not only work together but also work effectively throughout the entire organisation.
Companies also need members of the workforce who can think strategically – people who can understand the technical detail and the bigger business picture. Those with experience overseeing large-scale integrations and ensuring interoperability will become highly sought after by recruiters.
SaaS companies are taking personalisation to the next level by offering products and services that adapt to each individual user’s preferences.
AI and machine learning will be key to enabling companies to deliver these custom-tailored experiences and help keep users engaged and loyal. As personalisation becomes a key differentiator between SaaS products, it’s reshaping the way products are built, with an increasing reliance on data to drive decisions.
As the demand for personalisation grows, companies need a new type of talent. There’s a surge in demand for AI engineers and data scientists who can develop the complex algorithms behind these personalised experiences.
UX/UI designers who can make these custom experiences easy and enjoyable to navigate are also highly sought after. Plus, recruiters will be on the hunt for B2B SaaS marketers that can bring these personalised solutions to market.
Additionally, SaaS companies are seeking professionals who specialise in data engineering and customer success. Understanding how to interpret user data and anticipate customer needs is crucial for building meaningful, personalised experiences.
More SaaS companies are stepping away from the traditional flat-rate pricing and starting to explore more adaptable models.
Usage-based pricing, where customers pay based on how much they use the product, is becoming more common. This shift allows businesses to match their pricing to the actual value customers receive, giving them greater flexibility and, in turn, helping the company capture more revenue from those who use the service the most.
As pricing models shift, the need for new skill sets grows. Companies will seek pricing analysts and business strategists who can handle the complexities of these more flexible pricing structures.
On top of that, customer success teams will be asked to step up and ensure customers understand how to get the most out of their product based on how they use it.
As cyber threats become more frequent and data privacy regulations grow stricter, SaaS businesses are increasingly turning to AI and blockchain to strengthen their security.
AI tools are helping to spot potential threats in real time, while blockchain is being used to securely store data in a decentralised way, providing an added layer of protection.
The AppOmni State of SaaS Security Report 2024 highlighted that security remains a top priority for SaaS companies, and we expect this trend to grow. Many leaders will seek ways to integrate these advanced technologies to safeguard sensitive information and comply with global data protection laws.
With a growing emphasis on security, there’s an increasing demand for experts who understand AI-driven security measures and blockchain technology. SaaS companies will be on the lookout for professionals who can deploy these technologies effectively. See here for blockchain developer interview questions.
Additionally, as companies work to meet regulatory requirements, there will be a rising need for compliance officers and data privacy specialists who can ensure that systems are secure and that businesses remain compliant.
Remote-first SaaS startups are already very popular, and this trend shows no sign of waning in 2025. Driven by the shift toward flexible work models, more SaaS companies are embracing the opportunity to build diverse, global teams without being restricted by geographical boundaries.
The continuing prevalence of remote-first work in SaaS means HR and recruitment processes will need to continue to evolve to cater to a distributed workforce.
SaaS HR teams will need to structure compensation packages that are fair and competitive globally. For some companies, this may mean implementing market-based salary structures tailored to different regions. This approach will help companies attract top SaaS talent in locations where living costs or salary expectations differ significantly.
Additionally, demand will rise for roles that support the remote-first model, such as global HR specialists and experts in cross-cultural communication.
Read more about how to create a remote-first working culture that drives performance.
Vertical SaaS solutions are gaining momentum, with more companies developing software tailored to specific industries. Instead of offering a general-purpose platform, vertical SaaS products are designed to address the unique challenges of sectors such as healthcare, legal services, finance and retail.
Rather than using broad, one-size-fits-all tools, companies are now investing in SaaS products that better fit their particular needs. This means the demand for software that is deeply embedded in the processes of these industries is on the rise.
As vertical SaaS becomes more prevalent, recruitment processes will need to adapt. Rather than simply looking for general SaaS experts, companies will now seek professionals who bring both technical expertise and an understanding of the specific industries they serve.
Roles like product managers, customer success managers, and salespeople will no longer require only knowing about the technology. Candidates will also need to be familiar with industry nuances.
The talent search will also expand to include positions such as product managers with a focus on health tech, compliance officers for legal SaaS products, and integration experts who can bridge the gap between the software and the operational needs of various sectors.
This trend will likely create more niche job roles, particularly for professionals who can help businesses adopt and tailor these industry-specific tools.
The SaaS industry is changing, and recruitment practices must evolve with it. HR teams and SaaS leaders must stay ahead of these trends to secure the best candidates who will contribute to growth and innovation. Ultimately, the focus should continue to be on finding the right people to shape the SaaS industry’s future.
About the Author
Jacob Wickett is the founder of Live Digital, a SaaS recruitment agency. He’s passionate about connecting SaaS companies with exceptional talent through expert headhunting. Jacob takes a proactive approach to recruitment, targeting both active and passive candidates, to ensure businesses hire individuals with the perfect mix of expertise and cultural fit.