Abstract: Various embodiments described herein offer improved functionality for configuring software applications so as to provide customers with a great deal of configuration flexibility, while reducing data redundancy and facilitating maintenance. Multiple configuration layers are provided, including system layer(s) and tenant-specific layer(s). System layer(s) specify configuration parameters for a group of tenants, and tenant-specific layer(s) can be used to override particular parameters as needed for individual tenants. In this manner, the system layer(s) act as a template upon which tenant-specific configuration layer(s) can be added.