Cloud 101: Why Cloud computing is a no brainer for your business
On a very basic level, the Cloud provides companies and consumers with the ability to access, download and use applications like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems online. For example, Workbooks CRM systems and solutions, Apple’s App Store and Facebook are all Cloud-based.
Cloud computing is IT being delivered over the internet to your organisation”, says John Cheney, CEO of Workbooks.
“There are three benefits of using CRM in the Cloud”, he says. “Firstly, it makes your CRM platform cheaper; secondly, it is quicker to deploy and you don’t need to invest in infrastructure as it’s already there and ready for your organisation to use; and thirdly, it can be accessed from anywhere. Providing CRM data is much easier in the Cloud, too”, says Cheney.
Visiting Professor at Bristol Business School Bryan Foss says that many organisations are already using CRM and knowledge management solutions in the Cloud without realising it. “Other applications can be added too: lead nurturing can be included where there is a clear business case for its usage, but not for diverting internal resources through a traditional development project”, he adds.
Cloud computing is the solution to many of the business pains traditional IT used to cause business leaders. Gone are the days when small businesses struggled to keep up with the latest technology due to the expense and complexity of installation. It’s easy to get up and running with a Cloud application: you can literally turn it on and off to meet demand as you don’t need to invest in costly infrastructure. The Cloud provider manages the number of servers required to support your CRM system.
Additional servers can be added as the organisation grows, or they can be rationalised whenever the business isn’t doing so well. That’s how ‘elastic’ the Cloud is. You can respond quickly to changes in the business environment with the help of guaranteed levels of Cloud service and support.
A good CRM partner provides this Cloud service for you and has to keep you happy at the risk of losing your business; because they are providing an ongoing service, not a product.
The traditional in-house alternative is much more expensive than a Cloud-based CRM system like Workbooks CRM. The costs associated with it include buying the software, purchasing maintenance, support and professional services for it.
This approach requires the software to be hosted on internal servers, which as an organisation you’d need to buy. The other problem is that you may not have the expertise to implement your CRM system properly, or you may need to undertake a certain amount of additional development.
Together, the Cloud and CRM can make your organisation more efficient and effective in its customer delivery. Yet without taking advantage of what the Cloud and CRM can do for your organisation it can be very difficult to cure any of your business pains.
These might include inconsistent revenue performance, the backlash of a poor company culture, a lack of cost and margin visibility and cash flow management problems. The introduction of new technology often requires a change management programme to prevent staff from resisting its introduction. With the help of the right CRM partner and its CRM solutions all of these issues become manageable and even obsolete.
So if you wish to save time and money, talk to us at Workbooks – the Cloud-based CRM experts. Workbooks can transform your customer relationships and business performance; without outlaying a lot of money or putting a lot of effort into a complicated installation.