CRM in the cloud, hosted CRM, SaaS – there are many different names for it, and a lot of technical jargon surrounding it, but what is it and what are the benefits of using it?
Essentially CRM in the cloud is where your CRM software and system is held on hardware and IT systems which are provided by a hosting company and are held in a secure data centre. So, what does this mean?
Well, because the servers will not be on your site you will access them remotely and this is where the ‘cloud’ element comes in. The fact that the hosting company provides the hardware which the system is based on reduces the overhead and makes the cost of the solution cheaper from the outset, making CRM more affordable for small to medium sized organisations. However, cloud or hosted solutions are not only used by small to medium sized organisations. For larger organisations, cloud or hosted CRM may be the starting place for a much larger project. It provides the ideal introduction to CRM as it has all the functionality needed without the associated risk of being tied into a long-term commitment.
With CRM in the cloud, for example hosted Microsoft CRM, you pay a fixed rate on a monthly basis. What’s more, you will access your data remotely; this means that you can use your system anywhere in the world providing you have an internet connection. In addition, the responsibility for the maintenance of the system and your data falls on your hosting company – leaving you free to concentrate on more business critical activities.
The initial idea of cloud computing was born out of the need for companies to outsource their IT requirement in an attempt to reduce the cost of their overheads. Although the cloud computing was originally based around outsourcing infrastructure, there are now more cloud solutions available, which means companies can outsource email, CRM and Accounts.
The benefits of CRM in the cloud are:
- Lower upfront costs – you don’t have to purchase any equipment
- Once you have bought the licenses you can use the solution almost immediately
- You can access the system from anywhere in the world providing you have an internet connection
However, On-Premise solutions provide:
- Greater control of the system
- Easy configuration
- Unlimited customisation potential
The pro’s and con’s of each hosting alternative, mean there is often a debate over whether the hosted or on-premise solution is best for an organisation. The answer to this is usually dependent on the individual circumstances and requirements of the business.
Concentrix is an independent business solutions specialist and provides best in breed ERP, CRM and IT Infrastructure solutions. These include Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sage CRM, FrontRange’s GoldMine, Sage 200 and Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Concentrix also provides Microsoft Dynamics CRM on the hosted platform.
To find out more about hosted solutions or to discuss which type of solution is right for your business, please contact Concentrix on 01509 410500 or email [email protected]
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