What is Cloud Computing / SaaS And Its Place in Modern Business Solutions
Research has shown that many businesses are embracing cloud computing/SaaS by adopting online CRM (customer relationship management). This has enabled these companies to concentrate their time and resources on more critical things like selling more and increasing their market share. Businesses have realized that the low subscription fees for SaaS keep their IT costs low as compared to maintaining an in-house IT infrastructure.
In the old days, businesses were required to buy and maintain their own CRM systems in a bid to manage their customer records properly. For startup businesses, they had to factor in the cost of buying expensive CRM software in their startup budgets. This greatly increased the cost of starting a business. Now with cloud computing/SaaS (Software-as-a-service) many businesses have an alternative as an Internet connection has become the only IT infrastructure they need to manage their customers. Now all the business owner needs to do is subscribe to online CRM services offered via the Internet.
Cloud computing and SaaS CRM offers many benefits to all types of businesses, big and small, and this is largely the reason why it has become popular in recent years. These benefits are explained in more details in this article.
First, with cloud computing, you can access all the CRM capabilities you need via the Internet anytime you want and from anywhere you are as long as you have a computer and an Internet connection. Since most people already know how to use the Internet, they take less time learning to use CRM solutions offered via the Internet. This also means that many people are quickly adopting it.
Using cloud computing services will greatly lower your startup costs. With online CRM, all you will need to start managing your customers’ information effectively is low subscription fees. Since you do not need a license to use the CRM solution, your initial costs are greatly reduced. You will not need to invest in expensive hardware. Most importantly, however, you do not need anyone to manage and maintain your CRM system.
CRM software often needs to be upgraded or updated at a fee. Since the CRM service provider is in charge of upgrading and updating their online CRM system, this means you don’t need to spend anything in this regard. The service provider will ensure that they install any CRM software update to increase their capability to meet the customers’ needs. In addition, the provider will upgrade their hardware as their needs demand. You as the customer just have to sit and relax.
CRM service providers have to improve their services to meet your demands and those of their other customers. Many providers will customize their CRM services in order to meet your needs. Many will also allow you to integrate with other systems in order to increase your business productivity.
Clearly, cloud computing when it comes to CRM services is here to stay because it offers so many benefits to users and providers alike. Providers have realized that it is easy to acquire and maintain customers thus reducing their running costs. With cloud computing, many customers can be supported using only a single application. This enables these companies to increase their online CRM customers quickly without having to upgrade their infrastructure or increase the number of staff.
About author:
Lawry Matteson is young content writer and supplier for webCRM – one of the countless online CRM solution providers based on the cloud in SaaS delivery model since 2002. He likes to write, share and discuss