For all businesses, growth is essential in order to keep up with the competition. Small and medium-sized businesses also have to factor in budget limits and a quick time frame for making their mark on the world.
Growing with a limited budget can be a difficult task for anyone, but SMBs are discovering that Cloud CRM makes it easier to achieve that feat. Also known as Cloud Computing, Software as a Service (SaaS) or On-Demand CRM, it simply means that your data is being stored on Cloud company’s server instead of your own.
While it may sound obvious that you would want to keep your data on your own server, theirs is actually more secure, less maintenance, and you’re much less likely to lose access to your data.
According to a recent survey of SMBs by Primus, 86% report improved business processes since adopting cloud-based services. CBR also reports that the SMB cloud services market will grow by 17% in the next three years.
Not sure if it’s for you? Here are 3 of the most compelling reasons to get on the Cloud this year:
#1 IT’S COST EFFECTIVE
Unlike On-Premise CRM solutions, with the Cloud you don’t need to purchase and maintain a private server. You can simply access a website that’s created for you through a hosting service. Additionally, you will save time and money on CRM implementation, as the Cloud gets you up and running right away. Discover the 1CRM Cloud Service »
To keep it cost effective, you also need to choose the right CRM solution for your business. They can vary greatly in price and features. Download the Ultimate CRM Checklist to ensure you get the right CRM for your business.
#2 YOUR DATA IS AVAILABLE & PROTECTED
When your CRM lives on your own personal server, it’s up to you to make sure that your data is consistently backed up, in case your server should fail one day. Using the 1CRM Cloud Service, backups of your software and data are managed transparently by the Cloud infrastructure. That way, you don’t need to worry about how long its been since you last backed up your data!
With the Cloud, a power outage also doesn’t mean it’s lights out for your business. World-class data centres such as the MS Azure data centres used by 1CRM have redundant power, redundant storage, and redundant internet connections all available to maintain connectivity in the most challenging conditions.
But, if your server is On-Premise, a power outage means a loss of all access to your data until it comes back on. Using the Cloud, you and your colleagues can still access that data from any location that does have power and Internet.
#3 HIGHER SECURITY
Many business owners may feel uneasy about keeping their data in the Cloud, with the frequent headlines about “hacking” and data breaches. However, your data is in fact safer in the hands of professionals. Cloud providers employ state-of-the-art security measures so that they can obtain and keep their clients. A small business owner can rarely afford these extravagant measures, and you are therefore getting enterprise-level security for your SMB with the Cloud.
Cloud companies and data centres also invest in professional security teams to monitor their servers 24 hours a day. Typically, user sessions within the Cloud are also fully SSL encrypted – establishing a highly secure, encrypted end-to-end connection between the servers and the point of use. Ultimately, your data is much safer in the Cloud than on your personal server, managed by Bill the IT guy.
Whether you choose Cloud or On-Premise CRM also depends on the needs of your business and what you’re comfortable with. On-Premise CRM solutions also have many benefits, including potentially unlimited storage and the ability to support more in-depth customization and integration capabilities. 1CRM provides the source code to make these customizations possible. Check out our On Premise vs. Cloud Comparison to discover more pros and cons.
Want to get started on the Cloud? Get your 1CRM 30-day free trial to begin immediately!
