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Is Web-Based CRM Right for Your Business?
Finding the right CRM program is essential, because no matter what program you choose, it is going to represent a monetary investment. You need to know that the money is being well spent. Before you purchase web-based CRM, you need to know whether or not it is right for the business's needs.
Web-based CRM works well for a business that employs many telecommuting workers. For instance, a company that outsources its sales force to home based workers can benefit from a web-based CRM program. This will allow all sales associates to access the same information, provided they have a high-speed Internet connection. Information can be shared quickly, sometimes even instantly, even when workers are located miles apart. Non-web based CRM programs would require the users to be connected to the same in-office network in order to share information. This is not always practical with telecommuters.
Another benefit of choosing web-based CRM is the fact that it does not require an expensive upgrade to your server's hardware. The data in the program is stored on the website's server, not your own server. For small to medium businesses working on a tight IT budget, this is an important benefit. In addition, updates to the program are made automatically, so you do not have to worry about making changes on your own. This also adds to the security of the program, because the server that hosts the website where the CRM programming is found will provide regular backups of all data. With an on-site CRM option, backing up the data is the business's own responsibility.
With web-based CRM, you have one of the most accessible CRM options. Again, the program is accessible anywhere that a decent Internet connection is available. If your business requires regular travel, web-based CRM may be best.
This CRM option is often the more affordable one, but this is not always the case. Because CRM programming is so customizable, you may find that a non-web based program is more affordable for your business, depending on your unique needs.
Of course, web-based CRM is not perfect for everyone. One potential problem is the fact that you do not own the software. This is what makes it more affordable, but you are at the mercy of the company that owns the programming to ensure it is always working. When the CRM software is loaded directly onto your computers, you are the only one responsible for making sure that it works.
If your business does not always work near an Internet connection, then web-based CRM will not work. It does not allow for off line access to the databases. Even if you regularly have Internet access, this can be a drawback, because you will experience occasional hardware or connection problems that limit your Internet access. With web-based CRM, you will not be able to work efficiently, because you will be blocked from your CRM programming.
If your business is already using Outlook to manage your customer information, you are going to have to do extra work to set up web-based CRM programming. You will have to transfer all of your information from outlook to the new program. if you do not do this correctly, you will not succeed with using the new programming. Many businesses that are completely dependent on Outlook find that implementing CRM software is more problematic than it is worth. They simply continue to use Outlook and limp along without the aid of CRM, simply because the transfer is too time consuming.
Figuring out if web-based CRM is right for you requires weighing the benefits against the drawbacks, and then comparing the web-based options to the non-web based ones. This will help you find the solution to best meet your business's needs.
What Other Options Are There?
Before you decide to use web-based CRM, you need to know what the other options are. One is to choose software that you load directly onto your business's computers. This typically requires some IT support and an additional server to hold the data. However, this option usually allows you to customize the programming to fit your needs better. It also allows for off line access to that data.
Another option to consider is an Outlook based CRM program. This option will integrate well with a business that is already reliant on Outlook for customer interaction. The programming integrates directly into Outlook, requiring no transfer of information. Prophet by Avidian is an example of a program that works entirely within Outlook.
Because Avidian recognized the need for an affordable CRM option, particularly for small to medium businesses, they developed Prophet OnDemand, a hosted CRM program. Like the regular Prophet software, Prophet OnDemand is fully integrated into Outlook, but unlike the regular software, it does not require an additional server, because the product is hosted outside of the business.
In many ways, OnDemand functions like a web-based CRM program. It updates automatically, requires no extra server space, and allows for remote access. However, unlike web-based software, OnDemand does not require information to be transferred from Outlook to the CRM program, because it works within Outlook.
Whether you choose an Outlook based program, one that is integrated into Outlook, or a web-based CRM solution, you need to choose one. Once you implement CRM technology into your business, you will not know how you lived without it. You will be able to streamline communication between team members, increase customer satisfaction through more personalized contact, keep track of opportunities before they are gone for good, and increase your overall profits by turning more leads into sales. So take some time to do your research, learn the differences between each option, and choose the one that is the best fit, but do not let more time go by without benefiting from powerful CRM programming.
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