8 Benefits Associated with Cloud-Based CRM Services

A generation ago, no one would have believed that we could store information on the cloud. However, all our data is linked to cloud storage today, from smartphones and smartwatches to laptops and tablets.

If you have been using CRM services, you know how they can improve and increase your business. But did you know that cloud computing and CRM intersect? This happens in a specific area called Cloud-Based CRM.

Using this can help your online presence improve and grow sales. Let’s look at what Cloud-Based CRM services are, and then delve into eight great benefits of using them.

What Is Cloud-Based CRM?

CRM software is typically installed on desktops, requiring you to be in-office to access information. Cloud-based CRM moves the functionality to cloud storage, eliminating the restriction of being able to access data from only one location.

Image courtesy Datafloq

Now, your data and the tools to analyze it are both stored remotely. All you need is a functional internet connection and a bit of know-how about web-based CRM.

The pioneer of this tool is a company called Salesforce, which introduced the tool Force.com. It’s been more than a decade since then, and Cloud-based CRM has become incredibly affordable and accessible to all.

The Biggest Pros of Using Cloud-Based CRM

When you use Cloud-based CRM, you are already implementing a high degree of flexibility into your office space. It can transform the way you function, not just through directly increasing productivity, but also gives your employees more freedom which feeds back into efficiency.

Here are the top eight reasons why Cloud-based CRM is so popular:

1. Workplace Flexibility

On-site CRM restricted users to a server-based software that must be accessed through a common workplace. By moving this functionality to a cloud, your employees can work from anywhere with an internet connection.

Firstly, employees who need to work from home some days can do so, without letting tools affect their productivity. Work can continue without their physical presence in your office.

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Secondly, making CRM data accessible to travelling sales teams improves their confidence in their pitches. It also allows them to demonstrate statistics at any time, which helps improve your reputation. It also makes sure that key team members can travel without causing losses in your work process.

2. Scalability

Especially for small businesses, growth is rapid in the first few years. This is excellent news, of course, but you also need to have your tools to grow with you. As your company grows, you will have more employees and contacts to manage.

Image courtesy AgileCRM

Cloud-based CRM is flexible during growth and recession. This means that you can scale it up to accommodate new users when you have a lot of data to manage. On the other hand, if things go wrong, you can scale it down to cut costs and still have complete control over feature functionality.

3. Reliability

A significant concern about on-site CRM is that data is centrally located. What happens if there is a security breach or a storage failure? Businesses cannot afford to lose this valuable information. In the event of blackouts or hardware failure, you may lose data, sometimes without a chance for recovery.

Cloud-based CRM stores your data in secure servers in multiple places. This data is backed up according to you, daily, weekly, or however often you desire. It secures your information, and you can restore it at any point that has corrupted it.

4. Countless Integrations

Let’s be honest. It is annoying having multiple tools and software running to analyze and manage your data. Numerous tools make it confusing for your business to organize itself. Installing a new software comes with the problem of incompatibility.

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The great thing about cloud-based CRM is that it offers limitless integrations. It makes information available to you in a central place so that nothing is lost in the tangle of software you rely on. Pull data from social CRM, marketing automation and others almost instantly.

5. Affordability

Money is the most critical resource for a business. On-site CRM is expensive, and you need to hire a team to keep it optimally running. When you need to cut corners, paying for expensive software becomes frivolous.

Cloud-based CRM is cheap because it functions remotely. You don’t need to install software, neither buy hardware. All you need to pay for is the subscription, which you can customize to your liking. This stops your business from bleeding dry, which allows even tight-budgets start-ups to benefit.

6. Security

It is vital to consider security for your data. Cloud-based CRM leave you vulnerable to data attacks and breaches. Therefore, it is essential to research the provider very thoroughly before committing to their service.

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However, if you have a reputable provider, Cloud-based CRM is very secure and often protects your data from a security breach. The concern is mainly from your own employees, who need to be trained to use the software correctly. IF this is done, you have no reason to worry.

7. Intuitive Installation

Installing new software usually requires several stakeholder meetings and decision-making processes. However, Cloud-based CRM is very likely to pass these tests. They are fast, easy to use and don’t require technical expertise to function.

All you must do is sign up with the service and start working with it immediately. Users can quickly access all data they need once they have user IDs and internet connection. All this within a day’s work.

8. Accessible Upgrades

On-site CRM needs to be upgraded from time to time, and if you want this upgrade, you must pay through your nose. After a point, non-upgraded CRM becomes defunct, and you must purchase the new version.

Image courtesy EngageBay

With Cloud-based CRM, all you need to do is download a quick file that installs itself. You then require all users to upgrade their version, with the click of a button, and you are good to go! This saves money on IT teams and makes sure you don’t lose any functionality during the upgrade.

Conclusion

Cloud-based CRM help s you manage and access your data in real-time, from anywhere with internet access. This helps improve productivity and efficiency while being intuitive and affordable.

Using Cloud-based CRM leads to increased revenue, less time wastage and flexible scaling. Upgrades and installations are quick and affordable and don’t hamper productivity at all.

If you aren’t using it yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up with EngageBay today to get a trial run with Cloud-based CRM for your business!

About the Author: Radhika Mohan Singh Roy

Radhika Mohan Singh Roy is the Marketing Manager at EngageBay. He has earlier been a senior marketer with Agile CRM, the manager for communities & social media at Simplilearn. He has previously also worked with Google, Apple Computers and Bank of America. He is a Masters’ degree holder in English and a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

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