CRM in your own cloud

CRM in your own cloud

CRM in your own cloud

You'd have to be hiding under a rock if you didn't know that "cloud computing" is all the rage these days. You know it is when Microsoft advertises cloud computing on TV commercials. (What they don't tell you is that you don't really need "the cloud" to edit photographs the way they show on the commercial. But, that's another topic altogether!)

What a lot of people DON'T know is that several CRM apps are available in both "premises" based form as well as web-based form. This means that a CRM app can be run on your computer, or your server, as well as on the Internet.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sugar CRM and ACT! are but 3 examples of CRM apps that can be run either way. ACT! in particular, in its Premium version, allows both local network as well as Internet access. This is especially attractive if the firm using ACT! "hosts" the ACT! database on one of their own servers. This saves the firm the cost of "renting" their CRM software on a per-month-per-person basis. (Pure web-based CRM apps such SalesForce.com are available only on a per-month-per-person basis.)

The beauty of using ACT! in this scenario is that local, office-bound users can access a common ACT! database via their desktop computer. And the outbound, mostly-out-of-the-office employee can access that very same common, shared database while out and about. They only need a computer with a web browser and an Internet connection.

Thus, the outbound rep can access a company ACT! database to retrieve information as well as add new information, display reports, send email, creates notes and whatever else needs to be done to market and sell their products and services and build and maintain a relationship with their customers.

The ACT! for Web server needn't be a high-end powerhouse. As long as the server meets ACT!'s hardware and software requirements, it can act as a web server for ACT! The key component, however, is a really fast Internet connection. DSL probably won't cut it if you want to get the most out of your Internet-accessed ACT! database.

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