Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing – Is It Really the Wave of the Future?

Monday, January 9, 2012 by Sidney Angelos

What is the cloud, you ask?

Well, if you have a basic email account (Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, etc) then you’re already making usage of that thing called “the cloud”. Cloud computing, in a nutshell, is when your personal data is stored on an external server, as opposed to on your own computer. Other than possible security concerns, there aren’t any downsides to usage of cloud computing.

Okay, so you can store your data, safe and secure, outside of your computer. But what’s the big deal about that?

With many services, that data is accessible from other places as well via the internet. For instance, say you start working on a presentation for work or school, and suddenly, your computer turns off. Power outage, empty battery, or the machine simply blowing up are all options. However, whenever you get back onto a computer- the same, or another- you can resume right from where you left off, because if you’re using a cloud-based application, chances are that it automatically saved your work at certain intervals. Your data might not fare as well on the off chance your computer doesn’t back up your work.

With something like Google Documents, working on something from any location isn’t the only benefit. Not by far. There’s also collaboration- you know, two or more people working on the same thing together, in real time? Yeah, with cloud-based applications, that suddenly becomes possible. And just like that, your productivity shoots up. For work, the cloud is better.

Working on things from anywhere, at any time- that’s called “location independency”. What I’m about to introduce to you is “platform independency”.

Computers (like, say, a PC or a Mac) are not the only things that can access cloud-based applications. Smartphones (Androids, iPhones, etc) also have this ability. And you know, it’s not just for work matters, either.

How about uploading your entire music collection to the cloud and using your mobile device to stream it from anywhere? How about adding your movie collection, and from there, watching them whenever you get bored? You want to be able to look at private albums stored on the cloud? Lo and behold, you can do that, too.

Cloud-based storage, cloud-based work- the future is going in one direction, and that just happens to be the little thing called “the cloud”. It holds your data, and it’s accessible from anywhere you have the appropriate device. There’s many services available for a low price and for free, even. Of course, personal physical storage is still useful, but in some ways, the cloud is just so much better for these things.

The cloud is even coming to something people previously didn’t believe possible- gaming. With OnLive and a steady internet connection, one can actually stream and play video games over the internet. Forget those long installation times, all that space being taken up on your drive! Of course, OnLive doesn’t support everything, and the cloud isn’t going to become the solitary source of personal storage- that’s just being delusional.

But the cloud is going to make your life much easier, that’s guaranteed.

So, is data in the cloud the personal data trend of the future?

Yes.

About the Author

Ty is a writer on a variety of topics and he finds himself writing in the technology space quite often. You can find Ty writing on our blog occasionally or on other CRM and tech blogs.

 


Creating Loyal Customers through Cloud CRM

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 by Sidney Angelos

 


Cloud CRM, or customer relationship management, applications are opening doors for increased customer satisfaction while simultaneously lowering a company’s cost of providing for those experiences. By creating environments where a business can quickly and easily implement software solutions, on infinitely scalable hardware platforms, the cloud computing providers have made for effective channels of two-way communications between the business and its customers.

Hosting a CRM application on a cloud platform makes sense for the business because it:

  • Greatly reduces costs. Original applications required dedicated servers hosted directly in data centers (for the best performance.) In addition to the tens of thousands of dollars required to pay for software licenses, the cost of purchasing and maintaining server hardware could become astronomical to the business.
  • Provides near-instant scalability. Things happen fast in today’s online world. Being able to fulfill demand by quickly creating additional server instances can spell the difference between success and failure.
  • Eliminate Need of Dedicated Professionals. Many of the current cloud CRM solutions are so automated and easy to use, the business using such solutions no longer need an IT professional on their own staff. With the wages now commanded by such trained professionals, this savings alone often times more than covers the cost of implementation and maintenance of the Cloud CRM solution.

With this establishment of what Cloud CRM is and why it makes sense, now let’s discuss a focus on how to use this new technology platform to create loyal customers.

Many of today’s tech savvy customers are quickly becoming used to having information about their purchasing habits collected by equally savvy companies. In order to get maximum use of the data collected, businesses are regularly implementing Cloud CRM solutions. With a little fore thought and systems design, even the smallest businesses might realize a number of benefits in providing superior customer service through the cloud.

What are some of those benefits? The following list will briefly describe the more effective ways the business can ensure a happy customer experience; one that has higher chances of being repeated.

5 Benefits To the Business Of Implementing Cloud CRM Solutions

Capture & Management of Customer Information:

If information is power, then the effective collection and management of customer data allows the company the power it needs in order to provide quick, easy and cost effective customer service. Cloud CRM solutions which make the harvesting of customer info its top priority should be at the top of one’s list when seeking a CRM solution.

Brand Recognition:

Whether employing social CRM modules in ones relationship management or simply taking advantages of cloud scalability, having low cost, immediate delivery of the company’s marketing message increases brand awareness, and does so at previously unrealized cost and effort.

Sales Cycle Management:

Even the simplest retail sales have specific sales cycles. Cloud CRM solutions provide the company with both customer data as well as meta data associated with how the customer behaves. Having immediate access to when a customer buys, what they are spending their money on, whether or not returns are happening, and if so, to what level, and more, can provide management with a more complete picture of the entire sales cycle. The use of that information in constructive and relevant manners could make the difference between increasing sales to existing customers and seeing quotas go unmet.

Ease of Delivery of Priority Customer Service:

Most customers want to feel they are the only thing important to the company. It can be a challenge to know which customer should be treated with priority and which ones should simply be respected, but not necessarily promoted to the level of those getting the very best treatment.
The harsh reality is that there are certain customers who pay much more to a business with the expectation of being taken care of. This does not, of course, excuse a company for ignoring or otherwise offending all of their customers, but with the information made available to the sales associates via a Could CRM solution, those who spend the most will be immediately identified and treated as the company wishes them to be.

Highly Personalized Service:

Even with the last benefit having been stated, one of the most alluring aspects of a business using Cloud CRM is the ability to personalize many of its interactions with its customers at little to no extra cost. Today’s computer power and Internet delivery speeds makes it very easy for a cloud based solution to present an employee with a massive amount of data when dealing with the current customer. Even in an online approach where the company provides the customer with direct access to their individual account information, the use of Cloud CRM solutions can provide a richer more robust user experience.

At the end of the business day, it is usually the customer’s purchases which make the company’s world go round. For a minimal investment in Cloud CRM technologies, the savvy business can provide for superior customer relationship while still holding down its costs of doing so. Happy customers tend to spend more money. They also tend to tell their friends, family and associates.


Faster, Bigger, Better: Growing Your Business with Cloud-Based CRM

Monday, November 8, 2010 by Sidney Angelos

Cloud Computing

Cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software provides businesses with flexibility for marketing, sales, and support teams. Because all of the company’s applications operate in the cloud—which is simply another term for the Internet—the applications can be accessed from anywhere. Sales teams may access CRM software in the office, from their Blackberry, or from a laptop at a remote location. Cloud-based CRM tools require only an Internet connection; each team member simply logs into their website and the applications instantaneously appear.
Continue Reading: ‘Faster, Bigger, Better: Growing Your Business with Cloud-Based CRM’


Application Development Platforms in the Cloud – Why Use Them?

Friday, November 5, 2010 by Jace Modavi

Rapid Application Development

Some have made the claim that application development in the cloud is like a new language for application development. I disagree. It’s more like an entirely different planet. Application platforms run in the cloud have tremendous advantages.

The cloud erases all the barriers between users and developers that were once imposed by the physical realities of computer hardware. The idea is something Plato would approve of. It’s as though the pioneers of software development were, even until now, only working on an imperfect physical product—a product which was, Plato would assert, a bad copy of a higher, purer process taking place in the heavens.
Continue Reading: ‘Application Development Platforms in the Cloud – Why Use Them?’


Effectively Manage Your Marketing Campaigns with Marketing CRM

Thursday, November 4, 2010 by Sidney Angelos

Effectively manage your marketing campaigns with marketing crm

The foundation of a successful business is good customer relationships. And the way to build and sustain good customer relationships is with marketing customer relationship management, or CRM.

CRM provides a 360-degree view of customers and all of their interactions with your company’s various departments, from sales to the help desk. By utilizing CRM applications that run over the Internet, you—and all the employees whom you authorize—can view an up-to-the-minute snapshot of your customers. Additionally, CRM allows data that can be concisely gathered and prioritized to give a company a good handle on marketing approaches to use to gain sales with those customers.
Continue Reading: ‘Effectively Manage Your Marketing Campaigns with Marketing CRM’


10 Reasons why Cloud Computing is the Wave of the Future

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 by Sidney Angelos

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to data storage and workflow-related software programs that are accessible from anywhere using a computer or other device with an Internet connection. Rather than the old model of on-premises server-based computing, in which companies stored all data and ran all programs from massive servers that had to be housed, cooled, maintained and upgraded, cloud computing lets you essentially outsource this hosting capability. And rather than purchase expensive software and licenses, with cloud computing you can choose applications from online libraries or have custom apps developed to meet your company’s specific needs. Software is evolving from discrete, stand-alone programs into an accessible Internet-based service; it’s even sometimes called “Software as a Service.”

Let’s look at the top 10 reasons why cloud computing represents the future of computer networks.
Continue Reading: ’10 Reasons why Cloud Computing is the Wave of the Future’


Thinking Out of the Box: Why Cloud-Based Apps Are A Smart Choice

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 by Jace Modavi

Cloud-Based Applications

It’s easy enough to buy a software program for your home computer. Just walk into your local brick-and-mortar computer store, pick a box off the shelf, and plunk down a couple hundred dollars. For your business, though, you might want to consider thinking out of that shrink-wrapped box.
Continue Reading: ‘Thinking Out of the Box: Why Cloud-Based Apps Are A Smart Choice’


The Advantages and Challenges of Cloud Computing Technology

Monday, October 18, 2010 by Jace Modavi

Cloud-Based Applications

Cloud computing is an innovative new technology that many businesses are adopting due to its cost savings, environmental concerns, scalability, mobility, and energy efficiency. Even with the plethora of advantages, cloud computing is not without its disadvantages. Companies should weigh both the advantages and the disadvantages of cloud computing vis-a-vis their own specific business needs before investing in cloud-based applications or platforms.
Continue Reading: ‘The Advantages and Challenges of Cloud Computing Technology’


Focus on Customer Relationship Management Applications

Friday, October 15, 2010 by Sidney Angelos

Customer Support

Businesses which desire more efficient sales, marketing, and support teams should focus on customer relationship management (CRM) applications for maximum results. These types of applications will assist customers with organization, analysis, scheduling and data storage. Businesses need to find innovative ways to remain abreast of their particular industry, to streamline business, to maximize results and to increase revenue. CRM applications help companies do all of this—and do it effortlessly.
Continue Reading: ‘Focus on Customer Relationship Management Applications’


Introduction to Marketing in the Internet Age

Thursday, October 14, 2010 by Jace Modavi

Foursquare

Three hundred years ago, craftsmen made their wares and sold them to those in their immediate vicinity. There was no need for any real marketing, because everyone knew where to find the cobbler. Since most of the population couldn’t read anyway, a simple wooden sign with the image of a shoe told would-be customers all they needed to know. The cobbler didn’t even have to be nice to his customers if he was the only shoemaker in town.

Then the Industrial Revolution arrived, and things began to change. Consumers had to be encouraged to buy one company’s products over another. Print ads promoted the product, but seldom the company.
Continue Reading: ‘Introduction to Marketing in the Internet Age’


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