Benefits of Web-Based CRM Software

The most innovative type of CRM software – the web-based, has a large number of benefits compared to the traditional software packages. However, there are three main benefits from it:1. Lower TCO;2. Faster process of implementation;3. Better and cheaper support services.The reasons for the lower TCO are the following: lower cost of implementation and reduced costs for services related to maintenance. One great fact about SaaS products is that they are accessible the moment a company acquires a subscription license from a CRM vendor.A rented CRM solution of this type does not require the company using it to have special IT staff for maintenance, which saves a lot of expenses. The lower maintenance costs due to the fact that services related to maintenance are mainly performed by the vendor will result in an increased IT budget for the company mainly because of the fact that there is no need to have in house IT staff. The only thing that requires additional expenses are the changes a company makes to customize the software.The second benefit is the faster process of implementation of the software. When the sign-up process is completed, the company that purchases the software is ready to use it. The only requirement is to perform minor setup tasks in order to make sure the software is tailored to the needs of the company and it can be used right away. However, the fast and easy process of implementation of the system can turn out to be misleading. It is required for the company provider and the company user to come to an agreement about the functionality of the software long before it is purchased and implemented. Even though it might be a SaaS, the same requirements that are applicable to the classical CRM systems apply in full power. It is a fact that over 80% of the costs for the SaaS CRM system a company purchases come from the additional functionality and support that come with it. Therefore, it is crucial to choose exactly the modules that can turn out to be of use later. All kinds of additional functionality are heavily paid for and it is of big importance to make the right choices on time.The last benefit from SaaS CRM is the easier process of integration, which is due to structure of the software. Web-based CRM systems like all Software as a Service applications are built on SOA (meaning Service Oriented Architecture) principles which is the main reason why the implementation process of such software is so simple and why it is so usable. The easy process of implementation is a consequence of open web standards such as web services, which refers to the functionality provided over xml or an http. The newest IT applications that can be found on the market have support for web technologies that is built-in and this is the reason why they are so easy to integrate with other systems of any type.In conclusion, although there are many benefits to using the traditional on premise CRM systems, the last few years have shown rapid improvements in the web-based CRM software and it is becoming more and more sought after for its advantages. It is also true that the newest on premise CRM solutions have many new functions that make the process of their implementation a lot easier and connect them to the web. However, the business model, the model of operation and the special architecture of the web-based CRM systems make them the software of the future.

CRM Guide