Cloud computing has revolutionized the way business is conducted, and although still in its infancy as far as its potential developments are concerned, it has already had a dramatic impact on the business world. While the term “cloud computing” seems relatively new, the concept has existed since the early 1980s. Anyone who has used Web-based email, such as Yahoo!, Gmail, or Hotmail, or who has reserved airplane tickets and travel accommodations online has experienced the benefits of cloud computing.
More recently, cloud-based social media has emerged. Sites like MySpace, Facebook, and now Twitter, have skyrocketed in popularity. Cloud computing’s social media emergence has been an increasingly useful tool for sales and marketing executives. The basic benefits of cloud computing began with providing users with an interface that requires nothing of the user but an Internet connection and Web-browser. The software is operated remotely, on the “cloud,” thereby removing the need for hardware or software allocations on the user’s personal computer. The infrastructure of cloud computing can basically be broken down into two parts: the front end and the back end. The front end is the interface the user views and interacts with. The back end, is the “cloud,” composed of a group of computers, servers, and data storage systems. The user does not have to have anything to do with the activity occurring on the back end – it’s all handled remotely by the cloud computing system.
Cloud computing has presented businesses with many software solutions, including those that contribute to successful customer relationship management. One major advantage of cloud computing comes from the alleviation of on-premises software issues. These issues often include complicated installation procedures and getting appropriate licensing. Even when installed correctly, the software on one workstation is sometimes independent of the software of other work stations. This creates circumstances in which users cannot see the same information as other users in the workplace. Customer databases, for example, need updating, and then those updates need to be communicated and cross-checked with all appropriate employees.
Cloud computing software solutions remove the chaotic IT work required of on-premises software, and, subsequently, the time and cost associated with it. All information, produced on-demand and in real-time, is accessible and viewable by any and all permitted users at any given time. This eliminates communication problems, because all users can view the same data. Also, the data is kept accurate. Sales and marketing experts know that a key component of effective sales and marketing initiatives is having accurate data that is readily accessible. Since this data is produced on-demand and accurately reflects the data for each customer – and therefore the consumer behavior of each customer – sales and marketing executives are able to compile, segment, and analyze data much more rapidly than with on-premises software. Thus, marketing and sales strategies can be implemented much more rapidly. In this case, because of cloud computing, not only does the business benefit from accurate data, more tailored sales and marketing approaches, and rapid response times, but the customer benefits as well.
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