Salesforce Automation or SFA systems can improve your business’s bottom line because it helps sales staff use their time more efficiently and effectively. Aside from helping you increase sales revenue, it can also reduce overhead costs, increase market share.
SFA systems are not created equal. These systems fall under two general categories, namely, on-premise software and on-demand software. The right system for your business depends on the information your company needs. You also have to consider the size of your organization, sales processes you use, and the number of intended users.
On-premise sales automation systems
These types of software solutions are installed and run on computers on the premises of the business which will use the software instead of a remote facility, such as a cloud server. There are several advantages to using on-premise systems. For one, there are no data volume restrictions which are typical of cloud services. While this type of system is more costly at the outset, it becomes more cost effective after three to five years of use.
Some companies perceive customer data as too sensitive to be hosted externally, and thus prefer using on-premise systems.
On-demand automation systems
Also called software as a service, on-demand sales automation systems, is often thought to be a better choice for companies with limited budgets since these do not require the same upfront costs on software, infrastructure, and implementation services as on-premise systems. You also pay as you go, or pay only for services you need, allowing you to control your expenses accordingly. Since the software is already up and running on the vendor’s data center, you also avoid long deployment time associated with on-premise systems. Unlike on-premise software where you typically have to wait for the next release to use the latest version, you gain immediate access to innovations on an ongoing basis when you subscribe to software as a service options.
On-demand systems are previously thought to be less secure than on-premise systems. However, this is not always the case. In some instances, on-demand systems can provide greater data security and protection since the vendor can provide purpose-built data centers that make use of high levels of redundancy, backup, and monitoring.
Things to consider when choosing a SFA system
Whether you choose an on-demand or on-premise system, front-to-back salesforce integration is important, meaning, the system should unify back office customer-related information, like invoice, sales, and payment history, across your company’s front facing activities which include sales, marketing, and customer service. The system should also meet your requirements in various criteria which include functionality, cost, ease of use and maintenance, and customization options.