Like all business management solutions, software applications such as CRM can be deployed to suit business needs in short and longer term.
Even if you are undecided at the point of CRM shortlisting, you will be able to take advice from your prospective CRM partner or CRM consultant, but you will need to provide a brief on your current needs, infrastructure capabilities, IT staff resourcing and where your organisation needs to go in the future.
Options for CRM deployment are not binary – i.e. CRM on-premise versus CRM in the cloud, organisations also need to consider hosted, private cloud, public cloud or a hybrid option when looking at CRM within their wider IT infrastructure requirements. This will also affect the way your organisation budgets for your CRM investment, i.e. on an OPEX or CAPEX model.
Choose the right CRM deployment options for you
CRM in the cloud
Having your CRM run on the cloud means that you do not need to buy and maintain your own server in-house. This is an option if your organisation does not have this IT infrastructure, or the staff to resource the maintenance. It is also a choice if you wish to pay monthly on a per user basis; although it can be purchased on an annual basis. Often referred to as CRM online, CRM data is held remotely either on your CRM partner’s servers (private/hosted) or via a public cloud. Levels of flexibility and standardisation in functionality is affected by these options.
CRM on-premise
If you have the IT infrastructure capabilities to run your CRM application in-house this is a CRM implementation option. You will only need to purchase any CRM licences once via an annual fee; and you can also request remote maintenance and support from your CRM partner to help run your CRM application if resourcing is an issue. This option also provides more flexibility in configuration in CRM functionality in conjunction with your CRM provider.