Implementing a CRM: Where Should You Begin?

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Customer Relationship Management Implementation

As a SMB, considering the options to organize your customer data can leave you with more questions than answers. There are dozens of Customer Relationship Management, or CRM, system options out there and plenty of companies also specializing in industry-specific (consumer goods, financial services, industrial sector, etc.) or customized CRMs. If you’re on the fence about which option to choose, here are a few things to consider before you make your selection:

First, you need to determine if a generic or industry-specific/customized CRM will best fit your needs. Start by making a list of features and benefits that you need in order to maximize your ROI. Then consider your timeframe and budget; customizing a CRM will of course take a bit longer and involve more money initially, but will choosing the easy out-of-the-box option fit your company’s needs in the end? Ask also is the CRM priced per user or per office? Don’t forget that no matter which option you choose, you need to make sure the CRM will integrate with any other systems or technology your business is currently using.

Once you’ve narrowed your options down, it’s time to test the CRM. Make sure that you see a demo version of each product so that you can better determine if they will provide the data solution you’re looking for. Besides looking at functionality, testing each CRM may also provide more insight into the integration process and requirements.

After the demo process, the next step to help choose your CRM should be a focus on customer support. Many brands may be eager to help in the initial set-up stages when it comes to importing your data and customer records. However, in the months after your SMB is up and running, how will technical support operate? Will you be charged for additional assistance? Maybe you will have to use an 800 number, wait on hold for ages and then be treated as just a number in the hundreds of accounts using a big-name CRM. For most SMBs, having a direct contact to help answer your questions and walk you through the product and process may be the winning ticket when it comes to picking a CRM solution.

If you’re in the middle of weighing all the CRM possibilities, let 4 Corner IT help! With over ten years of experience in the preparing, planning and execution of CRM integration for companies small and large, we will walk you through the process and find the best solution to meet your business needs. Contact us today!

4 Benefits of Disaster Recovery Planning

4 benefits of disaster recovery planning

40 percent of businesses do not reopen after a disaster, FEMA reports. There are a number of benefits that can be realized by implementing a disaster recovery plan for business data; allow us to share four of them with you today.

1. Peace of mind in an emergency – Sure, emergencies are stressful no matter their nature. Yet having a disaster recovery plan in place, and knowing that data is backed up in a safe place, may help you connect to an inner sense of calm and control in an emergency. Not only can it lower your stress in the moment, but it can help you to be a strong leader and ensure that all employees follow the plan.

2. Prevent data loss – Data backup and data management can prevent data loss. Not only will this help the business return to operations after an emergency, it can prevent minor data loss as well by ensuring that legacy equipment is replaced or that employees are versed in best practices.

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Disaster Recovery Planning

3. Save money – Disaster recovery planning ensures that you have invested in the tools, assets, and infrastructure needed to preserve your business data. Emergency data forensics can be quite expensive, as can the unforeseen and total loss of data. In the event that you do experience a business disaster and you need to file an insurance claim, your insurer may ask to see evidence of backups. It can thus be very helpful to have a detailed, timely plan to point to when going through the claims process.

4. Ensure continuity – Elementally, planning for disaster recovery can ensure business continuity. By instilling plans to retain your data, you will ensure that you maintain all client and customer information, work files, and historical documentation. This can help ensure that the return to work goes smoothly.

To talk more about this, or anything else, please contact us. Thanks.

Office 365 with VoIP integration: Affordable and mobile

basic features of voip phone services adding new phone lines and numbers
voip

The world’s workforce is getting increasingly more mobile. This can leave businesses looking for a highly accessible and affordable solution to help them get the job done. Here’s the solution: Office 365 with VoIP integration. And here’s why.

* Office 365 with VoIP integration combines Microsoft technologies and applications for a single, complete cloud-based solution created to help businesses communicate with each other and with their clients.

* Businesses can now access a 24/7 work environment from where ever they are and with whatever device they happen to be using for consistent work flow.

* Available through Office 365 and VoIP is Microsoft Skype for Business, which provides instant messaging, Face Time, and standard phone service. Other collaborative tools provided through Office 365 VoIP include Office Online, Exchange Online and SharePoint Online.

* Office 365 VoIP users have the benefit of scalable solutions. Pay for the solutions that your company needs, not the “package” that someone else thinks a company “like yours” needs.

* The Office 365 VoIP service provides enterprise-class security, privacy and reliability at a price that small to medium sized businesses can afford.

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* Get managed services from a provider who understands that VoIP can strengthen your company through integration, but only if that integration is done properly.

* Office 365 VoIP can help you expand your business hours and provides credibility with your customers, as your ability to communicate with them and the ways in which you can do that are greatly enhanced.

4 Corners IT understands that there is more to your business than just its technology. We want to help you make the most effective use of technology in order to reach a higher level of success. For more information, contact us.

Who is the Typical DRaaS Client?

who is the typical draas client

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IT Disaster Recovery as a Service

There’s no doubt that the benefits of disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) are geared toward small businesses. By using DRaaS instead of managing their own data center, small businesses can enjoy the same benefits while paying a fraction of the cost. This allows them to reduce expenses while simultaneously ensuring the future of their business operations. The question now is if small businesses are actually signing up for the service that’s designed for them?

According to recent research, the answer is yes. A recent Cloud Wedge article provides data about small businesses using DRaaS:

“As many as 90% of DRaaS set-ups are for organizations running just 3 to 6 enterprise applications, with between 2 and 5 terabytes of associated data storage. While it’s better to think out your own solution rather than just copying what other SMBs are doing, statistics like these suggest it’s worth taking a look at DRaaS.”

According to the article, the typical DRaaS user is a small business, based on their equipment and hardware. This is a good indicator that small businesses are learning about the benefits of the service and spreading the word.

But the article makes another good point as well. Just because other small businesses are signing up for the service, doesn’t mean that you should too. There are different factors at play that will determine whether DRaaS would be beneficial to your business. For example, if your business already has purchased a data center, chances are it’ll be cheaper for you to stick with it unless you can recover most of that cost.

In most cases, however, small businesses benefit from DRaaS. It ensures the continuity of their business operations without requiring a large upfront investment or monthly expenses. This is why thousands of other small businesses have already signed up for the service and many intend on doing so in the foreseeable future.

If you would like more information about disaster recovery, contact us.

BYOD Policies, Part 2: 3 Tips to Keep Your Program Running Smoothly

byod policies part 2 3 tips to keep your program running smoothly

4 Corner_bring_own_deviceIn Part I, we discussed how BYOD policies are becoming more common across a

multitude of businesses and industries, and the downfall of BYODs. However, being

that these programs are so popular, we also wanted to share a few helpful hints

about what you can do to make the most of your BYOD policies if you’ve decided

it’s the best option for your company.

1. Have a multi-layered security & management strategy

Geo-fencing is a new technique used to secure and disarm devices based.

Stay up-to-date with network security – upgrades are critical to data loss.

In healthcare, use HIPAA-compliant servers to better protect patient data.

Use blacklists to detect when data-sharing apps are installed on location. For example, this technique could lock down the camera or certain apps when an employee enters the workplace.

Prevention.

(i.e.Dropbox), but also work to determine if sharing is an attempt to

bypass security or to be more productive.

2. Assess costs regularly

• Negotiate costs with wireless carriers and contract an unlimited plan;

• Be prepared for yearly increases in user demand and upgrade wireless

3. Create and implement a user agreement

• Describe in detail the responsibilities and liabilities for both employees

encourage use of company Wi-Fi while at work.

networks to maintain reliable performance.

and the company. Users must agree to give IT some control, i.e. when

a device goes missing, call IT to attempt a data wipe before calling the

service provider.

• Establish clear guidelines for downloading apps.

• Train staff on protocol for security breaches.

Need more help implementing a security or management plan? Contact us and we’ll

walk you through the strategy that works best for your SMB.