User Review
( votes)If you’re running Microsoft Dynamics CRM 365 on-premises, you’ve probably thought about whether you should be migrating Dynamics CRM to the cloud and what the benefits might be.
Start by considering the growth of CRMs. According to Grandview Research, the CRM market has been growing each year since 2016, and the projections are that usage in both large and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) will continue to skyrocket through 2027.
Evidently, CRM software is becoming more and more critical to all types of businesses. It’s an application that is worth investing in to make sure it does its job for your business over the long term. Moving your CRM to the cloud is one of the things you can do to get the most from the software.
The benefits are compelling. Research shows that businesses are moving their CRM to the cloud in large numbers. According to Gartner, in 2019, 75% of all CRM spend, making up $42 billion, was for Software as a Service (SaaS) versus on-premises versions, and on-premises CRM deployments are continuing to decline.
Here are just some reasons why migrating Dynamics CRM 365 to the cloud makes sense.
- Cost Reduction
When you move your Dynamics CRM 365 to the cloud, you’ll need to account for licensing fees that vary by the type and number of users you’ll support. But, you’ll also soon appreciate what the savings.
Running the CRM in your own data center, you must cover a variety of costs that will be eliminated when you move to the cloud. You won’t need to have hardware dedicated to the CRM, or employees who are dedicated to maintaining the software and hardware. Costs you will eliminate when moving to the cloud include:
- Hardware
- Hardware maintenance
- Software maintenance, i.e., patching, backing up, upgrading.
- Security
- Keeping up with changes in compliance requirements
- Employee costs
- Utilities and power usage
- Scalability
With a cloud provider, you only pay for what you need. But, if your needs change, the cloud provider can easily increase or decrease the resources you use.
You no longer need to worry about adding hardware or IT employees if you need to increase your capabilities. And, if your requirements decrease, you aren’t faced with the decision of what to do with existing employees, or the problem of paying for hardware you’re not using.
- Improved Security and Reliability
Migrating Dynamics CRM 365 to the cloud means that your system will be managed by people who spend most of their time ensuring security, privacy and reliability. Most cloud hosts have more resources devoted to addressing those issues than any on-premises installation.
Your cloud host will have the resources to provide 24/7 maintenance by hardware and cybersecurity experts using industry-leading software. These experts continually keep up with new cyber threats and compliance requirements.
- Regular Updates
You won’t need to worry about scheduling updates or wondering if your version is scheduled for end of life. Software updates are managed by your host, eliminating a lot of time and frustration on the part of you and your staff.
- Ability to Focus on Mission-Critical Projects
When you plan on migrating Dynamics CRM 365 to the cloud, you will free up IT resources. As a result, your IT team can turn their attention to more strategic and mission-critical projects that will give your business a boost.
In addition, you’ll be able to offer members of your IT team much more challenging assignments, which can help you to retain employees. Any IT leader who has talented employees would welcome having that opportunity.
- Anywhere Access
Outside of the IT department, this is the most vital reason for migrating Dynamics CRM 365 to the cloud. Anywhere access is critical in this time when so many employees aren’t working from your office. When your CRM is in the cloud, you allow employees to access the system from any device, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, or desktops.
As a result, whether an employee is working from home, working in a satellite location, or working while on the road, they can have access to all the critical information a CRM holds. It increases productivity and research has proven its effectiveness. For example, statistics show:
- Users of mobile CRM achieve better results than those who don’t have mobile access.
- Teams using mobile CRM increased their productivity by 50 percent.
- Of salespeople using mobile CRMs, 65 percent achieved sales quotas, while only 22 percent reached their goals without a mobile CRM.
Laptops are the most often used device to access a CRM, but 81 percent of users are using the company CRM from multiple devices, including mobile phones.
Next Steps
If it’s now time for your business to move your CRM to the cloud, Datavail can help. As a Microsoft Gold Partner for more than 17 years, we’re experts in all things Microsoft, including Microsoft Dynamics CRM 365 and Azure. Our large team of experts have assisted many companies with complicated Microsoft application migrations to the cloud. If you want to ensure that your migration goes smoothly, or if you have any questions, contact a Dynamics CRM 365 expert.
