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Archive for the ‘Software as a Service’ Category

Inventory Management Software

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

What is inventory management software?

This is a type of web based software that online businesses are using in order to manage the efficiency of their stock control and inventory to maintain a professional business that is able to process, manage and control stock.

Best for smaller ecommerce companies that need to use software that is both versatile and affordable in order to manage levels of stock as they grow the business.

With most inventory management software, you should expect to be able to include all of the following, or be able to select from those you and your developer see is suitable for your business:

  • Customer and supplier database
  • Database of stock items
  • Price list records which can include VAT calculations
  • Adaptable and company branded invoicing, credit, despatch and delivery notes
  • Ability to deal with multi currency shop sites
  • Client orders (buying)
  • Supplier orders (purchasing)
  • Inventory and stock control, monitoring and reporting
  • Detailed analysis and stats

Whilst there are a large amount of inventory management software systems available, it is best to select one which has a number of features that can be adapted to your business – rather than features that you can take but truly do not need.

Software like this is best for smaller businesses that want to incorporate and integrate a stock control system as well as customer and order management, as they are well built to take on important parts of your business whilst being fairly affordable to a business not wishing to expend a whole budget on something they haven't yet tried.

 

Software-as-a-Service Benefits

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Software-as-a-Service Benefits

You can achieve optimum business benefits by selecting the new internet revolution that is ‘Software-as-a-Service’ – or SaaS.

The SaaS is primarily a web based service which allows you to optimise your business without high running costs.

If you operate a help desk, you could be right when thinking that more and more businesses are turning to the service for tailored services that can be moulded to your specific business model.

We have added some pointers below which outline the benefits of SaaS to your business, your colleagues and of course your customers:

Benefits to your business

  • Combine sales, customer service, management and marketing operations with one easy to use browser-based service
  • Runs from your standard web browser on any number of machines
  • Compatible with Windows software such as Vista and XP
  • Allows usage either individually through defined filters, or with group share options
  • Powerful enough to be used by major corporations and affordable enough to be used by small businesses
  • Setup is easy and can be done in-house without the need for contractors
  • No need for dedicated servers for storage

Benefits to staff

  • Plug into the software from anywhere ensuring your employees can access it from their desk
  • Using MS applications such as SaaS, minimum training is required and the user-friendly interface is instantly recognisable
  • When staff are on targets, the system helps improve efficiency
  • Communication between staff and clients is improved using what is effectively a web-based client relationship manager

Benefits to customers

  • Queries can be answered efficiently thus helping with your reputation as a good service provider
  • Databases can be mirrored so that customers can view the same information as you, giving them the convenience and saving you time
  • Automate reports and other individual tasks for presenting to your customer

For more information about how Saas can help your business then take a look at our business adminstration systems and get in touch for free advice about how Saas can help your business to streamline and become more effecient with its operations

CRM – Customer Relationship Management Software

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

Customer Relationship Management Software

Customer relationship management software available to use in business is revolutionising the internet.  Often known as ‘Cloud Hosting' or ‘Software as a Service (SaaS)', easy to use software allows for growth in sales revenue, reduction in overall costs compared to traditional non-tailored packages, and allows for building of stronger relationships between businesses and customers.

Sales Automation

Cloud hosting can improve control over sales figures and revenue in addition to enhancing processes within sales departments.

Management Operations

The operating systems which allow Cloud hosting to run are installed easily.  Management, security and increased business up-time are brought together through the Cloud without the need for alternative and additional storage, database, security, hosting and email solutions.

Customer Relation Management

Networks between your business and your customer are strong with the Cloud offering business-specific tools to enhance your customer support

Marketing Automation

Processes in Marketing can be combined with sales processes to allow for increased lead generation with the ability to act on existing databases for smooth flowing of business and optimum ROI results

The virtual infrastructure of Cloud hosting means that businesses are now able to utilise complicated and intelligent software, only accessible in the past by large companies, at a price affordable to the smallest of businesses.  Applications are all automated and data remains safe even in the event of server failure.

Contact us for free advice on how CRM or one of our business administration systems can help you.

The Cloud and Software as a Service ( SaaS ) An Introduction

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

Primarily a web-based application, ‘Software as as Service’ – or SaaS as it is more commonly known (or even Software on Demand, but we won’t get too carried away in this introduction!) – is a way that some software applications can be accessed, by webmasters, developers, and their customers instantly anywhere using only an internet browser.  It also allows them to offer the customer, or end user, good value software applications that can if needed be adapted specifically for their use.

The cloud is a simply a metaphor for the Internet. On the whole, a service under the cloud offers much more flexibility, reduced initial outlay, and a time saving where applications that are very complicated no longer have to be pre-configured by the webmaster or developer. As the service is hosted on the internet users only need an internet connection and web browser to be able to use it.

Users would in the past access software though local installations either exclusively on their own computer or perhaps downloads from third party servers but now, website developers are able to offer access to software instantly from ‘the cloud’ so that multiple numbers of end users can access it directly from their own pc.

Another benefit is that updates are free and centralised which keeps costs down but at the same time users are  able to access more specific areas and modules to suit their preferences.

Customers no longer need to pay out for costly licensees and / or subscriptions that traditionally would have provided additional access to applications that were not required. Now the developer can offer not only direct access, but it can be offered to multiple users direct to their own pc through the standard internet browser.

We have written further articles regarding a selection of SaaS software benefits and applications if you would like to read further:

  • What is Inventory Management Software
  • Order Management Systems
  • Stock Control

Integrating Order Management Systems

Making the leap to operating as a paperless business

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Becoming a paperless operation might seem like a dream or even a nightmare but there are many reasons for easing the burden that paper puts on your business operation.

The alternative to paper of course is a computer. There maybe many reasons why the thought of using a computer or introducing more computers into your business can seem daunting or expensive etc etc.

Well if we look at the latter problem of expense first of all. did you know that most computers only get used for 10% of what they can actually do? So that’s 90% of a computer’s resources wasted. Most businesses are slaves to their computers not masters and so computers seem expensive when compared to the labour they are saving.

Computers working for you.

Computers and software that control and carry out adminstration tasks can store huge amounts of data these days and what’s more they can store it securely away from people who shouldn’t see it. Security is a whole different topic that we can cover in a seperate post as it’s very important. With the ability to store all this data you no longer have to store paper files as copies of paper can be stored on a computer and simple text that was once printed out to store can now be saved in a database and easily accessed by anyone authorised to do so.

Then you can start to think about the daily administrative routines and chores that have to be performed so things such as preparing lists of things to do , chasing diary reminders, late bills, sales calls can all be held in a database and called on a screen. Orders can be completed, invoices raised (pdf invoicing), customers updated by email.

Salesmen can look at their diaries, telesales agents can be entering prospects, managers can be viewing performance figures and compiling useful reports and so on and so on.

The main point is that not one piece of paper has been used or printed off to do any of these tasks. It’s all on screen and in the computer database system. Even incoming paper can be scanned and then stored digitally on a system so you can recall it on screen whenever you need it.

Virtually any administrative and managerial task can be carried out using a computer and good system software.

How much does this all cost?

Well of course there has to be some investment but when you look at the return of saving many many hours a week and the increased efficiency of your business operation then the investment will soon pay for itself many times over.

It might not cost as much as you want and of course cutting down on paper also reduces the need to use paper.

Think about this…

How much paper do you use that’s not required?

How many administrative tasks does your business undertake that doesn’t 100% involve a computer?

What % of the computers resources do you use?

How efficient is your business operation and could it be improved?

Creospace provide consultancy to get your business paper free and working efficiently by getting all your company’s administrative tasks dealt with by a bespoke computer system that doesn’t need to cost the earth but goes some way to saving the resources of the earth by cutting out paper.

More information about business adminstration systems can be found here