How to use CRM in Retail Sector

Will Cloud computing kill the IT department?

This is most Hot topic this days and still it is unanswerable here is the summary about this from the data available on various website there are different viewpoints on this topic by different individuals blog won't come up with the answer

What if the cloud becomes the primary data center, and SaaS is the only way applications are sold? Will there be a need for an IT department?

There are two very different sides to this topic

IT departments are toast:

The cloud is quickly transforming how information is stored, processed, and managed. Gone do the days of companies need large data centers, with thousands of servers and an army of people to manage them. Gone are the days of ridiculously complex software customizations, integrations, and teams to manage local applications. There will be no need for most of the IT roles that exist today. The technical experts and developers will mostly work for the companies who make the software or provide the infrastructure. The small IT team will still coordinate activities and manage vendors, but the business departments will run the show and interface directly with the vendors. It's not shadow IT, because the IT department of the old days is gone!

It's going to be as simple as online shopping and banking. Need an ERP system of CRM? No problem, here is what you do. Visit the web site and select new customer sign-up. Enter in all your corporate information and company details, select the plan size such as the 70,000 user plan. Then select all your integration SaaS vendors such as banking, corporate reporting, and HR system. For an additional fee, select the option to automatically create a data warehouse and business intelligence reporting system. Enter a PO number and verify payment. Then, within about an hour, the system is online and in production.

The cloud is just another technology to be managed:

IT departments aren't sitting around wondering what the next project will be. We're all very busy, with years of projects queued up. The global economy is rapidly changing, and on a daily basis it's getting significantly more challenging and complex to run companies of any size. Well managed IT departments are spending more time on business initiatives that drive the company's growth and revenue instead of work that just maintains the status quo. So the cloud is great -- and the right direction -- as it allows a shift from lights-on type work to more value-add work.

However, the cloud is just another technology. Sure there is less work to do with servers and storage, but it will be a very long time before the impact is substantial enough to make a difference. There will be situations that require cloud services, and situations that require work to be done in-house. It won't eliminate the IT department, or most of the roles. Over time, the cloud might even increase the IT department's headcount needs. Think about the major shifts that have happened in the past. Standalone to the Internet, mainframes to servers, PCs to tablets, and phones to smartphones—each was supposed to make things easier, but instead it seems each has added to the complexity. The cloud will do the same.

5 Takeaways: CFOs are getting into the Cloud

Cloud is becoming more popular and beneficial these days. In previous blog we have seen that how you will get good ROI when invested in cloud technology, here are some take a ways for the CEOs this are the real this experience shared by Tom Brennan when he was on “Cloud Power Series tour” From Boston, to Chicago, to Philly, to San Francisco, Atlanta and NYC, below listed are some of his biggest take away and this will help CFOs in their businesses.

1. CFOs are getting more involved with cloud strategies at their companies.

CFOs are eager to learn and get ideas on how they can improve their businesses with the cloud.

2. The cloud’s value proposition.

Most of the people now see cloud as a strategic way forward, and not just a way to reduce costs.

3. Some companies will inhale the whole cloud while others will take small steps.

The most interesting thing is observed that small and midsized companies tend to take in the whole cloud, while larger companies are looking for ways to step into the cloud incrementally by joining up specific functions with existing cloud apps e.g. billing apps for Salesforce.

4. Choosing a cloud platform is one of the most strategic decisions a company can make.

Cloud platforms are a foundation and source for all of a company’s business apps, operations automation and competitive differentiation going forward so go cloud

5. Companies are tired of the barriers between departments, especially between sales and finance.

Companies are trying to brake barriers between the departments now sales and marketing are going hand in hand the best example is for this is the Salesforce Platform including accounting, billing, sales commissions and expense management so the inter department work is now getting easy

Latest trends of the cloud computing world

As we all know that world is moving on to the cloud very fast. According to survey it’s expected that cloud computing market will become $150 billion market by 2013. There are several key trends which are seen in this cloud computing world

1.      The personal cloud will replace the personal computer at the Centre of users’ digital lives. 

According to the Gartner’s report, TheNewPCEra: thePersonalCloud, that predicts by 2014, the personal cloud will replace the personal computer. The personal cloud will have features of storing, connecting, streaming, and synchronizing content across multiple platforms at different locations.so the personal cloud is latest trend and will grow in coming years. One more important trend includes an increasing number of companies having a hybrid cloud which provides them more benefits as compared with public as well as private cloud.

2.      Big Data Will be processed on cloud

 Big data workloads will force many companies to consider alternatives to traditional databases, and cloud deployment models will simplify the rollout. So, large cloud databases will centralize huge amounts of information and analytics will be moved to the cloud. Thus Big Data will be on cloud.

3.      Executives demand reliable cloud data security. As cloud is expanding day by day but making it more secure is also important. So there will the concerns about protecting both the security and integrity of this data source on cloud. But with the wider adoption and the increasing awareness of cloud, providers will surely focus on security innovations and make cloud more secure in coming years.

4.      The growth of Mobile Cloud. 

The greater number of people operating their social and professional lives via mobile devices and tablet PCs is going to speed up the demand for faster, more user friendly and storage applications so mobile cloud will grow at alarming rate.

5.      The move to platforms is increasing.

 PaaS (platform-as-a-service) will have further boost in popularity and necessity as it continues to provide companies with scalable data translation and transformation on a cloud platform. The public and private mixture of cloud (Hybrid Cloud) will have more growth because of the benefits it provides.

 source:

http://www.rickscloud.com/latest-trends-of-the-cloud-computing-world/

Cloud Infographic: Workplace Technology Is In Transition

5 Benefits of BYOD with Cloud Computing

            Bring Your Own Device, commonly known as BYOD, and cloud computing are changing the way we use technology in the workplace. 60% of businesses in U.S currently use a BYOD model, and forecasters suggest that number will rise to 90 % by 2014. Fifty-four percent of American companies also use public or private cloud computing systems.

1).Cloud Computing Can Make BYOD More Secure

            Security is the biggest objection put forward by organizations around the world to have a BYOD model. If an employee’s device falls into the wrong hands, it may cause problem. Cloud computing can improve this concern by making sensitive corporate data much more secure. As information isn’t stored on any employee’s device, corporate documents enjoy greater security.

2) Cloud Computing Can Improve Visibility for Employers

             Cloud computing can minimize time wasting behaviors as it provides greater visibility for employers. Businesses with cloud security systems which offer URL or website filtering can keep track of the websites their employees visit during work time. Also can implement the cyber security by using solutions like Cyberoam.

  3) BYOD and Cloud Computing Cut Costs

            Both BYOD and cloud computing structures have the potential to save companies serious dollars. It’s clear that BYOD saves a company from the outset, as they no longer need to spend money on employee devices. The savings continue through the life of each device as the company is no longer required to spend money maintaining, supporting, or even repairing their workers’ laptops or smartphones.

4) Cloud Computing Makes BYOD Work More Efficiently

            As Employees love using their own computers and smartphones, they will be happy and it results in more productivity. If a worker’s preferred device become lost, stolen, or inoperable, they can simply start working on another machine. Thus the device or machine failure will not be problem for doing work.

5) Cloud Computing Can Make Desktop Virtualization Possible

            Currently, workplaces typically use cloud storage to house key corporate files, folders, and documents. However, forecasters believe we’ll see entire workspaces housed on the cloud. An employee’s device would become simply a terminal he can connect by using ID and password and start work.

By using latest technology trends of BYOD and cloud computing, businesses can enjoy all these benefits and more.