Hosting your CRM: Server vs. Online

Both choices bring advantages and disadvantages . . . and at Tricension, we think we’ve found the sweet spot, right in the middle. Let’s look at the different methods for CRM hosting.   Hosting your CRM on a server   This option does have advantages. First, your company can maintain complete control with what’s going on, and with no option to access online, there’s an added level of security. Server-based CRM systems have no limits with customization, and there’s also the added ability to scale and grow with your business.   But server-hosted CRMs also require a large initial investment, sometimes close to $100,000 per year. Furthermore, your company is now required to implement all updates, make all changes and handle all troubleshooting. Your company takes on more risk as well, and it’s important to have staff at the ready to address issues when they arise. If your server goes down, there’s the added concern of lost time and money.   Hosting your CRM through Microsoft Online   Other companies choose to host their CRM systems through Microsoft Dynamics Online. On the plus side, Microsoft Online requires no large initial investment; instead, your company pays per user per month. Microsoft handles all necessary software updates too, and takes care of system maintenance. Finally, this cloud-based option is accessible from anywhere, and your team can get information while on the go.   Microsoft Online has a standard configuration, and this lack of flexibility can be a downside for many companies. Microsoft, not your company, decides everything from login expiration to client information fields. These server-side configurations may not be the right fit for how you do business. And with Microsoft, you’re one of more than four million users. So if you need support, it’s expensive and slow.   Partner hosting with Tricension: Power of Dynamics meets ease of custom solutions   We think we’ve found the sweet spot — partner hosting, through Tricension. Everyone on our team has a background in small-to-mid-sized businesses just like yours. We’ve been in your shoes, and we know small business intimately.   Partner hosting can be cheaper than server-hosted or Microsoft Online-hosted; CRMPoint users typically save about $10 per month per user. And partner hosting offers additional flexibility. We can customize your CRM system for your business, setting it up just the way it should be for how you and your team work.   Additional reporting flexibility adds value for your business. Our team of developers can deploy “un-sandboxed” code — yes, thinking outside the sandbox to offer more functionality. Partner hosting allows your company access to some critical functions, like file transferring and other options.   Choosing partner hosting with Tricension gives you direct access to our expert team for support. Yes, 24/7 support is available whenever you need it. We’ll do everything we can to make sure your system can do whatever you need, to make your business run more efficiently, smoothly and profitably than ever before.