Is it starting to get cloudy?

As we begin to approach winter, it is common to hear the weatherman say it will be cloudy.  That may bring thoughts of cold and gloomy days.  We always prefer the weatherman to tell us it will be sunny.  However, the mention of the cloud relating to computer systems should not bring about thoughts of cold and gloomy days.

Being involved in presales, I meet with many companies that are looking for ways to improve their company and recover from the cold and gloomy days of the economy.  Many of these companies have limited cash and resources, so the idea of implementing and deploying an on-premise ERP system is not something they can tackle.  This is where a "cloudy" environment might help.

By implementing an ERP system in the cloud, companies can minimize their initial investment, which may lead to a shorter payback period and higher ROI.

Cloud ERP systems allow companies to:

·         Minimize the initial investment by avoiding upfront hardware and software purchases.

·         Get up and running quickly by using faster deployment options.

·         Manage company cash flow by providing low, predictable costs that scale with actual use of the solution.

·         Scale the solution as needed, since many cloud providers will adjust user counts and modules as needs change.

·         Free up internal IT staff for tasks that provide more value to the company.

·         Offer remote access, so employees can work from wherever they have internet access.

In addition, many cloud providers offer companies the opportunity to try the solution before they purchase.  This also lets users understand the solution and see it work with their data before the commit.

While Microsoft does not currently offer Dynamics ERP solutions directly in the cloud, many partners have a solution.  At Collins, we offer Dynamics GP, Dynamics AX and Dynamics CRM in the cloud, and we offer a 30-day trial option.  To learn more, check out http://collinscomputing.com/cloud-solutions_online.html.