Businesses have become more competitive than ever in today’s highly digitised environment. This is even more true for overseas education consultants, where things are changing phenomenally. This is where CRM software for overseas education consultants becomes a must-have.
But even when you buy a CRM, choosing between an on-premise and cloud-based CRM becomes very difficult. You cannot reach a feasible conclusion unless you are fully aware of the differences between these systems. Thankfully, this blog is here to break things down for you and understand the difference between an on-premise and cloud-based CRM. So, let’s dice in!
Difference Between On-Premise and Cloud-Based CRM Solutions
Before diving into any further intricacies, let’s clarify the primary difference between an on-premise and cloud-based CRM, which is where you host them. But the catch is that this single difference significantly influences how you use, maintain and even implement the CRM.
On-Premise CRM
In the case of on-premise CRM solutions, you must host the CRM on your premises. This means you will need to buy a license and install a system on an internal server located within your organisation.
This means you will need an IT team to build and manage the solution. This also includes managing all the daily maintenance tasks, back-ups, running updates and data security.
Cloud-Based CRM
On the other hand, we have cloud-based CRM solutions that offer something entirely different. Since these solutions are hosted on the cloud, you don’t need someone to manage the servers on your premises. Instead, you can leverage the services of a cloud service provider who will manage everything while you access all your data remotely with an internet connection.
The most common form of these solutions is called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), where you will get a cloud-based CRM for a monthly fee. This saves the cost and hassle of maintaining an entire IT team to manage the servers that take up space in your organisation.
How To Choose Between a Cloud-Based and On-Premise CRM?
Now that you know better the difference between on-premise and cloud-based CRM, it is time to address the main question. The question here is which CRM you choose as an overseas education consultant; unfortunately, there is no one answer.
You must acknowledge that every business has unique needs, processes, employees, etc. This is why recommending Types of CRM Systems might not always be wise. But what we can do here is understand how to choose a CRM that caters to our needs. So, we will analyse some questions that you must ask yourself while buying a CRM:
Question 1: What is the Current Price for CRM Solutions?
The first question you need to ask and answer is the current price of CRM solutions in the market. You must acknowledge that cost is a major factor when implementing a new CRM, and both of these CRM variants have different payment schemes.
On the one hand, an on-premise CRM might require more upfront costs than a cloud-based one. However, you must also know of hidden costs in these pay-as-you-go plans. Once you have cleared these things, you can make an informed choice with the right calculation to support your decision.
Question 2: What About Security?
The next important thing you need to worry about is the security features of your CRM software. Your database will certainly have every information about your client and business, and the damage might be irrevocable if this data falls into the wrong hands.
On the one hand, if you get an on-premise CRM, you will need an in-house team that knows how to manage security properly. You cannot afford complacency here; a competent IT team will cost you more.
Then, there are cloud-based CRMs where third parties manage your data security. You must ensure that the provider adheres to all international and domestic security regulations.
Question 3: What About Scalability and Accessibility?
The third most important question is which CRM gives better flexibility to scale and is more accessible. It would be fair to say that cloud-based CRM solutions offer better scalability in terms of growth. The logic here is that the more you grow your business, the more data you need, which increases the hardware and maintenance cost for an on-premise CRM.
In terms of accessibility, cloud-based CRM solutions are better than on-premise CRM. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can access the CRM and its features almost anywhere worldwide. However, this is not the case with on-premise CRM, where you must be present in the organisation to access everything.
Question 4: How Does the Deployment Work?
Regardless of whether this is the first time you are implementing a CRM or updating your existing system, a seamless transition is always a major priority. This is what makes deployment alternatives such an important thing when choosing between a cloud-based and an on-premise CRM.
On the one hand, there are cloud-based CRMs where the provider will take care of all the hassle while you experience no disruptions. All you need to do is provide everyone with all the necessary login details and they will be able to access the CRM very easily.
But if you are shifting from an on-premise to a cloud-based CRM, you might need to train your teams accordingly. Thankfully, this won’t be much of an issue since CRM providers often deal with the hassle related to these training programs.
However, things do get a little difficult with on-premise CRMs, and setting up the on-site hardware can be a significant challenge. Plus, the hassle of building a team dedicated to maintaining the entire infrastructure is another major issue here.
Bottom Line
Choosing a CRM is always challenging in today’s dynamic world, where resources are hard to come by. However, asking the right questions before making decisions can make things much easier, and CRM buying decisions are no exception here. You must check out what current performant CRM providers like the SmartAgentic are offering. This will help you get an idea and get started on the right foot by asking the first question, as mentioned above.
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