Small Business Software

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Small Business Needs are the Same

***tier3square.shtml***This term, Small Business Software, doesn't seem like it fits in with the CRM theme. However, this is the way many companies, like Microsoft and Netsuite, market their software to smaller companies.

Normally, what you'll find in these packages, or suites, is some basic accounting software and what they call CRM (small business CRM software), or SFA.  So that brings up a interesting point.

Much of the work I do involves integrating back office systems (accounting) with the front office operations like sales and customer service. Small businesses have the same such needs.

So, in many ways, this software addresses the same functionality most larger enterprises demand. The only real difference is that integration must be simpler and more cost effective since smaller business will never have the budget for the more sophisticated integrations.

To continue the budget discussion, many of the online software as a service (SaaS) providers like salesforce.com may offer very cost effective tools to get a small business going down the CRM path. I won't go into a whole Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) discussion here because for smaller businesses this will almost always be the least expensive way to start out.

The only warning I would have is for smaller businesses where accounting data plays an important role in front office decisions. If this is the case in your business, make sure that On-Demand solutions can facilitate that need without exploding your budget!

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