Get things Done Quickly from Anywhere in the World With Pi CRMs Web Based CRM Software

In the modern world of business you need to make sure that your employees can do their work wherever they are and whenever they want.

But there are many other important benefits offered by Web Based Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM) like Pi CRM.

Flexible Access

First and foremost is accessibility.  Pi CRM can be accessed anytime, from anywhere.  All you need is an internet connection.  This makes things easy if you have staff who work from home, multiple office locations or even if you need to quickly check on things while you’re away from the office.

And because everything is stored in a centralized system all data is displayed in real time.  This means when a record is updated by one team member that update is instantly available to your whole team (no matter their physical location). There is no information lag which eliminates information delays, data loss and any synchronization headaches.

But Pi CRM takes flexible access one step further. With Pi you can even access your CRM system from your smartphone (e.g. iPhone or HTC mobile). This is a dream for traveling salesmen, mobile repair operators and tradesmen.  No more fiddling around with details scribbled on post-it-notes or waiting to get back to the office to update your systems.  Your crucial information is there at your fingertips no matter where you are.

Easy Housekeeping

When you choose a desktop or internally hosted CRM solution you’re essentially building a rod for your own back.  Running the software, installing updates, maintaining the server, regular backups and maintaining all the compatible operating systems becomes your responsibility. Whether you choose to hire external contractors or an in house IT Team the end result is the same; thousands of dollars spent just to keep the system going. And still some downtime and loss of data is inevitable.

Pi CRM is much simpler as the whole system (including all your data) is hosted by us.  And unlike some other Web Based CRM providers we handle all your updates and maintenance. So every time you log onto Pi CRM system you are guaranteed access to the most up to date version of the software. Which not only makes things easier for you, but your system has much more integrity since it is being maintained by the people with the most knowledge and expertise in that system.  This means less system downtime, no data loss and reduced system errors.

Hosting also includes backing up your data. At Pi CRM we backup your data to disk & tape daily so your data is always secure. For additional peace of mind Pi CRM also allows you to export your data into a spreadsheet or .csv file anytime so that you can keep your own backup if you wish.

Quick Roll Out

Rolling out a new Customer Relationship Management system is never without it’s issues and delays but these headaches are significantly reduced when you choose a Web Based CRM (like Pi CRM) over a desktop or internal server solution.

Like we said before everything is hosted by Pi CRM so no internal servers are required.  Purchasing an internal server and the equipment to connect it isn’t cheap. And then you’ve got the added expense of set up and maintenance.  You could spend weeks (if not months) setting up a stable server environment and that is all before you come to rolling out the actual software.

With Pi CRM you can connect using your existing software and hardware.  All you need is an internet connection and an operational web browser.  Pi CRM supports Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.  So there is no need to splash out and purchasing new software or hardware.

When it comes to the actual uptake of the software by your team Pi CRM is so easy to learn. Your staff should be able to start using most of the Pi CRM functionality from day one, no training required.

As a Web Based CRM system Pi is less entrenched than desktop or server based CRM software.  Allowing the programmers to make small tweaks frequently.  These changes tend to be minor (the kind of thing you’d hardly notice) but a series of small updates responding to clients input can greatly enhance the user experience over time without interrupting anyone’s workflow.

In short Pi CRM is easy to learn and we’re constantly working to make the user experience better based on your valuable feedback.

Improved Security

In the past many companies have been very skeptical of Web Based CRM in the mistaken belief that hosting their own systems internally is the safer option.  This is similar to thinking your money is more secure in your underwear drawer than a bank vault.

When you have a desktop CRM or a CRM hosted on an internal server your system is totally dependent on your hardware.  Which begs the question how secure is your office?

A robbery targeting your hardware could also mean the loss of all your client data, which is irreplaceable to your business. Back ups can help mitigate data risk but they must be kept securely off-site as thieves and vandals have been known to take or destroy these tapes and disks.

In addition your system is constantly at risk from other less sinister events.  A cleaner accidentally bumping the power cords to your server can disconnect your system and potentially cause devastating data loss.  And your system is vulnerable to fire, flood, earthquake, power surges and power outages. In many cases even just a sudden shift in site temperature could short circuit your system and have far reaching effects on your data.

Pi CRM on the other hand takes great care in ensuring that your system is safe at all times.  That is why we work together with one of the largest data centre’s in the southern hemisphere to provide you with unparalleled security through; an extensive CCTV surveillance system, strict access list, 24×7 on-site security personnel and other intruder resistant systems installed in all areas of the facility.

In addition our data centre has advanced fire detection and suppression equipment in operation.  Gas systems similar to those used in Art Galleries are installed to ensure a fire can be detected early and subdued before damaging any server equipment.

Pi CRM also investigated issues such as back up generators, temperature control capabilities and connection integrity before settling on a data centre. Because we want to not only protect your data but also make sure you have always have access to that data, our goal is 0% unscheduled downtime.

Once your online Pi CRM security extends to data transmission.  All your data exchanges are encrypted to ensure privacy and security.

When it comes to login and account security Pi CRM gives you the flexibility to determine how stringent you wish to be in managing your organizational security.  As an administrator you can choose who has access.

Another attractive feature for many CEOs is your unprecedented control over export access.  One the biggest problems faced by modern organizations is database theft.  An employee leaves the company (or is dismissed) and they decide to steal your database of valued clients.

With Pi CRM you have full control of access levels. You can easily manage which accounts have access to export capabilities from your administrative account.  This means that you can restrict access to seasonal staff, contractors or casuals to ‘view only’ or ‘no export access’ with the click of a button.  And if one of your previously trusted staff members is being let go you can restrict or terminate their system access in just seconds.

Cost Effective

Pi CRM has implemented a pricing model which is revolutionary in the CRM industry. Pi CRM is not only more affordable than most desktop or internal server CRMs but the leading value solution among other Web Based CRM Providers.

Pi CRM vs Desktop or Interval Server Solutions

When you choose a desktop CRM or internal server solution your upfront costs are massive.  Firstly you need to buy a license to the software (which often needs to renewed yearly). The next step is making sure all your hardware and software is compatible with the system and if not make any necessary upgrades.  If you need to purchase an internal server you’re can expect to pay somewhere from $6,000 – $250,000 to secure equipment, connections, contractors and cover any other set up costs.

And don’t be fooled into thinking this will be all you have to spend.  Running the software, installing updates, maintaining the server, regular backups and maintaining all the compatible operating systems becomes the sole responsibility of your business. You may need to hire external contractors or an in house IT Team to manage the system. This is specialized work, so your yearly or monthly bill will be in the thousands. The larger your organization the more you’re ongoing costs will be.

Pi CRM vs Other Web Based CRM Software

Many small to medium sized businesses choose Web Based CRM.  Because hardware and software upgrades are unnecessary, no internal servers are required and in most cases they don’t even need to pay any upfront fee for the CRM software.

Web Based CRM is charged on a ‘per user’ or ‘per seat’ model which is more like ‘renting’ the software.  This means that your upfront costs are very low and you can get up and running in a matter of days instead of weeks or months.

But the biggest problem with this ‘per user’ model is that businesses are charged a flat fee for every user account or login they have.  This means that as your business grows so do your expenses (even though you aren’t necessarily taking up any more of the CRM providers resources). At some point you’ll reach a stage where it might have been cheaper for you to buy an interval server and maintain your own systems.

Pi CRM has implemented a pricing model that is vastly different and much more cost effective for modern business.

When you are charged on a per user basis there is no distinction between full-time, casual, part-time or seasonal staff.  You are charged a flat rate per log in for each person no matter how infrequently they access the system. Unjust? We think so.

And to set up or shut down these individual user accounts you’re usually required to contact your CRM provider. Making it very difficult to scale up and down quickly and manage your CRM expenses.

To cater to a wider range of employment situations and have a more fair and equitable pricing model all Pi CRM packages you have unlimited user accounts (even on our ‘Forever Free CRM Package’).

Yes, that’s right unlimited user logins. We only limit your access based how many ‘concurrent users’ you have online at any one time.  This makes so much more sense for modern businesses as it accommodates a wide range of working relationships.

So what this means is that even if you have 15 or 20 user accounts, so long as only 10 people are logged into the system at any one time you will only be charged based on those 10.  If an 11th person tries to log in at the same time, you will simply get a message reading ‘all available logins are currently in use’.

If you have casual, part-time, seasonal staff, short-term contractors or offices across different time zones your team is unlikely to all be online at the exact same time.  But even if they were Pi CRM is still so much more affordable than the most common Web Based CRM providers.  For example our Lite Package (which gives allows you up to 10 concurrent users) costs less per month than you’d pay for just one user log in with Salesforce on their professional package.

There are also many inclusions in Pi CRM that other Web Based CRM providers charge extra for or simply don’t offer all together. Such as our data protection through daily system back ups. Or our free support and regular free training webinars. In addition all upgrades and maintenance are provided to you by Pi CRM at no extra charge.

If you’d like to learn more about Pi CRMs pricing model and which package might be right for you please visit our pricing and sign up page or give our office a call on 1300 086 779.

We’re also happy to answer any questions you might have about our data storage facilities, how to get your data across or any custom specific requirements you need from a CRM.

One again you can call us on 1300 086 779 to speak to one of our friendly team members or just sign up to our free forever account.

You’ll get free access to start using Pi CRM immediately and every new sign up gets a phone call from a helpful Pi CRM consultant.