When it comes to software for small businesses, there are numerous choices. Older programs that are locally based on your hard drive are quickly being replaced by any number of cloud-based options that both replace older program functions and add many more capabilities.
But not all apps give you a benefit over what you’re currently using. When choosing a business application, you want to make sure it makes sense budget-wise and is going to give you a payback in improved productivity and workflow.
Our Managed Cloud Services from ManagedIT help clients sort through the “noise” of multiple apps to give them solid and proven winners that can reduce expenses and increase office collaboration and productivity.
By 2019, 84% of IT pros say they’ll move workloads to the cloud for cost savings and flexibility. (TechRepublic)
“The Cloud” is no longer just the new “term of the month”, it’s where office computing is migrating. Did you know? Singapore is the strongest Asia Pacific cloud nation, overtaking Hong Kong earlier this year.
Small businesses that switch to smart, cloud-based solutions can gain a big advantage on their competition.
At ManagedIT, we’re always testing and reviewing new cloud-based solutions, so we can identify the ones that will make the biggest positive impact on our small business clients.
If you’ve been looking for the best cloud-based apps out there for your company, we’ve got 6 of our favorite ones to tell you about!
ManagedIT’s Top 6 Cloud-Based App Choices
We work with companies daily to get them set up with cloud solutions and train their team how to implement them. Our top picks below are ones that cover a wide range of different company areas and save time and improve workflows time and time again.
1. Office 365
A large percentage of offices already use the Microsoft Office suite of products. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook have held a majority of the office software market for over two decades. But if you’re still using the desktop versions, then you’re missing out.
Cloud-based Office 365 gives you all of your Microsoft favorites in supercharged versions that allow your team to work on Office documents in collaboration.
It also includes multiple staff and customer communication tools. So, it’s really more than just a single application, it’s a whole suite of productivity products that carry all the benefits of being cloud-based.
Apps that come with Office 365 include:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- OneNote
- Access (PC only)
- OneDrive
- SharePoint
- Skype for Business
- Exchange
- Microsoft Teams
2. Adobe Creative Cloud
Imagery is a big part of telling any business story, so in order to attract new customers you want the tools that can help you make great photos and graphics. But you want those tools to be efficient, without taking up too much time.
Adobe has been at the top of photo software for a good reason, they have premiere tools like Photoshop that far outmatch their competition. They’re another big name that’s moved their software to cloud-based solutions.
Their Adobe Creative Cloud with photography apps includes the mainstay, Photoshop but also Lightroom, a quick way to organize and edit photos on the fly. You also can choose from a variety of original-looking fonts through Adobe Typekit.
3. Amazon Web Services
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty platform from which you can add-on various cloud services as you grow, then Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an excellent choice.
This robust and secure cloud service gives you the infrastructure and flexibility to choose from several business boosting cloud applications. And you only pay for what you choose to use.
Some of the features include:
- Serverless cloud functionality
- Flexible database to handle customer data
- Storage that syncs with user devices
- Deep learning bots to automate tasks
- Engagement tools like analytics and push notifications
4. Dropbox
Sending large files to customers or distributors, or even within your own office, can be hit or miss. If you’re 1 MB over someone’s incoming email limit, then your customer may never get that powerful sales presentation.
Dropbox makes file sharing and sending easy by offering a cloud-based drag and drop platform to upload files, images, and videos and share them with anyone you send a link to.
Not only does it make the whole file sharing process painless and easy, but it can also be used as a single central storage location for important company files.
5. Slack
Slack is an instant messaging tool that has been taking over the world due to the easy adoption and fast collaboration it promotes.
How much time would you save if you didn’t have to read through multiple emails about the same interoffice topic? Instead of emailing, your team can send instant messages on the appropriate topic channel and share files through them too. Another bonus is that Slack allows you to invite others to join a channel. So, you could set up a Customer Service channel and invite your customers to message you with any questions or an Orders Channel for the quick and easy ordering of your goods and services.
6. SalesForce
Customer relationship management (CRM) is a key tool for any business. If you’re not keeping up with your leads and helping nurture them through your sales funnel, then you can easily miss sales opportunities.
Sales Force is one of the top cloud-based CRM programs and because of that, just about any program you’d want to connect to CRM integrates with SalesForce. This makes it easy to directly bring leads in from your website form, automate drip email campaigns and alert the appropriate sales person on their mobile device for follow up.
Want to Improve Productivity with the Best Cloud Solutions?
Embracing new technology may not be easy, but if done correctly, it can be extremely beneficial to you and your company. ManagedIT can help you employ cloud applications that fit your small business goals and help you reach them faster.
Contact us today to get started! Call +65 6748 8776 or drop us a line on our webform.
ManagedIT.SG is an IT Support, IT Solutioning and Managed IT Service Provider specializing in serving Small Businesses in Singapore. Call us at +65 6748 8776 and let us manage your Small Business IT today!