Let’s discuss a topic called how small and medium-sized enterprises can make use of cloud technology services. It will help you to leverage your business. 

In today’s business environment, sales teams in manufacturing and engineering companies face many challenges. The IT infrastructure has become complex, while everyday sales demand simplicity and ease. CEOs expect a clear overview of incoming opportunities and their business processes.

How can cloud computing help sales teams in manufacturing and high-tech companies survive?

We must understand the current situation before considering how a cloud-based sales team might work for us.

Centralized internal systems must work better for sales teams in the field.

In addition to the trend of centralizing significant systems, such as orders and materials, in one ERP system, another emerging trend in manufacturing during the last decade was creating a fixed workplace for personnel. It worked out nicely for people who only travel a little, but it is a problem for salespeople who do.

To provide sales reps with relevant information where they need it, companies must open up their internal systems for external access. It can be risky from a security and data compliance perspective. But IT departments try to cover this issue by managing the internal network, reverse proxies and VPNs. However, secure operations of complex network setups remain challenging, and users often experience these approaches as slow and cumbersome.

Sales reps need to have reliable access to sales-related data wherever and whenever they need it.

Cloud applications can be a good option for companies that want to access their internal systems data like ERP data and make the information available in the cloud. Using SaaS, IT departments can manage bandwidths and networks without worrying about users’ devices or software platforms.

Usability is essential for salespeople.

As reality shows demonstrate, IT cannot force users to stick with outdated software and tools that lack the features needed to support their everyday business challenges. Furthermore, users only use given software tools if the usability is satisfactory. The so-called “consumerization of business software” describes this trend and explains why it happens:

When salespeople are away from their computers, they write down the details of their sales pitches and calls on paper, use tablets to record notes or create simple spreadsheets, or don’t document their work.

The lack of transparency in the sales process, combined with the inefficiency and non-scalability of this method for an entire company, leads to managers’ inability to pull production forecasts or make accurate revenue predictions.

Unlike on-premise software suites designed to cover the entire process, cloud applications usually cover only a tiny portion of a more extensive business process. It enables cloud solutions to focus on users’ needs, such as sales reps and managers.

As a result, companies that offer cloud services have usability as part of their DNA, which is critical for businesses that need to operate quickly. Integrating existing workflows via Excel uploads and downloads or other file types helps increase user adoption rate, thereby increasing productivity.

Reasons to shift sales operations to the cloud.

Challenges faced by chief information officers in manufacturing and engineering businesses include the following opportunities for a shift of the sales operations to the cloud:

• For SMEs, cloud computing solutions are an affordable and least disruptive way to replace custom-built legacy systems or error-prone and inefficient gap-filling solutions.
• Cloud solutions can help sales representatives access relevant knowledge about their customers on the road or outside the office.
• A focus on usability in cloud solutions leads to their swift adoption throughout the organization, enabling efficient sales processes.
• A cloud application that meets users’ needs for collaboration and supports collaboration processes throughout the system will positively affect security standards, company approval structures, and internal controls.

Utilizing innovative and Acumatica cloud ERP to limit costs and multiply productivity can help SMEs in manufacturing and engineering industries reach business success. Contact us for a customized ERP.