My top 8 cloud based apps for business
For all the talk about cloud apps, businesses have to focus their efforts on cloud apps that can deliver a tangible return. Here’s my top 8 apps and the reasons I love them:
- Zendesk (www.zendesk.com)
An absolutely phenomenal tools for managing customer support, whether it is technically related or not. Customer Service Reps or Help Desk employees will love it equally. A few of its strengths are that it can very effectively manage support through email, but can also handle live chat, integrated phone call management, an integrated discussion forum & FAQ database and some amazing automation tools for customer support. A must have, not just because of the above reasons, but also because it integrates with a lot of other solutions.
- Mailchimp (www.mailchimp.com)
I was a hardcore Constant Contact fan until I really gave Mailchimp a solid try. Its ease of use and ability to segment your mailing database make it a must have for email marketing. I even enjoy the subtly hilarious comments the “chimp” makes on your screen while you’re working. It’s taken our email marketing to the next level, and they even have a “forever free” account that small organizations can use for basic email marketing. It integrates really well with CRM products (and Zendesk) and has a cool iPhone app.
- Geckoboard (www.geckoboard.com)
Dashboards are fun, and this makes it a breeze. While it is really very IT Focused, with some custom programming it can be turned into a force for good in your company. It has out-of-the-box integration with a bunch of other cloud based tools and allows for all kinds of custom dashboard widgets.
- Google Apps (www.google.com/a)
Yes, I know most of us have already heard of this, but I had to mention it. This has been an Internet-wide game changer, shutting down countless hosting companies’ email services with their awesome, free product. While it is really great for email, contacts and calendars (negating the need for Exchange in my opinion) it is also really nice for its app engine, which lets you run a variety of other, integrated products.
- Ringcentral (www.ringcentral.com)
I’ve used a lot of hosted PBX solutions for managing phone systems. This the most flexible and affordable one that I have been able to find yet. Very nice UI, affordable monthly rates and a lot of flexibility with find me-follow me settings and with their queues. They have a nice iPhone app and have continued to improve their product to meet phone system needs. They also have a direct phone product that you can buy from them if you don’t want to use a software client.
- Carbonite (www.carbonite.com)
Real time, off-site backup. Enough said. It’s affordable, easy to use and has a web based portal for administration of multiple systems being backed up, and it doesn’t consume a ton of my resources and fail like some other products that I used.
- 37 Signals Suite (Highrise & Basecamp) (www.37signals.com)
These guys have changed the whole business. You see a lot of companies mimicking or straight up copying their website designs and implementing the same time of integration methodologies. Highrise is a great CRM product that helps you manage companies, contacts, deals, notes, followups and more. It’s simple, it’s easy to use, and it integrates with most of the other solutions on this page. Most pricing stays under $100 per month, so it’s an easy sell to company owners. Something important to remember, the product is simple, so if there is an advanced feature you’re looking for, make sure to search out an integrated solution that developed a tool for what you are looking for.
- Tripit (www.tripit.com)
If you travel, it doesn’t get much better than tripit. I honestly can’t remember how I did it before this app came along. A very easy web, iPhone and iPad UI have helped me get rid of print itineraries and difficult travel scheduling and just start forwarding all of the conformation emails that I get to my tripit email address. It does the rest of the work by indexing the emails and pulling the relevant reservation details out of the email. It’s a great app and has changed my travel life for the better (plus it tracks all of my frequent flyer points!)
