Technology has changed our world and continues to profoundly influence how we do business. What once held small businesses back has become possible with cloud software and services. Although QuickBooks is available online, Microsoft offers more in-depth business management solutions with a variety of deployment options that help reduce the cost. Growing Pain No. 7: Not Enough Flexible Deployment Choices According to a Harvard Business Review report entitled How the Cloud Looks from the Top: Achieving Competitive Advantage In the Age of Cloud Computing, the No. 1 reason organizations move to the cloud is ease of experimentation at a lower cost. At the same time, cloud computing typically raises security concerns for many organizations. To allow for flexibility, the systems running your business need to be accessible anytime, anywhere, but only to those granted proper access. Some organizations ease this concern by taking a hybrid approach—putting some of their data in the cloud and keeping other data on premises. While QuickBooks offers limited deployment options, Microsoft and its partners can deploy business solutions in the cloud, on premises or using the hybrid approach, depending on what’s right for your business. Here are just a few of the options: On-Premises – Software is installed and run on dedicated servers in-house with this option. Under this model, the company owns and services the hardware infrastructure and installed software licenses. Public Cloud – The solution follows a web-hosting model where the data and application reside in a remote server and can be accessed via internet browser or nonbrowser applications on mobile or tablet devices. Public cloud offers a shared or multitenant infrastructure that may be virtualized and is owned by the vendor or service provider. The customer typically rents the ERP software and infrastructure and is charged on a per-use or per-user basis. Private Cloud – This option adopts the virtualized, self-service model of the public cloud but typically does so within the company’s firewall and is located at the company or vendor-hosted data center. The company either owns the ERP software and infrastructure or uses the option of leasing from vendors. An important distinction from the public cloud model is single tenancy, e ., the service is exclusively provided for one organization that doesn’t share its infrastructure with other customers. Microsoft has invested millions of dollars in cloud computing resources to ensure they meet customer needs. With Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to technology advancement, you can have peace of mind knowing your investment is backed by a strong road map for innovation. Connie Silverman, controller at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, is satisfied with the efficiency of Microsoft solutions: “By using cloud-based Microsoft technologies, including Microsoft Dynamics, we generate substantial savings and efficiencies; practice transparent, sound financial management; and bring outstanding performing-arts events to a growing numbers of patrons.” Read this case study to learn more about how the Kauffman Center benefited from Microsoft’s cloud deployment solution. Take the next steps to see the product in action, learn more about Microsoft’s cloud or on-premises solutions for small and midsize businesses or find a reselling partner near you. And be sure to join us next week as we explore Growing Pain No. 8: Limited Systems Can’t Keep Up with Business Opportunities. This blog series addresses some of the common signs your business has outgrown QuickBooks and how Microsoft business solutions can help you keep growing. If you missed the previous posts, you can view them here: Growing Pain No. 1: Rubber Bands & Sticky Notes Are Keeping You Up at Night Growing Pain No. 2: Managing the Books & Cash Flow Isn’t As Easy As It Used to Be Growing Pain No. 3: Lack of Financial Controls & Audit Trails Is Putting You at Risk Growing Pain No. 4: You Can’t Move Forward When You Keep Looking Back Growing Pain No. 5: You’re Putting Off New Business Opportunities Growing Pain No. 6: Needing a Trusted Advisor to Take Your Business to the Next Level The post Telltale Signs You’ve Outgrown QuickBooks – Growing Pain No. 7 appeared first on Dynamics GP Insights .
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