Why integrated apps will change the way you do business

The next generation of cloud computing won't be about finding a particular app that solves a given problem, but rather finding an integrated suite of apps that work together to create efficiency across an organization. A system of disconnected cloud apps can cost a company time, sales, and teamwork when compared with a suite that's designed to flow together.

The cost of app clutter
 

Most businesses use a whole host of apps to get things done. One tool for team collaboration, another to track marketing results, a CRM for customer profiles and forecasting, and so on.

In the beginning, this piecemeal approach can work. However, as your business scales, siloed software struggles to keep pace. Since most apps don't talk to each other natively, you need a developer to set up and maintain integrations to keep your data flowing. Third-party integrations are a lifesaver for businesses, but keeping them running smoothly can require redundant checks and verifications that eat up time and IT resources.

If your disparate systems don't communicate well, you have to fill in the gaps yourself, resulting in duplicate data entries, missing information, and a fragmented view of your business and customers. When you factor in support, maintenance, and missed opportunities, a cobbled-together collection of apps can cost you much more than a suite that's designed to work together.  

The challenge of effective customer service
 

In a competitive, crowded market, the personal touch is often the deciding factor for customers. But customer engagement isn't just about greeting someone by name, or remembering their birthday; it's about knowing everything there is to know about a customer so that every contact is effective, informative, and satisfying. 

However, this kind of white-glove service is almost impossible without an integrated system with real-time data sharing, because you never know which employee will have the next chance to make a difference to the customer. For instance, a support employee who can't see the sales team's notes may be missing key information that would help them understand what the customer needs the software to do. 

Transforming company culture
 

Cloud computing offers a huge advantage over desktop installations, but it can't transform a company all by itself. Organizations succeed when they can master transparency, share innovations, and make successes benefit all teams, which can be difficult with an array of siloed applications. If your apps don't talk to each other, how will your teams share tools and resources? If your teams don't have access to the same information, how will they participate in decision-making and help move the company forward?

An integrated solution
 

All of these problems can be solved by adopting a suite of apps designed with integration in mind. A suite saves you the time and cost of manually connecting your apps and real-time data makes it easier for your teams to create positive connections with customers. Integrated cloud software's frictionless information sharing creates an ideal platform for collaboration inside teams and across them. All of this means more efficient sales, more chances to create customer loyalty, and a more flexible, functional organization. 

Although several major software companies that have built their reputations with standalone applications—notably Microsoft and Salesforce—are now working to meet the demand for integrated suite solutions, many consumers may find native cloud companies like Zoho offer a more tightly integrated product ecosystem, built from the ground up to work together. Comprehensive suites like Zoho One—which include 40+ products covering sales, marketing, support, finance, productivity and collaboration, HR, and custom app development—deliver a streamlined solution that can transform how business gets done.

Brief about ZOHO

Zoho is the operating system for business—a single online platform capable of running an entire business. With apps in nearly every major business category, including sales, marketing, customer support, accounting and back office operations, and an array of productivity and collaboration tools, Zoho is the world's most prolific software company. More than 35 million users around the world, across hundreds of thousands of companies, rely on Zoho every day to run their businesses, including Zoho itself.