As internet bandwidth increases and networks become more robust, stable and secure, more small businesses are choosing to adopt 'cloud based' CRM solutions.
For a number of years, BluebirdCRM have offered a hosted ACT! solution whereupon we provide and fully manage a server environment for clients' ACT! databases.
Access to the database may be via web browser, or users might have the ACT! application installed on local machines where 'remote databases' synchronise with the main 'Publisher' database that sits in our secure 'Tier 4' data centre.
Benefits include:
- No internal IT capability required
- No server hardware and network architecture required on client's site to support ACT! implementation
- Lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)
- Fully supported packages mean consistent cost for accurate budget forecasting
BluebirdCRM offer two options to clients who wish to take advantage of a cloud-based architecture, delivering ACT! as a service through a secure channel (using SSL) across the public internet.
Option 1 - Hosting Your ACT! Software
Client buys the ACT! Premium software outright. Database is hosted within BluebirdCRM's secure high-speed data centre. Client pays a monthly hosting and management fee based upon the number of active users.
Suitable for: Those who are comfortable with a higher up-front investment but desire a lower monthly fee. Low Total Cost of Ownership over the long term if they would expect to upgrade to current ACT! version no more frequently than on a 3 year cycle.
Typical example: From £60 plus VAT per month (based on hosting of 5 user database). ACT! software & support purchased separately or provided by client.
Option 2 - ACT! SaaS
Client rents the ACT! Premium software based upon the number of users (and the method of database access - via browser and/or remote database for offline use). Database is hosted within BluebirdCRM's secure high-speed data centre. Client pays a monthly hosting and management fee.
Suitable for: Those who would prefer a minimum up-front investment and low Total Cost of Ownership, especially if they would expect to upgrade to the current ACT! version frequently (ACT! version is refreshed annually under this plan).
Prices from £20 per user per month plus hosting charges.
Typical example: £178.75 plus VAT per month (based on a 5 users system including ACT! software licenses, server management fee, hosting, ACT! support and free version upgrades).
In all cases, BluebirdCRM use a Virtual Server architecture in a secure Tier 4 data centre. This approach enables us to provision a server with a specification that is suitable based upon the specific nature of the deployment number of ACT! users, size of database, anticipated levels of usage, volume of internet traffic etc. As a guide, all our server deployments guarantee the following minimum specification for clients:
- From 2 Gbyte of RAM
- From 40 Gbyte HDD
- Internet bandwidth 100 Mbit (very fast synchronous internet connection - both upload and download)
- Unlimited internet traffic
- Operating System - Microsoft Windows Web Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
- Option for full root access if desired
- Fast availability (new orders may be provisioned and delivered typically within 2 working days)
Contact us for more information.
Contractual obligation
All hosting and service charges are payable quarterly in advance (or monthly by Standing Order). The minimum contract period is 3 months in all cases, where after a cancellation notice period of 31 days will be in effect.
Visit our demonstration environment and see 'ACT! in the Cloud' for yourself.