After getting over the “it’s just email” hurdle, a quick demo of what is included in Google Apps typically jump starts the “endless possibility” discussion.

Fortunately, while it’s true that Google Apps doesn’t include pure play CRM, Accounting and Marketing applications, it does support an increasing number of integration options that are a simple click away. Yes, you read that right…a click away…in Google Apps you can deploy a fully functioning CRM solution within minutes. For instance, did you know that SalesForce works with Google? Or how about EchoSign the #1 electronic signature service that integrates with both Google Apps and Salesforce. Then there’s…

• Intuit’s Online Payroll solution
• BatchBlue for Social CRM
• MailChimp for email campaigns

…plus hundreds of other integrated apps that provide signifiant business benefits. To say that Google Apps is a one trick pony is to overlook the endless possibilities it offers.

Here’s a quick video that I put together showing how to launch BatchBook CRM with Google Apps.

Thanks to The Friendly Fiend for the header image.

Imagine what it would be like if you had to buy your own generator, put gas in it, fire it up every night after work just to do the laundry or watch TV? What would it be like to wake up on the hottest of nights this summer because the generator quit and there’s no air conditioning? Imagine having to grab your flash light, traipse out behind the garage and figure out why the generator isn’t running. Not fun. Or what happens when you finally throw down for a new flat screen television and your generator sputters to a halt as a result of the increased power requirements?

Okay, that’s a little dramatic…or is it?

True, most people don’t purchase a generator to power their home…or business for that matter. Cloud computing is a particularly noteworthy solution for small businesses. It provides the benefit of allowing you to focus on what you do best without having to worry about the costly hardware, software and maintenance of your IT infrastructure. In a financial sense, you don’t have to be good with numbers to appreciate the cost associated with owning and maintaining your own servers, let alone hosting and maintaining your own inner office business applications.

Cloud Computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand, like the electricity grid. – Wikipedia

Thanks to Vizzzual.com on Flickr for the header image.