10 Cloud-Based Apps That Give Mid-Sized Companies a Competitive Edge

There’s really no excuse for not using cloud-based applications. There are so many B2B cloud apps that are proven and popular. It’s more about a mindset change. Recently, I was delighted to read in InformationWeek that 74 percent of SMBs will be increasing their spending on cloud-based software this year. After all, with SaaS, what’s not to like – scalability, no expensive hardware to maintain, anytime/anywhere accessibility and, one of my favorites, constant innovation cycles.

I’m always eager to find out which cloud apps are being used by mid-market organizations to fuel their business engines and, based on my discussions with peers and customers of KnowledgeTree’s cloud-based document management solution, here’s the list I compiled:
Recruitment/HR

1. Resumator – online recruiting, resume reviews and applicant tracking. I’ve used Resumator recently as we’ve been expanding and hiring. Resumator has turned out to be a real lifesaver, and an awesome app for managing hiring workflow.
2. Paychex – streamlines payroll, taxes, and employee processes. The big benefit of Paychex for mid-sized is that it allows one person to perform those processes while still having time to complete other tasks. Paychex alleviates a lot of paperwork burden and ensures your company is compliant with federal and state employee laws.

Sales/customer service/marketing

1. SugarCRM– the customer relationship management application launched in 2004. The free, open source edition has been downloaded more than seven million times.  A use case on the Sugar website cites how Brighter Business uses Sugar for business processes and customer needs, including e-commerce, financial sector best practices, credit card payments, and custom workflows.
2. Pardot – this on-demand marketing automation app is being used by 400+ SMBs to dramatically drive lead generation. It boasts a rich feature set, ease of use, and flexibility as its winning ingredients.
3. ZenDesk – these guys are making online helpdesk and customer support cool and fun.  The company touts more than 5,000 customers, including Twitter and SAP, and aims to “fully democratize the ‘help desk,’ making it possible for any company small or large to provide superior customer service while also empowering their customers.”

Collaboration/communication

1. GoToMeeting – Nearly everyone in business uses GoToMeeting or another online meeting service nowadays. Users can share presenting capabilities with colleagues around the world, and enjoy more productive meetings than the simple conference call. 
2. Skype – Probably my favorite business tool, and ironically, possibly my favorite personal application as well.  With many of my KnowledgeTree colleagues based in South Africa, we use Skype daily for planning meetings, and general catching up.  The face-to-face functionality adds a personal touch I particularly enjoy.  Best of all, it’s free to use.
3. Evernote – This is an incredibly useful tool for me.  Oftentimes when I travel, I’ll think of an idea I want to share with colleagues, but many times I’d not write it down, and alas, my great ideas might be lost forever, were it not for Evernote.  I use it capture and store information from any device – my iPhone, iPad, laptop – and it will be stored safely in the cloud.  Evernote’s indexing capabilities make it easy to organize thoughts, ideas, and anything else on my mind.
4. Google Docs – A free web-based office productivity offering, allowing users to share documents, spreadsheets, and other business applications. Google has done very well in bringing these features to small business owners who don’t require the sophistication of document management solution.

Backup

1. Carbonite – Makes backing up multiple computers simple and hassle-free.

All or some of these great apps are being used by many of the savviest, fastest-growing organizations, including Bump Technologies, Fat Wallet, TheaterMania, Orbitz, ShareCare, ZoomInfo, Deposco and hundreds more. In fact, to me, for any company that’s no longer a start-up but not quite an enterprise, cloud apps are the perfect fit.
Which cloud apps are you using to ensure your business is competitive?