Autopilot is commonly referred to in a metaphorical sense, meaning the task is so easy that the person hardly needs to be there to achieve a good outcome. In some ways, sales automation tries to follow that logic and some cloud CRM solutions are offering that kind of automation.

Cloud CRM, or cloud customer relationship management, is a streamlining solution that is based in the cloud and gives organizations a platform for their data on customers -- data that leads to sales. Without cloud CRM, according to this Soffront blog, businesses would have nearly an impossible time achieving its marketing and sales quotas.

While there are a variety of different kinds of CRM, cloud CRM is basically the same in that it allows companies to store their information off-premise, which not only frees up company server space, but also unties the hands of the IT staff and provides redundancies that insures the data is always available and always secure.

Sales automation through cloud CRM solutions can be achieved through a variety of ways, and is offered referred to as SFA (sales force automation). It’s the technique through which a company utilizes software to automate the various tasks associated with sales. This could mean automating the order processing, information sharing, inventory monitoring, order tracking, contact management and forecast analysis.

While not all CRM or cloud CRM solutions include the automating features, some of the more trusted vendors offer automation as part of the package. Cloud CRM with automation tools puts the non-personal items that don’t require the physical presence of an employee to be put on autopilot and do the work of what would take many, many employees. Integrating a cloud CRM solution with these features can significantly boost business.

By selecting a cloud CRM platform, companies reduce costs as they generate more revenue with the automation tools. Many times, the cloud CRM comes with excellent support from the vendor, which can be of valuable assistance should the system encounter problems. With fewer man hours spent on managing the hardware involved in a system, the cloud CRM allows employees to spend more time making sales.

Cloud CRM helps companies put their customers first. This not only boosts sales in the short term, it helps establish customer loyalty to the brand, which equates to long-term sales. Many cloud CRM solutions offer free trials and staggered pricing plans that can fit about any budget. Small businesses sometimes use free CRM that allow up to five users to access a small amount of storage, and it produces great results.