Creative Cloud for teams: Handling objections
Creative Cloud represents a new and different way for organizations to purchase and manage software. As a result, your customers may have concerns. Use this collection of common concerns and responses to help them make the move to Creative Cloud for teams.
Answer concerns about Creative Cloud for teams and provide solutions.
Security and control
CUSTOMER CONCERN
SOLUTION
"We don't want to store private data in the cloud."
"The cloud just isn't for us."
Using the 1TB of cloud storage is optional. You can manage data privacy with IT controls available in Creative Cloud for teams, network restrictions (firewall), and organizational policy. And you can block users on the corporate network from services like storage.
Send to your customers:
Creative Cloud security FAQ for IT
"We can't allow users to install software."
"We need to manage updates."
Creative Cloud Packager enables you to centrally deploy all Creative Cloud desktop apps, or a customized subset, across your organization so you can maintain control of how Creative Cloud applications are installed. Updates can also be centrally managed.
Centralized deployment ensures that everyone is on the same version of the software, which reduces support costs.
Send to your customers:
Creative Cloud Packager support page
"Launching Photoshop in the browser will drain our network bandwidth."
"Everyone has to download every update every time."
Creative Cloud applications (like Photoshop) run on the desktop, not in a browser or thin client. The IT administrator downloads the apps from Creative Cloud once and centrally deploys them across the organization, or enables users to download and install on their own. Once installed, the apps run locally. You can centrally manage and install updates at your convenience through Creative Cloud Packager or enable users to install updates on their own
Centralized deployment prevents network congestion because you don’t have multiple users downloading the same bits at the same time. It also enables you to tailor Creative Cloud packages to meet the needs of your team.
Send to your customers:
Top 5 IT myths about Creative Cloud
"We need software that runs on the desktop, not in the browser."
"I have to be constantly connected to use my apps."
Although it’s called Creative Cloud, CC applications still run on the desktop with the same performance that you’re used to. Some services such as online training and storage are web based, but the core apps run on the desktop.
You only need to be online to install your software and to use Creative Cloud services like cloud storage. Creative Cloud will alert you when you need to connect to the Internet for a license status check.
Send to your customers:
Top 5 IT myths about Creative Cloud
"We have security concerns about cloud applications and data storage."
The Creative Cloud applications are downloaded from the cloud but run locally to optimize performance.
The applications are installed on the local hard drive and work in the same way as versions for desktop computers.
You can instruct users to store confidential information elsewhere.
The use of the 1TB of included storage is optional.
Send to your customers:
Creative Cloud security FAQ for IT
"We don’t have time to track and manage separate memberships for each user."
Creative Cloud for teams is actually easier to track and manage than traditional software. Creative Cloud for teams has an administrator console that keeps track of the number of seats you have purchased and lets you assign those seats to users. If a user leaves, you can assign that seat to another user, which you cannot do with traditional software. You can also manage both All Apps plan seats and Single App seats in the administrator console and add both types of seats as your team needs them. If you add more seats after your initial purchase, those seats are prorated and will be renewed at the same time as the seats in your initial purchase.
Send to your customers:
How to manage Creative Cloud for teams
Cost and purchasing
CUSTOMER CONCERN
SOLUTION
"Creative Cloud will be more expensive over time."
Perpetual licenses have a fixed value over time, whereas a Creative Cloud membership delivers access to new versions and features continuously, as they are developed. Not having access to the latest Adobe technology can also have its costs
With Creative Cloud membership, you don’t pay for upgrades or updates. And your organization gets the newest features as soon as they are available without having to wait for them to be bundled together in a traditional 12- to 24-month upgrade cycle.
"We want to own."
You can continue to use your current Creative Suite perpetual licenses for as long as you like. But keep in mind that with Creative Cloud you pay for a membership and receive the latest Creative Cloud product versions along with continuous updates as they are developed. There is ongoing value with Creative Cloud, whereas the perpetual products were last updated in April 2012.
"Creative Cloud for teams is more expensive than purchasing an individual Creative Cloud membership on Adobe.com."
The offer for the individual version on Adobe.com is intended for individuals, not volume licensing customers:
- Unlike an individual membership, which belongs to a person, a Creative Cloud for teams membership belongs to and stays with the organization.
- The team membership comes with an administrator console to manage the subscription and control use.
"Some team members only use one Adobe product. Creative Cloud for teams is more than they need."
Creative Cloud for teams is available in two plans—All Apps and Single App. The All Apps plan gives users access to all Creative Cloud for teams tools and services, and the Single App plan enables users to choose one CC desktop app and provides select services for a lower price. You can combine and manage both All Apps and Single App seats under the same license, so each team member has access to the software and services they need.
"We won’t use all the tools in Creative Cloud."
Adobe doesn’t believe every user will use every tool in Creative Cloud every day. Creative Cloud simplifies the process of picking and choosing by making everything available. It also enables users to gain new skill sets or branch out into new media without additional software costs.
"We got volume discounts when we purchased Creative Suite through a purchasing program."
If you purchase 10–49 seats of Creative Cloud for teams, you qualify for a 5% volume discount. If you purchase 50–99 seats, you qualify for a 10% volume discount. If you purchase 100+ seats, you qualify for a 15% discount. And if you lock in a three-year commitment, you’ll save an additional 10%.
Send to your customers:
VIP program guide
"We purchase and manage all our products through volume purchasing programs."
Creative Cloud for teams is available through Adobe Buying Programs. You join Adobe’s Value Incentive Plan (VIP) program, which is free and gives you access to an administrator console where you can add and manage all Creative Cloud seats. You purchase and renew your membership annually, not monthly, by issuing a PO. If you add more seats during the year, they are prorated and are renewed on your anniversary date. All your seats track to the same anniversary date, so they can all be renewed at the same time, no matter when you add them throughout the year.
Send to your customers:
VIP program guide
Switching from Creative Suite
CUSTOMER CONCERN
SOLUTION
"We aren’t ready to switch from Creative Suite to Creative Cloud at this time."
Even though moving to Creative Cloud may not make sense today, we recommend that you get a few memberships to start. Here’s why:
- You can prepare your organization by evaluating and testing the latest software.
- You will establish membership in Adobe's VIP program, and you can deploy additional seats quickly, if budget owners request them.
Send to your customers:
VIP program guide
"We’re not going to purchase Creative Cloud. We’re waiting for CS7."
Adobe has no plans to release any future versions of Creative Suite, including CS7. All future product updates and innovations will be delivered exclusively to Creative Cloud members. To get the latest versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, and other creative tools that were previously known as CS applications, you must join Creative Cloud and use the new CC applications. Adobe has released hundreds of new features in its CC apps and will continue to regularly release new features. The last version of Creative Suite was released in April 2012.
Collaboration and services
CUSTOMER CONCERN
SOLUTION
"We need to be able to share files with clients that are not Creative Cloud members."
One of the great benefits of Creative Cloud is that you can easily share your files from Creative Cloud with anyone who has a browser. Additionally, Creative Cloud provides a much better way to share than other services because you can view and comment on the creative files with only a browser. This is not possible with other services.
Send to your customers:
Top 5 IT myths about Creative Cloud
"We will lose all our files if we cancel our Creative Cloud membership."
You can save any file you create with Creative Cloud for teams to your desktop. Even if you leave Creative Cloud, you will still have access to all files that you save to your computer.
Send to your customers:
Top 5 IT myths about Creative Cloud
"Creative Cloud means that files need to be hosted vs. stored locally."
Your creative files stay on your computer unless you choose to sync them to Creative Cloud.