Whether you are using a virtualized data center or the services of a third party, there is a big case for making cloud computing a big part of your business infrastructure. And while most internet users are by now familiar with it as a method of storage and file sharing — it reduces the amount of storage space on the hard drive, which can thus be freed for those items that really cannot be placed anywhere else, plus sharing files among staff members with DropBox and other online services is a breeze — the real benefits of cloud computing for business go far beyond that. And for the naysayers out there, “if implemented correctly, the opportunities of being on the cloud can far outweigh the hassles” (Page 5 of How To Avoid A Storm In Your Cloud Installation, a free downloadable e-book from ClickSoftware)
Here are 4 real benefits of cloud computing for your business.
1) Ease of re-organization and expansion
It is common for businesses to re-organize, expand, or even merge with another in order to expand their range of offerings in different ways, or to change their positions with regard to taxation and other logistical business concerns. But any type of company re-organization, including but not limited to large-scale mergers and acquisitions, can take a lot of time and resources just to get things back up to speed. Use of the cloud can speed up the process because a system based in the cloud can be accessed quickly and immediately by end users, and the information stored in the cloud doesn’t have to ‘move’ anywhere.
2) Flexibility when getting into new business
The most common reason why businesses are often slow to carry new ideas to fruition is lack of time or money or both. Now, with the existence of on-demand cloud services, it takes only a few minutes — or a few hours, at most — to get things up and running; such an arrangement is perfect if, say, a company wishes to test an idea for a new product line. This takes care of the time element, and since users are charged for no more than the time that they actually use the cloud, the money element is taken care of as well. Not only that, but it also becomes possible to shift the focus of your business quickly. With this new-found capacity to experiment with new ideas, you will be able to expand your range of products and services and reach out to your customers in a way that you never could before.
3) Fewer IT Problems
Having up to date technology is a must when it comes to being and staying in business. So realistically, those businesses that have the most experience in the latest technological developments are the ones that are at the biggest competitive advantage. Business leaders such as CIOs and CTOs are therefore what every businessperson needs to hire. Unfortunately, however, statistics have revealed that about 80 percent of all tech executives are too “tied up” in routine maintenance tasks to be able to take care of those things that really require their attention, and even worse, some businesses, whether in the tech field or otherwise, even forego designating a formal IT department, due to lack of resources. This leads to countless unnecessary IT setbacks that hinder business growth. This is where the cloud demonstrates its value for business. With the availability of various cloud service packages and solutions, companies can choose the type of cloud service that’s best suited for their business and be able to rely on the support of the cloud provider in times of need.
4) Ease in updating
Software that is installed on a physical computer has to be updated periodically, and these updates often take time and cost money. In fact, some software costs between $20 and $100 per year to update, which becomes a standard business expense in order to just keep up to date. However, with cloud computing, on the other hand, updates and renewals can happen instantaneously by the cloud with no additional service charge. And instead of manually updating each computer or workstation at your company, the cloud does it for you.
“With seamless sharing among all servers, you only need to upgrade your solution in the central database, all servers will automatically receive the latest versions.” (Page 8 of How To Avoid A Storm In Your Cloud Installation, a free downloadable e-book from ClickSoftware).
In other words, the person using the services does not have to lift a finger or pay a cent — and thus, the user interface remains up to date in accordance with the demands of the business.
Some final words
The four advantages of cloud computing for economic entities are only a few of many; others include:
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Faster response to unforeseen occurrences
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Faster and simpler adoption with no additional training being necessary
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Reduced deployment time
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More and better security
- Easy to get out if you dislike the product
