How Enterprises are Succeeding with Cloud
Once in a while, there comes a technology that impacts the world and causes a revolution. Cloud is one such technology that has had a massive impact. It has changed the world. Cloud is at the forefront of the digital revolution that has changed the way we live and work. Most of the digital disruptions that are changing the world wouldn’t have been possible without Cloud. Amazon, Gmail, Whatsapp, Facebook, Uber, or Skype they are all powered by Cloud based technology. Cloud is the road to the future. The adoption of cloud by businesses is helping them to improve their services, accelerate business processes and uncover new revenue streams. A brief overview of how organisations are taking advantage of the cloud:
1. Automatic Updates
Traditional softwares which are deployed on premise require heavy duty maintenance. Upgrades to newer versions can be a nightmare. With on premise solutions, the upgrades require significant downtime and also involvement of the support team. The data needs to be backed-up and the upgradation is often a long cumbersome process. But with a cloud based solution, organisations get automatic updates without any noticeable downtime or business interruptions. The upgrades are seamless and transparent to the organisations.
2. Enhanced Computing
The requirements of computing have changed significantly in the last few years. The data complexity has been multiplied several folds and so computing requirements have also grown. With cloud computing the user is unaware of the complex systems that are performing the operations in the back end. The server or the back-end performs the heavy computations. The end user systems or the client machines can be as simple as a smart phone. It puts tremendous power in the hands of the user.
3. On Demand Scaling to meet unpredictable demands
The rising demands of business can be unpredictable. The requirements for data, storage and server speed must be dynamic to handle the changing needs of the business. Say for e.g. a retail store may have peak demands in festive seasons and so it should be able to meet the needs of the customers without interruptions. Cloud enables elasticity which means scaling up the hardware on the back end as per the demands of the business. It also enables businesses to pay only for what they use.
4. Customer Service
Cloud enables a connected experience for users. These days’ customers expect the brands to respond and resolve their queries realtime. With a cloud based system, there is visibility and proactive helpdesk systems to attend to the customers. It helps in better communication with the customers leading to increased satisfaction and improved service for them.
5. Realtime Information and Data
An interconnected system with centralised storage and access to authorised users ensures realtime information and data. The top executives are always in synch with what is happening on the ground. The reports can be generated realtime. Data and information is available to employees anywhere in the world.
6. Collaboration
The cloud applications enable virtual teams to share information, communicate and work on their tasks in a cohesive manner. The information can be shared realtime. Teams can get feedback, approvals and comments of their peers on the internet even though they may be in different locations. This leads to quicker decision making and improved collaboration.
7. Security
The on premise server is vulnerable to security breaches, failures and maintenance hassles. However with cloud, the data is well backed up against failures and disasters. The security of cloud based systems is also established with SSL encryption, other measures like IP address, location checks etc. Losing data, laptops and hard disks crashes are no more the cause for worry with redundant and offsite backups with Cloud.
8. Flexible Work Location & Policies
Cloud enables an organisation to have a mobile work force which is connected and can work from any location at any time. The employees feel empowered with using devices of their choice for accomplishing their tasks. It helps in improving productivity and employee satisfaction.
9. Infrastructure Costs
The infrastructure costs for maintaining server, storage, back-up, Disaster recovery for your data center are very significant. The organisations also need manpower and frequent upgrades for maintenance of their infrastructure. These costs can be eliminated with Cloud applications. Your data is very well backed up with several layers of protection. The cost of hardware is also reduced significantly as you pay for what you use. There is no manpower needed for maintenance and also the hardware upgrades are done seamlessly.
10. Simple Services to Serve business needs
Organisations can simplify their services with cloud based applications. The simplification of the services leads to improved efficiencies and systems. The employee time is also freed up due to simple processes, which helps them to focus on innovations. The time to market is also reduced significantly leading to better business growth and opportunities.
Measurable Impact on Business
The measurable impact of the cloud on business is undeniable. Cloud is an enabler for improvement, growth and agility for businesses. It is a great way to leverage technological advancements and stay ahead of your completion as per the dynamic needs of the business.
Are you ready to Leverage Cloud for your business?
Consider the following to take advantage of cloud solutions for your business:
a) A good understanding of the advantages of clouds is important before you consider it.
b) Evaluate the business processes like say asset management, Human resource management, Supply chain management, Data management & analytics, Document repository, Finance or other functions of your organisation that can benefit from Cloud adoption.
c) Evaluate the technological options for deploying cloud. The architecture of the cloud can be public, private or hybrid depending on the needs of the organisation. For large enterprises, hybrid solutions can be created where some processes are present on the local server and others on the Cloud server. The architecture of the solution can be analysed according to the requirements and needs of an organisation.
d) Organisations move to cloud not for a technological upgradation but for solving their existing pain points. Before you migrate to cloud, analyse your current bottlenecks and then see the best ways they can be addressed with Technology.
e) Choose the right vendor. Agility is the main reason enterprises are moving to the cloud. It is not acceptable for vendors to take years to strategise the best software solutions. You need vendors who can quickly devise solution strategies and implement the as per your organisational objectives.
Cloud is paving the way for enterprises to leverage technological advancements to meet business growth. The cloud is simply the epitome of creativity, innovation and growth. It has put immense power in the hands of the user who can perform almost any task simply with his mobile device. The power of computing makes amazing things possible.