Cloud Computing: Why Every Business Needs a Reliable IT Model
As technology advances each year, people’s lives become much easier and more convenient. This is the same with the business industry. In the old days, company owners were clueless about running their business smoothly without having to spend a lot of money. Hiring new employees was a burden considering how much they needed to spend for new computers and software. Luckily, companies no longer have to buy software for each employee because all the programs they need can be accessed in only one application. This astounding process is called “cloud computing.”
Basically, the cloud is a term to symbolize the Internet. Instead of using the computer’s hard drive, all the programs and data can be opened, ran and stored over the Internet. Cloud computing makes everything fast and easy so businesses no longer have to rely on local storage and computing.
The processes and functions of cloud computing are not complex. One does not need to be a computer geek to understand how it works and how it should be applied to a company’s daily tasks.
How Cloud Computing Can Help Companies
Cloud computing is widely used in businesses today because of its myriad benefits. Whether they are big or small companies, cloud computing can do a lot for them. Most challenges faced by businesses can easily be addressed through the use of cloud computing. Specifically, here are some ways cloud computing can help companies.
Save Money
As mentioned above, cloud computing is very cost-effective. It can help a company save a lot of money from buying hardware, software licenses and traditional modes of communication such as fax machines and telephones. The actual cost of cloud computing varies depending on the service provider but whatever the price is, its benefits still overpower the overall cost of cloud computing.
Ensure Security
Programs and data from the computer can be lost in a snap when hardware computing is used. When something goes wrong with a machine, important applications and sensitive data cannot be retrieved anymore. Confidential data from lost laptops cannot be wiped so anyone can access, use and leak them. However, if a company uses cloud computing, data can still be accessed whatever happens to the machine because they are stored on the Internet or cloud.
Enable Flexibility
Bandwidth demands change and grow every now and then. With cloud computing, companies can scale up or scale down cloud capacity based on their needs. It allows flexibility so business owners can take control of cloud capacity and get ahead of the competition. Apparently, the operational agility of a business can help it grow and further become a leader in the industry.
Provide Convenience
Cloud computing makes everyone’s work really convenient. It allows workers to work anywhere because everything can be accessed over the cloud. Because of its convenience, companies can hire remote workers which can help reduce business costs. It is also beneficial to office-based employees because they can finish tasks at home or anywhere they wish.
Control Document
Document control is very important in every business and this is something cloud computing can provide companies with. Before, employees often messed with titles, formats and content of files. This led to more complications and problems in the workplace. On the one hand, if a company will use cloud computing, they will have more control over their documents because they are all stored centrally, ensuring greater visibility.
Increase Collaboration
Another great thing about cloud computing is that it helps increase collaboration among employees. When workers are able to open, edit and share documents anytime and anywhere, they can easily collaborate with each other. Cloud computing also makes communication much faster and easier so problems and issues can be addressed immediately. Strong communication and increased collaboration further improve the performance of employees. If they have necessary tools to complete tasks, they will become motivated to work harder and yield better outcomes.
Recover Disaster
For small businesses, strong disaster recovery can be costly. They may also lack necessary expertise on this matter. Fortunately, cloud computing providers now offer recovery solutions for any business size for a reasonable cost. Cloud-based back up will now help big and small companies recover disaster and ensure business continuity.
Update Software Automatically
Cloud computing is an extremely reliable service. Business owners do not have to worry about the system maintenance because the service providers do all the work from updating software to updating security. This is done regularly so companies can devote their extra time to more important things such as implementing marketing strategies.
Companies Currently Using the Cloud
Because of the numerous advantages of using the cloud, a lot of companies are currently utilizing cloud computing in their businesses. These companies wisely incorporate cloud computing services into their overall business strategy. As they moved their information technology to the cloud, they saw more opportunities for business growth and transformation. Up to this day, these successful companies are taking advantages of all the benefits cloud computing can offer.
Pearson
Pearson is a leader in publishing and education industry and by the use of cloud computing, the multinational company became even more successful. Their journey to the cloud began with a goal to change the way they provide education throughout the world. Initially, cloud computing helped them developed web-based educational products and services that help produce quantifiable and realistic learning outcomes. As they promote web-based learning, they are able to help many students all over the world to learn anywhere they are. With the help of cloud computing, Pearson was also able to design effective web courses and online educational materials for both learners and educators. Such transformation also enabled Pearson to enter new markets particularly in China and South Africa.
The Hartford
The Hartford is an insurance company based in the United States. As a part of Fortune 500, this company is considered very successful in the insurance and financing industry. In the past years, they maintained their position with the help of cloud computing. The expedient IT model allowed them to foresee and address the needs of their customers. Also, the availability of their system improved as well as their business continuity. Because of the speed and convenience of cloud computing, they can now deliver products and services at a faster pace. Cloud computing helps them reduce costs so they can invest in other materials and facilities that can help their business grow.
Delhaize America
Delhaize America is another company that cloud computing transformed. This company runs three grocery chains in America namely Bottom Dollar, Hannaford and Food Lion. To assess the effect of local weather on their sales, they use Big Data and IBM cloud data services. Through these, they are able to learn more about the buying decisions of their target market. This was a big decision for the company but in the end, the cost of the cloud services was nothing compared to the benefits they received. The company improved on lots of things especially on customer engagement and loyalty and efficient supply chain. They also found it easier to focus on existing problems and find ways resolve them.
Concisely, cloud computing touched many lives and helped a lot of companies achieve their business goals.
The Future of Cloud Computing
The cloud undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of it. While it is widely used today for both personal and business purposes, there is still more to expect from cloud computing. In the next years, more mobile phones will be active and the demand for cloud computing will even increase. More applications will be available over the cloud and over 50% of companies over the world will use cloud computing services to aid with business growth and profitability. Shared clouds tend to slow performance and encourage security threat so more businesses are likely to shift to private clouds which ensure greater security and improve performance. Though cloud will host more applications, the response will be faster, giving better technology to personal and business users.
With the wide range of cloud computing, users will know how to differentiate various types of clouds such as hybrid, public and private clouds. Nonetheless, business owners will opt for hybrid clouds than any other type of clouds because of their convenience. Human resource and marketing departments will need cloud computing to improve employee retention and create smart and effective marketing strategies. The IT department will have a big role in various business processes including marketing and human resources.
In the coming years, businesses will completely bid goodbye to the traditional infrastructure. Companies will no longer buy new servers and rely on hardware. Because there are many useful applications online, cloud computing will become more in demand to business owners, learners, educators and personal users. With all these predictions about the future of cloud computing, this IT model will become even more reliable as it will provide more secured data and applications.
The future trends in cloud computing are interesting and it is best for companies to stay up-to-date with latest cloud developments for better use of new technology opportunities.
