Geoff Creaghan, an executive director at Southern New Hampshire University as of November 8, 2021, writes extensively on the subject of the increased adoption of cloud technology across business verticals. Geoff relates that cloud tech is booming. The global cloud ERP market is expected to grow 13.6% annually and reach $40.5B by 2025. At the same time, there are so many smaller businesses that are unsure if it’s time to hop on the train, and some don’t even know where to start. We asked Geoff Creaghan to give us an intro on the basics and benefits of businesses moving into the cloud.
The rise in data breaches has created the need for a more comprehensive approach to protecting consumer information and the businesses that store that data. With the ubiquity of mobile devices and people using their smartphones for work, storing every software program and document on a physical device is extremely impractical.
Geoff Creaghan says it's vital that companies start to understand the fundamentals of enterprise resource planning (ERP) while also thinking about how it can factor into their plans for efficient and secure components within their business.
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is, in essence, a digital service that allows users to access data and programs stored on a remote server. All the user needs is an internet connection.
What Is It Used For?
Cloud computing is an umbrella term that covers different types of cloud services. These include cloud storage, cloud backup, as well as Software as a Service (SaaS). This is a solution that uses the web to provide a service (for example, Office 365 or Google Apps). Cloud computing is also used for cloud hostinh. Examples include applications, data storage, and email services.
What Are the Benefits of Cloud Technology?
Cloud technology will save businesses time and money by boosting productivity, increasing collaboration, and fostering innovation. It does this in a number of ways:
Maintaining Consistency Among Users
Cloud-hosted files exist in the same central location; therefore, people are using the most up-to-date version of files.
Access to Data
Cloud technology allows individuals to access information anywhere as long as they have a compatible device. The Covid-19 pandemic and remote working have highlighted just how beneficial this has been.
Easy Data Backup
For any business that could suffer a data breach or disaster, the cloud allows for easy data backup.
Who Needs Cloud Technology?
Most businesses have a need to improve collaboration, streamline their processes, and increase efficiency.
Ultimately, anybody who is looking to save on capital can benefit from cloud computing. Cost-saving is one of the biggest benefits of cloud technology. It allows you to save substantial capital due to the fact that it doesn't need any physical hardware to be invested on-site.
Additionally, there is no need to have specialized staff to maintain the hardware. The equipment is managed by an IT service provider.
Any company looking for a strategic edge could benefit from cloud technology. From a technical perspective, the cloud is updated on a regular basis- allowing businesses access to the latest applications without having to spend money and time on physical installations. What does this mean for the business? A noticeably mproved efficiency, which you can trace all the way down to an improved bottom line.
What about Small Businesses?
This is a valid question because many businesses are naturally looking to better manage their costs. Small businesses are often not aware of the ways cloud tech can help to this end, and here are a few ways:
Saving on Personnel Costs
The need for in-house IT staff is reduced when utilizing cloud-based programs, since the health and functionality of those programs are maintained by the SaaS provider; not the client (the small business).
Application Consolidation
From a technical perspective, using one cloud service that covers a business’s essential needs would streamline processes. For example, many companies already use cloud tech in the form of Google Cloud Platform, which covers calendars, email, Google Sites, and Google Docs.
Allows Businesses to Focus on Agility
A small company needs to stay agile in the face of a changing landscape. A business that uses cloud-based programs will not need to purchase hardware and software incrementally. Therefore, they can focus their efforts more on their core business model and not so much on IT management.
While not every single business needs to embrace cloud technology, Geoff Creaghan says that an increasing number of companies are migrating to it smoothly and painlessly, one application at a time.
