More and more applications and software products are moving to the cloud, but what does that mean, exactly? Well, essentially, cloud computing means that users access their applications and software products over the Internet. Cloud accounting software, CRM software, project management software, graphic design software, and many other products can make running a business much more efficient and cost effective. Here are other benefits to cloud computing.
Accessibility
Probably the biggest benefit to cloud computing is the ability to access the software or application from anywhere there’s an Internet connection. It has literally revolutionized the way people work because they can help customers no matter where they are or when they need help and they can set up a work schedule that is conducive to their lives. Moreover, cloud computing allows people from various office branches to access the same software without installing additional expensive hardware.
Customers reap the benefit of accessibility as well, since if there is a customer-facing component to an application or software, they can log on and access their accounts whenever it’s convenient for them. They don’t have to call customer service during business hours to get basic information and if they can’t access it until the middle of the night, it’s there for them then.
IT Services
With cloud computing, the companies that own the software are responsible for making sure it’s up and running at all times. You don’t have to employ an extensive IT department to keep your servers and other technical equipment maintained and updated because the software company will take care of that on its end. This can really benefit small companies that don’t have the budget to hire full-time IT personnel but need to have reliable software for their operations.
Deployment
If you’ve ever been through a software change at a company before the advent of cloud computing, you know it’s a massive undertaking. Not only do you have to wait until the infrastructure is in place, but you also have to get everyone trained on the software once it’s up and running. And usually, you’ll run into bugs and other issues that delay the deployment.
With cloud computing, though, there is no infrastructure necessary besides a computer or other device that can access the Internet for each user who needs to use the software on a regular basis. This means the software can be deployed much more quickly than server-based software. Training can be faster too because employees can access training videos online and test out the software before it’s deployed, which is something they may not be able to do with server-based software, especially if it’s a product that was built specifically for a company.
Real-Time Analytics
Reports and other data are all real-time on a cloud-based product, so if you need to gain insights into your business for immediate decisions, you’re able to get the data to make an educated choice. This makes your company agile and able to respond to situations almost instantly. Some server-based software products can only provide reports after a specific amount of time has passed, which may not do you any good.
Conclusion
Cloud computing is the future of technology. With the amount of data that’s being generated by every single company, every single day, it’s the only logical way to remain competitive in just about any industry.
