Business Acceleration in a Cloud World
Yashar Kafi
For decades now, the tech sector has been reaching dizzying new heights year-by-year. And, every so often, it has dragged other industries with it, disrupting the way that they run and transforming their everyday operations. The disruption has been seismic, and companies that still rely on traditional running methods are being forced to consider IT modernization and the digitization of their infrastructure , through fear of falling behind the competition.
The current industry leaders, who have already embraced the disruption and launched the majority of their business operations and processes into the cloud above, are paving the way for smaller businesses. Guiding them, with the assistance of technology, to become more efficient, agile, increasingly scalable, and much more innovative.
Should Businesses Adapt Faster?
Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the company. What we can say is that if a company embraces cloud disruption, while it does change up the internal model and methods of your business, it also alleviates several pressures that companies with traditional models had to deal with.
So, for example, companies that have already soared high and landed on the comfy cloud, no-longer have to develop and install their own software to improve their in-house operations. And, the need for a physical server, a room to house it, or the resources to maintain it are gone ─ slightly unfortunate for Dave, the technician, who, like your competition, forgot his parachute.
Additionally, Flexera’s State of the Cloud report, 2019, found that 91% percent of businesses use the public cloud while 72% use a private one. And, it isn’t too surprising, given that those menial, everyday aspects of traditionally-run companies are now provided by third-parties who sell comparatively cheaper subscriptions. The subscriptions allow companies to retain their data and access the services they require through the cloud, instead, which majorly cuts down on the resources need to run a business. Pretty handy, I’d say ─ unless you’re Dave, of course.
The Key Benefits of Cloud Adoption
It isn’t just the change from physical to metaphysical server-storage that cloud adoption allows. There is a whole range of benefits that positively impact the workplace. Let’s talk about it.
Flexibility
- The days of getting up and de-icing your car at the crack-of-dawn so that you can get on the road and beat the rush-hour traffic are less frequent now, thanks to the flexibility of cloud computing. The cloud enables employees to access their work on-the-go, anywhere in the world, as long as they have a capable device and an Internet connection. Some companies even host entirely digital-economies with virtual-staff and e-commerce or service provision platforms, cutting down on traditional business-related expenses.
Staff Collaboration
- That flexibility doesn’t stop there. Cloud-based operations have revolutionized workplace networks. Dave, if he still worked for you, could give Debbie or any other member of staff permission to access documents and share data. This development allows teams to collaborate on projects from anywhere in the world, removing the barrier of distance and timezones.
Scalability
- Traditionally, owners of up-and-coming companies found themselves investing in additional servers, licenses, and storage spaces in preparation for the projected or dreamed-of growth that all startups hope for. The subscription packages on cloud-based services make scaling a lot simpler and far more efficient ─ you can change your package on-the-fly, whenever you need it, instantly.
Data Safety and Security
- Over the years, the storage and safety of data have been a major focal point of tech development. It used to be the case that if you spilled a cup of coffee on your computer or laptop and hadn’t backed up your data before the event, the damage could lead to permanent data loss. With the introduction of the cloud, all data is backed up and permanently available from any device, as long as you’re connected to the Internet.
Away from personal errors, the threat of bedroom-dwelling cyber-attacker-hackers has also been used as leverage by traditionalists who don’t like the prospect of digital disruption. In reality, Microsoft found that 94 percent of small businesses actually appreciate the upgrade in security that adopting the cloud provides.
The Risks of Cloud Disruption
Well, we had to reach this part, I suppose. As with all things good, there’s always some bad. When large companies start their journey from ground to cloud, the disruption of operations can sometimes do some damage. Especially in the area of staff-cuts and redundancy ─ at the end of the day, you don’t need a technician to maintain a non-existent server room.
In other areas of the business, staff may struggle to adapt to the digitization of everyday processes. This sometimes results in companies having to fork-out additional resources, providing education for the workforce, getting them up to scratch with the new systems of operation.
Change is inevitable in any business, but if companies rebel against it, they’ll fail to meet the evolving demands of their clients and lose out to the competitors who do. And, if your company doesn’t adapt to the times, there’s a good chance that you’ll fall behind, too. The disruption that has come through digitization of operations has made cloud adoption a do or die scenario for companies.
If you need somebody to point you in the right direction, to ensure that you do rather than die , the experts at AMPlify can do exactly that. We’ve picked up a trick or two over the years, and our team of specialist consultants is on-hand with all the know-how to make sure that your company stays ahead of the competition as it rises into the cloud today.
