Why business should not ignore cloud computing
Every business executive and newspaper editor I know is talking about the benefits of cloud computing. But what is it, what does it really mean for business and what are the monetary and physical benefits?
Cloud means Internet. The computing takes place on the Internet – in place of the software you use running on your desktop pc, it runs somewhere on the Internet on a server installed in a data centre commonly staffed by people who are skilled in managing technology. This type of “cloud” software is commonly known as “on demand” or Software as a Service (SaaS).
Some best of breed examples of popular Software as a Service are:
Web based CRM Software (Customer Relationship Management) – Salesforce.com pricing around $9 per user/month.
Small business management and accounting software (small business ERP) – Salesorder.com pricing $45 per user/month.
Medium sized business ERP software – NetSuite pricing approximately $99 per user/month.
There are three significant benefits for every business here:
Time, cost savings and reliability
Businesses do not need a dedicated systems professional to help them identify, bed in and maintain the hardware and software infrastructure thus decreasing operating expenses and time to get operational. The task of vigilantly backing up information is taken away as this is almost always an inherent feature of the “cloud” software. Cloud software “operators” almost always have redundant systems that can be deployed in a very short amount of time should a significant error occur.
Easier selection and more choice
With just a web browser, businesses now have 24/7 access to a big selection of applications they can in most cases immediately try and effectively determine if the software suits their needs at zero expense. This makes it simple for employees in large corporations to get around the standard information technology purchasing processes and easily test and justify their business proposal.
Better user experience
The cloud provides instant feedback to system architects and has driven substantial progress in user interface design resulting in easier to use systems in turn decreasing learning times and improving user satisfaction. This of course means faster adoption and higher productivity.
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