4 Business Benefits of Cloud Computing
When talking about the benefits from cloud computing, vendors often boast about cost saving, scalability, storage on demand and other features that great on a sales brochure. Still, there are several untold benefits that quickly become evident to companies that adopt cloud-based technologies such as Software-as-a-Service. In a July 2013 Forbes article, technology blogger Joe McKendrick discusses benefits of cloud computing that aren’t likely to be seen in a sales brochure, and he makes an important point: it is all about business.
In this article, we will discuss about 4 unforeseen business benefits that were discovered by several CIOs and executives in their own implementations of third-party cloud services or virtualized data centers.
1. Adopt Business Processes Others Have Mastered
Division of labor is one of the oldest maxims of business. Rooted in the work from Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, the specialization of the labor force allows each worker to become an expert in one isolated area of production, thus increasing efficiency and saving money. Cloud computing technology is evolving at such a fast pace, that it would be very difficult for in-house IT departments to keep up. As McKendrick explains, “Cloud services are based on the collective learning and input of customers, and new customers immediately are exposed to processes, formulas and interfaces that are well-tested and proven to deliver the best business results”.
2. Make Data Sharing and Merging Easier
No matter whether you adopt a public or private cloud computing solution, there will be certain parts of your data and processes that need to be virtualized. In order for this virtualization to happen, there may or not be a need for your IT department to develop mediumware. This custom engineering process is an expensive proposition for most companies to take on themselves. Even government agencies have encountered problems in this area, requiring workers to perform data transfers manually. By embracing the cloud earlier, data sharing and merging become easier, saving IT headaches in the future.
3. Add Flexibility to Get Into New Business
“What holds back new the pursuit of ideas among entrepreneurs and large organizations alike? Time and money, or the lack thereof”, states McKendrick. And he is very right. Often, business get themselves in a cash flow crunch because they get too involved with “busy work” that does not generate future revenue channels. By hiring the services of a professional SaaS provider, such as a contract management system provider, you can access top-notch services at an affordable rate and liberate time to focus on your core activities.
4. Empower Your IT Executives
As technologies evolve and companies wrestle with each other to leverage the latest technologies to gain the best competitive advantage, organizations needs to be adept at developing IT strategies. “To get there, they need the leadership and guidance of their CIOs, CTOs and other technology leaders”, asserts McKendrick. He further explains that “statistics regularly show that up to 80% of IT budgets are tied up in routine maintenance”. By using professional cloud computing services ranging from outsourced help desk to hosted exchange to SaaS, your organization can allow valuable IT staff to focus on growing your business instead of managing your server and application infrastructure. No matter what industry you are in, your IT leaders need time to analyze options and develop an effective strategy for the future.
Takeaway
Cloud computing is rapidly evolving, and companies that take advantage of it are able to tap into great unforeseen benefits that go beyond what is described in any sales brochure. Companies are able to adopt business processes that others have mastered, make data sharing and merging easier, add flexibility to get into new business and empower their IT executives. To learn more about cloud-based enterprise contract management software and how it can help your company leverage contract management SaaS, visit us at www.contractlogix.com.