Why Implementing Cloud-Based Technologies Can be Worth the Effort

When you are dealing with high volume, you want to have information available within a snap of a finger. If you are in the business of contract management you want to empower your employees to have up-to-date data available before they arrive to their next destination and to allow them modify that same data on the fly if there are changes upon their arrival.

Cloud-based technologies allow users to have this dynamic access to data. The private sector is not alone in its race towards more efficient cloud-based solutions: back in 2009, the first Federal Chief Information Officer established that cloud computing should be the default option whenever evaluating an IT platform.

When done right, the move to the Cloud can be worth the effort because of lower costs of ownership, greater operating efficiencies, and increased security levels.

Lower Costs of Ownership

First, cloud-based technologies allow organizations to upgrade and downgrade computing power as required. IT departments are no longer constrained to make big investments in additional servers in order to maintain high computing redundancy levels. IT managers have the option to pay for additional servers, only when required. IBM, Newsweek, Ericsson and HootSuite are among the many firms that are taking advantage of the greater operating efficiencies of cloud-based technologies such as Amazon Web Services.

Greater Operating Efficiencies

Second, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications are intrinsically ubiquitous and allow end-users to access data with just an Internet browser from anywhere in the world. This means that travelling sales teams can have constant access to the latest approved contract documents and close deals faster. This means that IT managers don’t need to set up additional workstations for incoming accounting personnel.

Increased Security Levels

Finally, cloud-based technologies increase the security level of any organization. A key example of this is that the Cloud First Policy set by the Federal CIO in 2009 was adopted in November 2011 by Army General Keith Alexander, the head of the National Security Agency, in order to boost cyber-security of U.S. military computer networks. Cloud-based applications make it easier to identify who is accessing information at all times and provide a greater insight of all activity in a network. Implementing cloud-based technologies is worth the effort. Software needs to be advantageous to everybody: available to employees, managers and customers. Cloud-based solutions allow for greater efficiencies at a lower cost while improving the integrity of your data.

Case Study: Call Center

Traditionally, call centers around the world have been responsible for owning, hosting and managing the call center equipment and software. The call center system is built on a private branch exchange (PBX), which is different from the system provided by telephone companies. The PBX provides provide many customizable functions such as automatic call distribution, interactive voice response, and skills-based routing.

Owning such a system is a major investment because a company is not only responsible for acquiring the necessary hardware and software, but also is responsible for all costs for training and maintenance. However, the environment has changed with the rise of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and companies that offer calling center technologies on pay-as-you-go basis. Under a SaaS model, companies pay a fee on a monthly basis to use the hardware and/or software. This model allows smaller call centers to save on setup costs and have substantial cost savings. To the call center employees, the SaaS model provides them the flexibility of working from home as long as they have the adequate equipment.

This example could easily be translated into the field of contract management by leveraging a contract management system deployed through SaaS.

Takeaway

When done right, implementing cloud-based technologies is worth the effort.  Software needs to be advantageous to everybody: available to employees, managers and customers. Cloud-based solutions can allow for greater efficiencies at a lower cost, while improving the integrity of your data.