In 2017, businesses of all sizes and sectors are leveraging cloud computing to run and develop their operations. The benefits seen from shifting to this ‘IT on demand’ model go beyond financial gains, as highlighted by some of our previous blog posts.
If your organisation is only just getting started with cloud computing, or even if you have gone past the point of accepting that cloud should be your “go to” model, sometimes understanding which areas to tap into first starts with a simple exercise: observing what your competitors are doing.
We have done the work so you don’t have to! In this post, we have summarised the top 4 ways businesses are leveraging cloud computing, and how you can take advantage of these initiatives to outsmart your rivals.
1. Email and messaging
When it comes to getting started with a cloud journey, email is often the first candidate on the list. With benefits that go beyond just email, bundled in an attractive monthly pricing, Microsoft’s productivity tool, Office 365, is usually a no-brainer.
The perks of Office 365 include the latest updates, no servers to manage and you would be protected by robust security and anti-malware solutions, and more
2. Software as a Service (SaaS)
With cloud has come a new, cost effective means of paying for business services. Software as a service has allowed for businesses to use a “pay per user per month” approach for their main line of business applications, allowing for businesses the flexibility to grow without their current technology holding them back.
Gone are the days where companies were “forced” to pay an annual (and often huge) fee to keep their business going. Now, almost any software can be consumed as a service – from your accounting software such as Xero and MYOB, through to CRM software, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, the options are endless.
3. Business Intelligence
Business intelligence is a huge advantage cloud computing has brought to organisations. It allows businesses to convert data into insights which are consumable and actionable, allowing for informed decisions to be made at every level.
Microsoft’s Power BI is one of the tools allowing companies to get better insights from their data. From the traditional Excel spreadsheet, through to SQL databases, and web pages, the tool allows for the creation of data dashboards and visualisations in minutes.
Best of all? Everyone in your business can have personalised insights based on the information they need for their job!
4. Backup and recovery
Experience the comfort of information security - no matter what happens to your office, or hardware, you will still have your data! Backing up to the cloud gives you the peace of mind that so if a disaster does strike, you can get back up and running faster. Other benefits include being able to keep more data available and reduce your storage cost, and risk.
With cloud computing allowing business to reduce costs and time to market, enhance agility and expedite innovation, it’s no wonder it is at the top of the to-do list for businesses! Now, the question is when will you start to experience these benefits for yourself?
