SilverSun Technologies Inc (SSNT)

[patentminer2013]

What the Cloud Gives You

Cloud Computing

By Adam Fitzjohn, Published June 9, 2014

As Cloud based technology, and the idea of taking data, services and even infrastructure to the cloud, becomes more and more mainstream among businesses across the world, the idea that the driving force behind the decisions is a reducing IT costs and a lessened impact on in-house IT resources has been firmly established. However the latest research from the Aberdeen Group’s Top Cloud ERP Benefits report suggests these are not the only – or even biggest – reasons for opting for a cloud-based IT solution.

While 24% of businesses declared reducing IT costs as the main issue, 31% of businesses specified that a need for collaboration across multiple locations was the main reason they looked to the cloud, while another 24% indicated that they required a solution that would grow and scale with their business. The main responses included the Cost of capital funding being too high (23%) and dated technology infrastructure limiting the business capacity to respond.

But what does the cloud actually give you?

The cloud gives you time.

Cloud software runs online through a third-party provider, and users access it across the internet. Businesses don’t have to install it, maintain it, update it, or worry about security. With traditional systems, an internal IT would have to spend time and resources keeping systems ticking over and maintaining uptime and performance but with, cloud-based systems where and such tasks are handled by the provider, it means internal IT resources can be utilised for other tasks.


The cloud gives you savings.

Cloud ERP is designed to be a simpler approach to business management systems, all but eliminating the considerable upfront capital investment previously required, as well as providing an affordable monthly subscription. The subscription includes everything a traditional solutions does; hardware, software, support, training, maintenance, and upgrades. All aspects of Cloud ERP implementation, maintenance, and updating are the responsibility of the host provider, eliminating cost and effort. Freedom from IT complications and the accelerated pace of Cloud ERP implementation also means reduction in total cost of ownership over the span of your investment. With Cloud ERP users can be assured that they are using – rather than waiting for – the latest technology as a result of fast-paced upgrades.

The cloud gives you flexibility.

Cloud ERP solutions are easily scalable and flexible to meet changing business needs. Adding or removing users can be done on demand and will simply alter the monthly subscription fee. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for growing, seasonal, or cyclical companies that need to quickly change their user base to meet their unique business requirements.

The cloud gives you togetherness.

Since a cloud solutions can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection, employees and staff can communicate and share key business data easily and quickly. Sharing and comparing documents, proposals, and presentations happens in an instant, enabling employees to stay in sync with the latest changes, minimising version-control confusion and encouraging communication between employees across locations.

The cloud gives you peace of mind.

The best cloud providers will have the best security required to stay in business, in most cases better security than small and medium-sized businesses could afford ti implement and maintain by themselves. With backup facilities, which take over if there’s any issues with the main hosting centre, it likely means you businesses be affected even when there’s a natural disaster or other threat to a data centre – maintaining near 100% uptime for your business.

Summary

Some of the critical reasons for considering cloud based ERP solutions include the lower initial capital investment and reduced impact on in-house IT resources, however choosing an effective ERP system is about more than just cost savings.

Read more at http://www.business2community.com/cloud-computing/cloud-gives-0908724#p3s6IkVsEYdItyKk.99