Cloud computing has become part of our personal lives to such an extent that we don’t even notice the joins between what is stored locally and what is accessed remotely.
How many iPhone users realise that by dictating their SMS message, their words are sent to a remote server to be recognised and the resulting text sent back to their device? More to the point, do they care?
In an interesting feature drawing together several articles across various market sectors, Forbes illustrate how business and commerce have finally accepted and adopted cloud-based solutions, and are now pushing their possibilities.
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For even the most cautious and security-conscious of industries, the financial sector, the benefits are simply too good to ignore:
“After much wringing of hands about data security, the financial services industry is moving computing operations to the cloud to save money, improve operations, increase agility, gain access to large-scale resources and improve security.”
An article on the automotive industry explains how:
“Cloud-based platforms allow these cross-functional teams to work on new designs in real-time, sharing information to speed up innovation.”
In an industry that relies both on collaborative working and speed of implementation, the speed of innovation is crucial. Indeed, few industries these days have the luxury of low competition and relaxed product design time frames, so any way to allow innovation to happen faster will be welcomed.
The article (Why Auto Manufacturers Are Turning To The Cloud For Greater Innovation) also points to another advantage:
“The cloud also helps to eliminate information silos that used to keep auto makers bogged down with delays and errors. By sharing more data more often, automakers end up with fewer errors in initial product design and a more efficient supply chain, both of which lead directly to more profits once the vehicle model comes out.”
That’s the kind of argument for a cloud-based approach that innovation management has struggled with for years, the direct correlation between an solution and bottom-line profits.
The Forbes article takes this one stage further, suggesting that
“Making the new vehicle creation process more collaborative using cloud computing not only accelerates time-to-market, it also leads to higher quality and new designs that reflect customer requirements.”
On other words, cloud-collaborative working improves the whole process of car design.
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For most businesses, cloud-based servers will have much higher levels of security than the individual business could afford. Data can be far more secure in the cloud than on a server in an office where it could be stolen, damaged or copied onto a CD and left on a bus…
For any business looking for an employee network solution, or just a better way to communicate with employees and colleagues, the 24/7/365 no geographical boundaries benefits of cloud working are indisputable. What the Forbes roundup reveals is the extensive benefits offered to a whole range of market sectors on what speaks loudest to those who can make it happen in your business, the bottom line.
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