Whether organisations are moving to a cloud infrastructure, using cloud-based software or storing files in the cloud, many are using some aspects of this handy technology. With around 93% of businesses currently using the cloud in some form and worldwide public cloud services revenues expected to grow 18.5 percent in 2017 to $260bn, up from $219.6bn last year, according to Gartner, there’s a reason that companies are increasingly turning to the cloud.
Let’s look at five benefits that cloud-based technology brings to your business at peak times.
Easy collaboration
Cloud technology encourages collaboration, making it easy for people around the globe to connect, communicate and share information for better team working. It’s simple to store, view and edit information in one central location, and documents are updated in real time. Everyone’s kept in the loop and colleagues can ‘meet’ virtually, no matter where they are in the world.
Research shows that unleashing business builders from burdensome admin could unlock over $600bn in lost productivity and save businesses an average of 120 working days per year on administration alone.
Better collaboration brings a heap of gifts to the table, including boosted productivity, improved customer service and engaged, enthused employees.
Happy employees
According to Centre for Retail Research, Christmas spending has continued to grow globally in spite of the gloom, with spending expected to rise to £747.4bn this year. This upturn in business, combined with employees fighting winter colds, struggling with commuting snow disruptions or keen to see their little angel starring in the school play, means it can be a challenge to keep on top of the work.
Cloud-based technology makes it easy for employees to work flexibly, with people able to log on, access, share and edit information from anywhere – and even on the go. With most cloud services offering mobile apps, it’s simple to work from any device, so everyone can keep up to date, including sales staff, remote workers and those needing a bit more flexibility at this time of the year.
Flexible working helps employees to enjoy a better work-life balance, without impacting negatively on productivity.
Better productivity and flexibility
If your business has peak times or different staffing demands, you can really benefit from the flexibility that the cloud offers
If your business has peak times or different staffing demands, you can really benefit from the flexibility that the cloud offers. It’s easy to scale cloud services up or down, depending on need. This means you can temporarily increase capacity to handle busy periods like Christmas – without having to shell out for hardware or software that wouldn’t be used at quieter times.
Not only that, with cloud-based software all the latest updates are immediately available to users. Getting instant upgrades gives employees new features and functions sooner, making them more productive.
Improved data security
At busy times, the last thing a business needs is for technology to fail them. Downtime can lead to all kinds of problems, including reduced productivity, lost revenue and reputational issues. A reputable cloud provider will maintain reliable, secure services, giving you peace of mind that all data is secure, safe and recoverable, no matter what happens. It’s easily accessible from anywhere and any device. And if something does go wrong, a cloud host should resolve issues quickly, getting you back up and running in no time.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Cloud can also solve the chaos of documents & data being stored in different formats & on personal drives & devices.” quote=”Cloud can also solve the chaos of documents and data being stored in different formats and on personal drives and devices. “]
Cloud can also solve the chaos of documents and data being stored in different formats and on personal drives and devices. This causes mass confusion, security issues and plenty of stress. Storing data and documents in one place on the cloud means everyone’s accessing the same, up-to-date, authorised information, leading to less human error and a clear record of any updates.
A business boost
All of these benefits can lead to fewer stresses at peak times – and, more importantly, will also give business a lift. Your company will be more agile as capacity can be flexed up or down to meet demand, and you can take advantage of peaks in the market without significant costs. With streamlined processes and more engaged, productive employees able to connect and collaborate from around the world, you’ll gain a real competitive advantage putting you ahead of your competitors.
VP Product Marketing, Sage