Tech and Trends:- As of 2014, the small and mid-sized business market is experiencing a shift in interest from maintaining independent IT infrastructures to moving all IT services to the virtual cloud. Providers that offer cloud computing services, including Microsoft and Google, can positively impact a company’s IT operations in various ways. Ten factors that play a role in influencing SMB movement to the cloud are outlined as follows.
Ease of Use
Cloud services are generally easy for business owners and employees to learn and use. All of the data, programs and tools needed for day-to-day operations are available via a web portal that can be accessed at any time and from anywhere.
Reduced Costs
Cost savings is a major factor for business owners who consider cloud migration as money can be saved in several key areas. Cloud service providers eliminate the necessity of business owners to delegate costs toward installing, maintaining and repairing their own IT servers, per the Small Business Administration.
Time Savings
Cloud-based service providers help companies in the SMB market to better utilize time that would otherwise be devoted to maintaining and troubleshooting in-office IT operations. This is an advantage for businesses with limited staff and a need to increase productivity.
Expansion of Social Media Presence
Small and mid-sized businesses can sustain and expand their customer base by using cloud computing to elevate their online presence. Email campaigns as well as Facebook and Twitter pages help companies to reach customers through mobile social media applications.
Familiarity With Cloud Apps on Mobile Devices
As an increasing number of people own mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones, they become comfortable with cloud-based applications in their personal lives and are willing to use them in the workplace as well, according to Small Business Computing. Company operations can benefit from employee enthusiasm for the cloud.
Advances in Technology
Making the transition to cloud-based IT services sooner rather than later can keep companies in the SMB market up to date with technology advancements. This may prevent adjustment periods down the line when desktop technologies and software programs become outdated.
Efficient Staff Communication
Companies that require employees to travel or that have remote workers can maximize productivity by moving IT to cloud services. No matter where their location, staff members can access data and coordinate tasks with other another via cloud computing.
Competitive Advantage
Because cloud computing is on the rise within the SMB market, companies that have not yet made the switch may be motivated to migrate to the cloud through the need to keep pace with their competition in regard to technological operations.
Easy Integration of New Employees
New employees of small and mid-sized businesses can be integrated more easily into company procedures when trained on cloud-based programs in a centralized location. Utilizing the cloud also allows businesses to eliminate expenses such as software licenses for new workers.
Increased Office Space
Cloud computing is a practical option for businesses that could benefit from more physical office space and are looking to reduce clutter. For example, various types of software, file cabinets and fax machines all have functions that the cloud can streamline.
