Technology, and how it can be leveraged and secured, has always been a primary consideration for management. The emergence of cloud technology, and the need that has surfaced for it with the pandemic, has meant that all business departments, including management and technology, are working closer together than ever before. Cloud technology has changed the way management operates and responds to our ever-changing world.
An overview of cloud computing
Cloud computing is an on-demand IT service that is accessed over a web browser from any device, from anywhere around the world at fast speeds through internet connectivity. The service can be anything from an application to a virtual server to a network, to data storage or data centres.
Public cloud technology is accessed from cloud providers like Amazon or Microsoft and businesses pay for the resources they consume on a monthly basis. Cloud services help businesses reduce their hardware costs like servers because the hardware is owned by the cloud providers and cloud businesses essentially pay rent for what they use.
Cloud technology is scalable so you can easily add and remove parts from it, like a database for example, or a software application, or you can increase resources during busy periods. Through machine learning and analytical tools, the advantage of the cloud is that it provides real time data which can be used to act quickly and take advantage of opportunities. Cloud technology supports business processes by providing collaborative tools, quick response times and flexibility to promote business innovation and growth.
Quick deployment of products and services
Cloud technology has made it possible for businesses to develop, deploy and manage new products and services quickly. In the past, management would have to wait for data to be collected from various sources in order to make a decision about whether or not to invest in a particular product or service. But with cloud technology, huge amounts of data are available in real time and management can have quick access to it.
Through cloud technology, the customer and the intricacies of the customer relationship, have never been closer to management.
Management would then have to decide if the business had the resources to invest in the new product or service, and they would need to consider factors such as staff and if they had the right talent.
They would need to consider the outlay of purchasing new equipment, and by the time they ventured into development and deployment, the product or service may not have even been relevant anymore. There was essentially a lot of risk involved in making such decisions.
Management can afford to take risks and innovate because of the scalability of cloud technology which allows for the integration of business partners through the entire supply chain. They don’t need to worry about the purchasing of equipment because cloud providers are responsible for that side of things, and if more staff need to come on board, they can also be provided with virtual PCs and essentially access the business’s cloud technology through their own private PC.
Better planning, organisation and control
Before cloud computing, business departments worked in isolation. Through cloud technology, and collaborative tools like Teams, the whole business is streamlined and centralised. Microsoft Teams is a great communicative channel that allows management to share news, company values, and inspire a cohesive, communicative team. While working remotely management can motivate the organisation through formal and informal announcements.
Before the cloud, it was harder for management to gauge the big picture. Aspects of the business which were once unmeasurable can now be measured when they are placed on the cloud. The cloud enables management to collect customer feedback on a massive scale. High volumes of data can be organised and presented through analytical tools like cloud based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to provide better collaborative planning and strategy for management.
Cloud computing has been responsible for many cost savings as it provides a costing structure that is easy to work with, allows for better planning and overall reduces the bottom line.
The outsourcing of hardware and the associated responsibility of maintaining and securing it means less chance of unexpected expenses. Fewer staff are required on premises too which also further reduces costs. Taking advantage of services provided by managed service providers (MSP) allows for further outsourcing of this responsibility and can reduce the burden on internal IT teams and management.
The consolidation of data processes and data centres on the cloud means management can spot bottlenecks quickly while predictive analytics can identify trends that management can choose to pursue. Scaling up or down is easy with cloud technology with the costs involved more transparent and efficient.
Through cloud infrastructure, management has never worked closer with the rest of its business. Cloud technology supports efficient and effective business decision making. Talk to the experts at Bespoke Technology to find out how they can help your management team leverage the power of the cloud.
