Cloud computing has attracted a significant amount of attention over the years, and many newer and smaller businesses have used cloud principles successfully. However, many established businesses already have satisfactory solutions, and managers and owners might wonder if it’s worth migrating to cloud-based platforms. Here are a few considerations to ponder before deciding whether to move to a cloud platform or to keep your company’s existing infrastructure.
How Often do Employees Use Computers?
In general, companies that use computers frequently have the most to gain when moving to cloud computing. If most of your company’s work is done away from the office, the switch might not be worth the time involved. However, cloud offerings sometime provide effective point-of-sale solutions and integrated accounting solutions. These features might be enough to make the transition worthwhile.
Does Your Business Use Specialized Software?
Some businesses, particular those in less common fields, rely on specialty software for a significant amount of employee work. In some cases, these programs are tailored to the specific business. Migrating to a cloud platform typically often involves integrating these systems, and that process might demand custom programming or other costs. Before making the switch, it’s worth determining how much specialized software will add to the cost of making the switch. It’s also worth seeing if there are any cloud-based replacements for specialized software.
Does Your Software Require Upgrades?
One of the main advantages of cloud computing is that much of the work is done on a remote computer. Non-cloud solutions, on the other hand, often require periodic software upgrade, and these upgrades sometimes demand new hardware. Switching to a cloud-based solution might allow your company to continue using existing hardware, effectively allowing you to avoid an expensive upgrade cycle. It’s often wise to reconsider your office’s computing infrastructure when it’s time to upgrade your hardware, so consider cloud-based solutions when this time comes.
Is Remote Working a Consideration?
Another major advantage of cloud-based computing is its accessibility; many solutions allow employees and managers to access information while away from the office. As more and more business consider allowing people to work remotely, more are taking advantage of the flexibility cloud computers have to offer. This consideration is especially important for businesses where employees work at remote locations, as being able to enter information remotely can let employees spend less time on the road.
Is Your Current Infrastructure Future-Proof?
Many businesses ran into trouble when Microsoft announced it was ending support for Windows XP, and the process of upgrading was especially expensive for business not prepared. Software companies sometimes go out of business or drop support for older products, and companies at risk of being left behind need to consider migrating sooner rather than later. If you business relies on older software, it might be worth considering switching to cloud-based options.
Can You Save on Software Training Costs?
Classic software models typically rely on periodic upgrades, and these switches often incur relatively expensive training costs. Cloud options, on the other hand, typically use rolling upgrade models, so changes occur slowly over time. This lets employees adjust to small changes instead of having to learn redesigned software. If your current computing solution require regular employee retraining, making the move to cloud options might lead to lower costs over time.
Can Computers Help Your Business?
Despite the ubiquity of computers, some business still rely on traditional methods of bookkeeping and performing other tasks, and these businesses sometimes have the most to gain by making a switch to cloud computing. Computer-based solutions can let companies save time spent on accounting tasks, and computer-based interfaces can improve employee productivity. If your business isn’t doing all it can with computers, take a look at what cloud solutions have to offer
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