Simply put, cloud computing is computing based on the internet. Where in the past, people would run applications or programs from software downloaded on a physical computer or server in their building, cloud computing allows people access the same kinds of applications through the internet. It is a solution growing in popularity. So why are so many businesses (including Highview) moving to the cloud? It’s because cloud computing increases efficiency, helps improve cash flow and offers many more benefits. Below we outline the 10 key factors that convinced us to move to the cloud…

1. Flexibility

We needed more storage space (bandwidth). The second a company needs more bandwidth than usual, a cloud-based service can instantly meet the demand because of the vast capacity of the service’s remote servers.

2. Disaster recovery

When companies start relying on cloud-based services, they no longer need complex disaster recovery plans. Cloud computing providers take care of most issues, and they do it faster.

3. Automatic software updates

Cloud computing suppliers do the server maintenance – including security updates –themselves, freeing up their customers’ time (our time!) and resources for other tasks.

4. Cap-Ex Free

Cloud computing services are typically pay as you go, so there’s no need for capital expenditure at all. And because cloud computing is much faster to deploy, businesses have minimal project start-up costs and predictable ongoing operating expenses.

5. Increased collaboration

Cloud computing increases collaboration by allowing all employees – wherever they are – to sync up and work on documents and shared apps simultaneously, and follow colleagues and records to receive critical updates in real time.

6. Work from anywhere

As long as employees have internet access, they can work from anywhere, at anytime. This flexibility positively affects knowledge workers’ work-life balance and productivity; ultimately resulting in high staff retention.

7. Document control

If a company doesn’t use the cloud, workers have to send files back and forth over email, meaning only one person can work on a file at a time and the same document has loads of names and formats.

Cloud computing keeps all the files in one central location, and everyone works off of one central copy. Employees can even chat to each other whilst making changes together. This whole process makes collaboration stronger, which increases efficiency and improves a company’s bottom line.

8. Security

Some 800,000 laptops are lost each year in worldwide airports alone. This can have some serious monetary implications, but when everything is stored in the cloud, data can still be accessed no matter what happens to a machine.

9. Competitiveness

It allows smaller businesses to act faster than big, established (cashed up) competitors.

10. Environmentally friendly

Businesses using cloud computing only use the server space they need, which decreases their carbon footprint. Using the cloud results in at least 30% less energy consumption and carbon emissions than using on-site servers per year – which has to be a good thing!

Look, we wont’ lie; there has been teething issues along the way due to the major transition. However, we remain positive that this step moving to ‘the cloud’ was one in the right direction ensuring Highview innovatively remains at the forefront of business technologies and services, ultimately improving business productivity and customer service levels. WIN / WIN.