Anytime new technology enters the marketplace, it causes digital disruption. Remember how Netflix and Redbox pushed Blockbuster and other video rental stores out of business? How Uber forever changed the way people hire a car service? Or how Airbnb shook-up the way people connected with lodging when they travel? Technological innovation made each of these advances possible and forever altered the way people lived their lives.
Some of the companies pushed out of the way were massive, and their successors relatively minor. Certainly most were “virtual,” for the most part, saving scads of money of huge onsite infrastructure and real estate costs. These changes illustrate the power of how our recent technological advancements, especially cloud computing, has changed what the future looks like for small businesses.
In some ways, cloud computing can elevate smaller businesses above larger companies. By nature, small to mid-sized efforts have tighter workforces. When these smaller enterprises decide to make a change, they don’t have to wade through multiple levels of bureaucracy to gain momentum. Thus, they can make a commitment and then reap the benefits in a fraction of the time a larger company might need.
Small and medium sized businesses gravitate towards cloud technology for a number of additional reasons:
I’ve talked to small business owners who are afraid of moving to the cloud because they don’t understand the technology or they have security concerns. The reality is cloud technology can support a business at any level.
Your company can leverage cloud computing to run applications more efficiently while storing sensitive data on internal servers. Or you could invest in a hybrid cloud solution that offers both public and private cloud solutions to meet your requirements.
Cloud vendors realize the need for strong security, troubleshooting, and support, and they often have access to better security resources than some small businesses. These companies can take advantage of the benefits the vendor provides without having to dedicate their own time and resources. For many, they only have to pay a subscription fee and call the support line as needed. It’s easy and affordable.
Investing in cloud computing as a small business is a remarkable strategy that will benefit a company now and into the future. If yours hasn’t looked into cloud-based solutions, I would strongly recommend doing so in 2016.
Additional Resources on this Topic:
Why More Businesses Should Be Pursuing Hybrid Cloud
Four Ways SMBs Can Take Advantage of the Cloud
SMBs Tie Cloud Computing To Increased Revenue
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