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Does Migrating to the Cloud Pay Off?
Relying on paper-based checklists, spreadsheets, and siloed data can hinder your ability to improve product quality and operate efficiently in a manufacturing setting. If your crucial plant data is stranded in isolation, it can be challenging to compare lines or plants and identify the root cause of disparities in efficiency or product quality. This lack of visibility can be paralyzing for your overall process improvement efforts and hinder your ability to make informed decisions that drive positive change.
Is it time to make a change for the better in 2023 by migrating your business to the cloud? Moving to a cloud-based platform/software system can provide many benefits for your organization including shedding the dead weight of paper-and-spreadsheet systems (traditional paper-based processes) to improve your overall efficiency, team building, and productivity.
As of 2021, it was estimated that more than 90% of businesses worldwide were using cloud technology in some form, to stay competitive in today's digital economy and to meet the evolving needs of their customers. Most likely, you are personally taking advantage of cloud technology offered by a variety of businesses in various industries:
Education: Personalize student learning by offering schools secure access to desktops and applications 24/7 from any device.
Online entertainment: Cloud-based entertainment can reach any device such as TV, mobile, set-top box, or any other form and has allowed for a more efficient and effective way to distribute content, including movies, TV shows, and music.
Healthcare: Both patients and doctors can access medical images, reports, records, and care management advice through cloud computing.
Finance and banking: Customers can now “self-serve” and log into the customer portal to view their account (balance, deposits, withdrawals, etc.). Cloud computing eliminates the need for banks to have separate banking portals and client databases for every location.
Hospitality industry: Mobile check-in and keyless entry, menu selection/ordering from room TVs.
Retail-eCommerce: Online retailers enhance their clients’ shopping experience by recommending the exact products they are looking for and keeping them updated with their orders based on purchasing habits.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a technology that enables the delivery of computing resources, such as databases, storage, servers, networking, analytics, software, and more, over the internet. Instead of accessing these resources from a local computer or on-premise data center, cloud computing allows users to access them from remote data centers, which are typically managed by third-party providers.
There are three main cloud service models and each of them offers different benefits and trade-offs, and organizations often use a mix of different cloud services to meet their specific needs.
1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): IaaS is a cloud computing model that provides access to computing resources over the internet, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking. With IaaS, organizations can quickly scale their computing resources up or down as needed, without having to make large upfront investments in hardware or infrastructure. Examples of IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS is a cloud computing model that provides a platform for developers to build, deploy, and manage applications. PaaS providers offer tools, middleware, and other resources to help developers build and deploy applications quickly and efficiently. With PaaS, developers can focus on writing code, while the PaaS provider handles the underlying infrastructure. Examples of PaaS providers include Heroku, Google App Engine, and Microsoft Azure App Service.
3. Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS is a cloud computing model that provides access to software applications over the internet. With SaaS, organizations can use software applications without having to install and maintain them on their own servers. SaaS applications are typically hosted and managed by the software provider, who charges a subscription fee for access. Examples of SaaS applications include Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, and Dropbox.
Migrating to the Cloud Reduces Business Costs
(This can be particularly beneficial for organizations with multiple sites and remote workers).
Reduced infrastructure costs: With cloud computing, businesses can avoid the need to purchase and maintain expensive on-premise infrastructure, such as servers, storage devices, and networking equipment. Instead, they can use cloud providers' infrastructure on a pay-as-you-go basis, which can help reduce capital expenditures and operational expenses.
Scalability: Cloud computing enables businesses to scale their IT resources up or down as needed, which can help reduce waste and optimize spending. Businesses can easily adjust their computing resources based on demand, without having to invest in additional hardware or software licenses.
Reduced maintenance and support costs: Cloud providers handle much of the maintenance and support of their services, which can help reduce the need for in-house IT staff and associated costs. This can also help reduce the risk of downtime or data loss due to system failures.
Improved productivity and collaboration: Cloud storage solutions allow businesses to store documents and data in a digital format providing easy access to data from anywhere with an internet connection, and can easily share files with others, without the need for physical copies. Online collaboration tools such as Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, enable teams to work together on documents and projects in real-time and electronic forms can be completed, signed, and submitted online reducing the time and cost associated with printing, mailing, and processing paper forms.
Predictable costs: With cloud computing, businesses can benefit from predictable costs, as they only pay for the services and resources they use. This can help businesses better manage their budgets and avoid unexpected expenses.
Summing Up Overall, businesses that wait to migrate to the cloud risk falling behind their competitors missing out on opportunities to innovate, and reduce costs while gaining access to advanced technologies/tools that can help businesses grow and thrive in the future.
There are many cloud service providers and IT consulting firms that can help businesses migrate to the cloud. These providers can offer a range of services, from initial assessment and planning to implementation and ongoing support.
Remember, migrating to the cloud is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution, so it is important to work with a service provider like Bluestreak I Bright AM™ to provide the expertise and support you need to ensure a successful migration. Reach out to Bluestreak™ to schedule a personalized demonstration for your company using this link.
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