How cloud technology can help your business grow
18th July 2017
Technology has transformed the world of business in the past few years, and it has never been easier to start your own business.
In addition, cloud technology has made it possible for small and medium sized businesses to compete with the bigger boys, to get hold of technology which previously would have been out of reach, for example.
But the cloud hasn’t just meant that more businesses can now operate, it has also given them the opportunity to scale, expand, grow larger and make a big impact on the market quite quickly.
If you are a business looking to scale your operations without breaking the bank, then this blog will show you how the cloud can help you do just that:
- Using cloud based software packages
There are so many packages on the market now designed to make life easier for a business owner. For example, one of the biggest headaches often reported by business owners is HR, now you can purchase software which can help you to manage staff holidays, appraisals, feedback, etc. meaning that HR support staff are able to manage more staff, giving you the opportunity to scale. But it’s not just HR, software can help you manage banking and accounts, logistics, stock control, etc. Streamlining processes will make it easier for you to take on more as a business, whether that’s stock or staff
- Boost productivity
The beauty of systems in the cloud means that you aren’t limited to one location to be able to work. Giving your employees the option of working on the move, accessing documents wherever they are, means that they can optimise their working day. We’re not talking about making employees log onto their emails from home, but being able to utilise time travelling to and from meetings, being able to work from home rather than take time off for doctors’ appointments, for example.
There have been surveys undertaken on this topic, including one by Sage which says that each employee can save a possibly 1.5 hours EACH DAY by working on mobile devices. More work done, more money coming in to invest in scaling the business. Simple as
- Unlimited storage
Technology has moved on so much that no longer are businesses reliant on clunky, bulky servers hosted in their office. What this previously meant for companies is that once their server had reached capacity, they needed to upgrade, costing them a huge chunk of money. Which had to be factored into growth forecasts. And potentially meant that businesses would stall their growth plans as they simply couldn’t afford the investment for new equipment. Thankfully, gone are those days. No need to worry about running out of space. Storage is unlimited (ok, you may need to upgrade your pricing plan, but this is A LOT cheaper than having to fork out for new equipment), but the key is that it’s easy to do if you need it. And you can also increase it on a temporary basis if needed, if you need extra capacity at busy times of the year. It’s that flexible
- Working together
Growing a team means more people to manage, more people working together on projects and clients. You know the saying too many cooks spoil the broth, and the danger of working with more people is that things can get lost, people updating various versions of the same document, and people duplicating work. The cloud is real-time, meaning that it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with colleagues, even if they aren’t working in the same location. Documents can be accessed by more than one person, and updated in real-time, so if there are changes to be made, they can all be done at the same time, and others can see what’s being amended. Not only that, people can keep in touch easily, videoconferencing and audio facilities mean that a colleague is never far away. It’ll cost less than trying to arrange various meetings and conferences in petrol and train travel, and more money to invest back into the company is no bad thing!
Thinking about the cloud as a way of expanding your business can open so many new avenues and lines of thoughts perhaps not thought about before. For some, it can be the key to taking a business to the next level, and with all the benefits listed above, it’s a real no-brainer!
If you want to see how the cloud could work in your business, then get in touch, we’d be delighted to show you the endless possibilities.
