It seems like commercial cloud computing services are always targeted at big companies. But the reality is there are plenty of ways small businesses can benefit from the on-demand access this kind of technology provides.
If you’ve been shopping in a mall lately and visited any small retail shops, you’ve likely seen cloud computing in action. Instead of investing in expensive computers and credit card equipment, independent owners often use mobile devices to take payments and store inventory.
The advantages of using “the cloud” with providers like American Cloud are almost more important to small business owners with less disposable income than to big companies. Here, we’ll break down the reasons why so many small businesses are leaving the storage days behind and using cloud computing services.
1. More Flexibility
According to the Small Business Administration, there are over 31 million small businesses in the United States. Of those, 81 percent have one or no employees, usually meaning they’re freelancers, independent contractors, or otherwise mobile workers.
Anyone who owns a business that could benefit from a little extra flexibility in its structure needs cloud computing. This type of platform ensures you can connect to clients and staff anywhere in the world, as long as there’s reliable internet.
With your data and software in the cloud, workers can collaborate in real-time and access necessary information from any device (as long as they have the proper credentials). As the business owner, you can monitor what each user is doing through data management tools and deploy security updates to keep your sensitive data safe.
Is it one of your life goals to work from anywhere? Cloud computing is the fastest way to make that happen. You don’t need to be chained to a desk or behind a counter. All you need is a laptop or another mobile device and an internet connection, and you can do your job.
Cloud computing gives you the flexibility you need to open your business up to global teams, clients, and office space!
2. Better Software Options
Is your business strictly desktop-computer based, or are you using Saas (Software as a Service) apps? If you’re limited to what’s on your hard drive, you’re limiting your business’s growth potential. SaaS lead generation agency expand your options, but even those keep you connected to the device where the program is downloaded.
Cloud-based applications are so widely accepted today that they’re the norm for massive software companies from Trello to Mailchimp. In fact, they’re so commonplace, they’re almost synonymous with the web itself.
Cloud software is anything that you use the internet for to access and store information. Open your web browser, log into the system, and you’re in. It doesn’t matter where you are, which brings us back to that impressive flexibility benefit.
But on top of mobile flexibility, you also have a wider variety of options. Your desktop/downloadable software is limited to your operating system and available equipment. So, if the program you’ve been hoping to buy is incompatible with your OS or takes up too much memory, you can’t use it.
Moving into cloud computing increases your pool of software solutions. You don’t need expensive equipment with heavy-duty memory capacity. As long as your computer’s hard drive and the processor can handle the internet at a speed you’re happy with, you can use a cloud-based app.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
When you own a small business, budgeting is crucial. Do you have the funds to install and maintain a high-quality tech infrastructure to run and protect your hardware and data?
Keeping your hardware in-house may seem like the safest way to minimize breaches. However, buying the equipment you need to stay up-to-date with all the latest cybercrime protection is expensive. If something goes down, you or a tech must come to fix the problem, causing downtime and costing you money. Anything you install must be done locally.
All of these steps are expensive. But with cloud computing, you don’t need to have costly hardware and complicated IT infrastructure. You don’t have to be a tech genius to run the digital side of your business. Your cloud service provider does this for you.
The third-party provider keeps your data on a remote server, where it is stored and processed. The provider maintains and shares these systems globally, making it cheaper for the end user (you). Because of the affordability, flexibility, and control over your options, it’s not surprising that cloud-based small and big businesses are spiking.
Conclusion
The advantages of cloud computing can be a game-changer for your small business. With the right software, you and your team can work from anywhere at any time. You have more control over which type of programs you want to use, and you don’t need bulky or expensive equipment to house and secure your data.
Cloud computing is dominating the world across every industry, causing an evolution that turns every business into a potential global provider. If you’re ready to scale your small company, add “find a cloud computing provider” to your must-do ASAP list. Also if you are thinking of running any online e-commerce business then you should need to use the best shopify apps which can help to improve your business revenue faster.
