In 2022, experts predict that consumers will spend $397.5 billion on cloud-based products and technologies. But why are cloud-based platforms so popular, and why have companies adopted them so quickly?
Keep reading to learn about the significant benefits of cloud-based computing regarding flexibility and helping companies quickly adapt to customers’ needs.
What are cloud-based platforms?
A cloud-based system is an online data center that houses a server’s operating system and hardware. Cloud-based platforms house both hardware and software remotely to offer more significant scaling.
There are a few different types of cloud-based platforms to understand:
- Like Google Cloud Platforms, a public cloud acts similarly to subscription services and is accessible to all customers who wish to pay for the service.
- One organization controls a private cloud, and the cloud is only accessible to that one organization.
- A hybrid cloud combines public and private clouds to offer greater flexibility, and you can share data between public and private platforms.
Cloud-based platforms come with concerns over data privacy, but you can keep your data protected with the right cybersecurity software and basic cybersecurity training for your employees.
Now that you understand the types of cloud-based platforms and what a cloud-based platform is, we can discuss how cloud-based platforms can allow companies to adapt to customer needs.
The benefits of cloud-based platforms for customer needs
There are many benefits to using a cloud-based platform. Let’s discuss the benefits cloud-based platforms can have for your customers, which will lead to improved customer relationships for your business.
Over the air updates
Over-the-air updates make it possible for businesses to remotely manage the software and devices in their business, increasing convenience and keeping software updated.
What are over-the-air updates?
An over-the-air update is delivering new data to software, hardware, mobile devices, and systems remotely. You can automate over-the-air updates to ensure that your systems consistently operate with the most current data. You can update new software, encryption keys, and configuration settings without manual intervention, which increases convenience for technological companies and customers alike.
How do over-the-air updates benefit companies?
An excellent use-case example of over-the-air updates is Openpath’s wave-to-unlock feature. At the beginning of the pandemic, it became prudent for businesses to invest in touchless technologies that prevented the spread of germs at their building’s entry points.
Openpath is a manufacturer of cloud-based access control systems, and they used over-the-air updates to ensure their customers could implement touchless access in their facilities. The update allowed users to wave their hand over access readers, which would then trigger Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular communication with their mobile devices to grant access. With little to no manual intervention, Openpath leveraged cloud-based physical security technology to enhance its hardware to meet the customers’ current needs.
Remote troubleshooting
Cloud-based solutions facilitate remote troubleshooting, which means that customers can resolve issues with their cloud-based products without waiting for a contractor to visit the site in person. Some of the main benefits of remote troubleshooting include:
- Less downtime – a customer will experience less downtime if they do not have to wait for a visit from a contractor to fix issues that you can do remotely.
- Travel costs – if the troubleshooting service does not have to travel to the location in person, this can significantly reduce travel costs and price their services more competitively for customers.
- Preventative services – if a customer uses a cloud-based service, this opens up the potential for the service to proactively resolve issues before they worsen and inhibit the production and daily operations.
Cloud-based technologies can revolutionize the way we perform troubleshooting and enhance the convenience of troubleshooting for both customers and tech companies.
Improved insights
In any company, there are thousands of transactions, communications, and operations daily, leaving behind valuable pieces of actionable data. It can be challenging to find this data in a traditional system, and it may only be accessible in an on-premise location through the building’s commercial security system.
Cloud platforms and technologies make it easier for customers to access and locate actionable data that you can use to improve operations and production. Cloud-based systems often have built-in data analytics that grants you a clear and easily accessible view of your critical data. This makes it easier for businesses to spot inefficiencies and redefine their strategy in line with this data.
Faster communication and collaboration
Cloud platforms make all information readily available to authorized users. Customers can access real-time data from anywhere, contributing to faster communication and collaboration within the business.
Collaboration without a cloud-based platform can be extremely tricky and lead to miscommunication and error. For instance, if one party is working with data that isn’t up-to-date, their progress may be redundant. For remote working and collaboration, cloud-based platforms are the best solution.
At the beginning of the pandemic, companies were scrambling to find ways to keep their business productive when they could no longer work in the office. Cloud-based solutions allowed these companies to quickly and seamlessly adapt their working model and continue their business operations in a work-from-home business model.
Flexibility
If a small business is not implementing cloud-based technologies, they will spend a lot of time on their servers and resolving issues related to data storage. With a cloud-based system, companies can quickly adapt the system to suit customers’ needs. They will not have to spend time and resources maintaining their on-site servers.
Summary
Without cloud-based platforms, companies would not be able to access over-the-air updates and remote troubleshooting. For their customers, they will have to wait longer for production issues to be resolved and for the company to adapt its features in light of current demands. Cloud-based platforms offer flexibility, improved collaboration, and improved insights to ensure that companies continually operate efficiently with the most recent information to meet customer demands.
Photo credit: The photos (1, 2) in this article have been taken by Dmitry Poch.
