Companies are arguing over whether or not they think that cloud computing is useful or not. Businesses are focusing more on cost saving strategies rather than improvements. One poll found that half of respondents either did not know if cloud computing was important or said it was of little or no importance when it comes to improving the operation and cost-effectiveness of their IT environment over the next two years. Scott Swanburg, the director of the service provider program at Citrix, says that there are three elements that need to be considered to win over end users: simplicity, seamlessness and security. Ian Cummins, vice president of EMEA sales at Network Instruments, says it uses cloud computing in the form of CRM behemoth Salesforce.com. “It is the life-blood of our company,” he says. “It touches every single part of our company.” Although cloud computing has moved down on the list of importance for companies, in the future the simplicity and cost saving strategies that this method offers will be recognized and implemented.
Cloud computing is defined by WikiInvest as an emerging computing technology that uses the internet and central remote servers to maintain data and applications. Cloud computing allows consumers and businesses to use applications without installation and access their personal files at any computer with internet access. All this seems extremely helpful for businesses and I believe that it would allow them to gain a competitive advantage in the technologically advanced world that we live in today. I think that companies are focusing too much on cost saving strategies and not realizing that the use of the cloud computing would ultimately save them in costs. If companies could see past their cost saving strategies and realize the usefulness of the cloud, they would ultimately be more successful.
"Lionel Lamy, software and services research director at IDC, says only a third of business customers are now bothered about improving their overall IT service levels, down from half in 2008." To me, this seems strange because I believe that IT is the new up and coming phenomenon in the business world, and in order for businesses to get ahead, they really must be prepared to compete with one another at the IT level. With the prices of impelementing the cloud being relatively low, companies should take advantage of this now before competing companies realize the significance of the product and the prices shoot through the roof. In the business world that we live in today, being ahead and on your toes is crucial. Cloud computing is bound to rule the business world whether companies want to accept it or not, and if they want to be able to operate in an ever-changing business world, they should really think about the usefulness of cloud computing.
References
Doidge, Fleur. "Cloud computing: really useful or a load of hot air?" CRN. 17 March 2010. Accessed from channelweb.co.uk.
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To answer your question, cloud computing is really useful. But at its roots cloud computing is just another way of outsourcing. It's the same thing as hiring a marketing consulting firm to do your marketing but in the IT field. Cloud computing makes the "set up" of a database take way less time. There's no installation time, or time to set up servers. The information is accessible through the internet and you don't need to download the application. What could be more convenient and cost-effective right now?
ReplyDeleteIn this post it states that the number of businesses improving their IT systems is down from 2008. I agree that this does not appear to be a strategic move on the businesses parts. Technology is an extremely important part of our culture and it is crucial that businesses stay up to date in order to be successful. Companies have to look at the long term effects of these systems instead of the short term price tag. While it might initially seem expensive these cloud computing systems will improve operations, efficiancy and consequently improve sales and profits. These systems help to give companies a competitive edge. These systems are going to change the way businesses operate and I think it is important that companies invest in them in order to stay up to date.
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