READ TIME: 4 MIN
The Cloud: You’re Using It Wrong
“The Cloud” has been all the rage since former Google CEO Eric Schmidt discussed the concept at an industry conference in 2006. Cloud computing helps individuals, companies, and government services safely store the ever-increasing amounts of data that are output every second. As a result, the Cloud is everywhere, and the cloud computing market will reach $287.03 billion by 2025.
If your business recently migrated to a public, private, or multi-cloud environment (or even a few years ago), are you sure you’re making the most of its many benefits?
We’ve highlighted just a few of the everyday uses and critical advantages of cloud computing. If you’re not already utilizing them, then you’re using the Cloud wrong.
Telecommunications
You may not realize it, but the Cloud plays a major role in your daily communications. Emails, messaging applications, and video conference calls utilize cloud computing. The data from these services are stored on your cloud environment, rather than your device, freeing space on your device and eliminating risks if the device is lost or stolen. Additionally, telecommunications can improve productivity and employee morale. Nearly 9 in 10 employees say video conferencing reduces the time it takes to complete tasks or projects; makes it easier to get their point across; and helps them feel more connected. Since video conferencing performs 30% better than audio-only setups, we recommend always taking advantage of that face-to-face telecommunication. And for the cherry on top, cloud-based unified communications can save up to $400 an hour in IT costs!
File Hosting Services
One of the beautiful benefits of the Cloud is the security and shareability of its file hosting services. Documents update in real-time so that all invited members can view changes immediately, increasing communication and productivity. By 2025, there will be an estimated 200 zettabytes of global data—half of which will be stored in the Cloud. However, not everyone is onboard with file sharing, and subsequently, there are consequences. 92% of collaborating professionals risk losing files from the use of email. The productivity losses of such an occurrence are three-fold: the person who prepared the document loses 50% of their time; 83% of employees have recreated documents that were missing from the company network; and overall staff productivity loss due to document issues culminates at 21%. So, if you have not adopted this life hack yet, please start now: Stop attaching documents to emails, upload to the Cloud, and save us all some much-needed extra time.
Software-as-a-Service
Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, allows users to access cloud-based data and software from any device with an internet connection. That’s right…from anywhere on any device. Enabled by SaaS, remote work allows employees to save time and money by working from home or even satisfying their wanderlust in Italy while working via the worldwide web. However, fewer than 6% of Americans worked remotely in 2019. The pandemic changed that. Remote work peaked in April 2020 when 70% of workers were off-site either fully or part-time. Even as social distancing lessens and offices reopen, over 50% of employees still work remotely. Some people do not want to pre-COVID-19 working conditions. 34% of employees prefer working in the cloud and will look for a new job if required to return to the office. If your business has not yet invested in SaaS, it would offer your employees a boost of flexibility and morale.
Chatbots
Chatbots utilize the computing capabilities of the Cloud to create conversational customer experience via audio or text through digital platforms. In fact, IBM reports that chatbots can answer 80% of standard questions. Adding a chatbot to your customer service phone line or your website can provide 24-hour availability and support, improving customer satisfaction and increasing sales. On average, chatbots increase sales 67%, claim business leaders, and 57% say chatbots deliver a large return on investment. Businesses that utilize chatbots provide 64% of their agents more time to solve more complex problems. Plus, chatbots can cut operational costs by 30%! Get the bot. You won’t regret it.
Backup
Instead of repetitive, manual backup processes, cloud backup automatically copies and stores data regularly and securely. Backup to the Cloud is a safer, more reliable method that saves time and increases productivity. Only 41% of professionals back up their data on a daily basis. Accidental deletion, hardware or software failure, or an out-of-date backup cause data loss for 68% of professionals. Additionally, businesses that utilize cloud experience a 15% faster time to market. Instead of setting calendar reminders to manually backup your data, allow the automatic cloud backups to save you precious time.
Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service
The Cloud, as mysterious as its name may sound, offers some straightforward features that positively impact daily productivity, business security, and employee motivation. Cloud-based messaging, file hosting and sharing, SaaS, chatbots, backup, and DRaaS are simple but effective ways to improve the health and longevity of your business operations and employee morale. We highly recommend your company makes use of all six of these benefits within your cloud environment. If your organization has not yet hopped aboard the Cloud, NexusTek’s cloud engineer experts would be happy to discuss public, private, or multi-cloud environments that best enable and enhance your business.