Cloud Computing has been proven to save numerous businesses time, money and resources. This is excellent for improving efficiency, productivity, and ultimately, profitability.Improved efficiency creates a number of benefits for businesses. The compounded effect of time saved on projects due to cloud based solutions can be dramatic, meaning, as well as traditional benefits like cost savings and minimal hardware reliance, businesses are benefiting from reduced carbon footprints and more flexible processes.A recent study found that cloud based transactions are 95% more carbon efficient than those that are processed onsite. A single CRM cloud software solution saved nearly 200,000 tonnes of carbon, proving that cloud solutions not only present cost and time benefits to businesses, but also ecological benefits!

Local IT vs Cloud Hosted IT

Often it isn’t hardware that incurs the most costs to businesses, but the labor needed to use, maintain, repair and upgrade said hardware. A localised IT infrastructure can be hugely expensive, and the team of people needed to run it even moreso. Thankfully, with cloud computing these costs are removed from the business.Cloud solutions don’t rely on expensive hardware, which reduces the need for localised IT support. This saves numerous man hours; instead of paying employees to maintain your IT infrastructure, you instead divert that expenditure to the areas of business which count; the areas that are the most profitable.Most cloud solutions will have an IT support system that allows users to contact support 24 hours a day, again reducing the need for an employee who is may only be available during traditional work hours.

Deployment

The deployment of a new project is incredibly fast modern cloud computing platforms. Traditionally a business would have to ensure that existing hardware was up to spec, or new hardware would need to be implemented. Further to this, software would have to be acquired (either downloaded or installed from disc), and then tested. Depending on the IT infrastructure, this could be a long and drawn out process.This is worlds away from modern cloud systems, where access to a program is simply a case of of starting a new subscription. Access is usually instantaneous, with no installation requirements. This means that deploying a new system is incredibly efficient and cost effective; no large upfront cost or time investments are needed.

Access

Before access to cloud solutions was available, time spent away from your computer, or travelling between destinations, was often wasted. Although laptops could be used to create data, it was difficult to share between parties, or to collaborate on projects.Cloud computing changes this; now data and projects can be accessed from anywhere, as long as an internet connection is available. 10 people in different countries can simultaneously work on the same document, whilst conferencing over video or instant messenger. The cloud opens up limitless possibilities for collaborative work, meaning time spent away from the computer is no longer wasted.