Is your business still reluctant to migrate to the cloud?
Although cloud computing has become widespread, large enterprises often prefer to invest in their on-site IT infrastructure.
But by using cloud technology, enterprises can save time and money—as well as boost their data security. Switching to flexible cloud solutions ultimately means you can direct more valuable resources into growing your business.
Migrating to the cloud is a big step. For that reason, it’s vital to know why your business is ready for cloud computing, which features to look for, and the benefits of making the switch. This guide shares all of that (and more.)
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing simply means that most of your business functions using digital tools. This includes platforms like:
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Software as a Service (SaaS): Tools that have an application—either web-based or downloaded to a device—and function using the internet. Examples include Dropbox, Zoom, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms.
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Platform as a Service (PaaS): Tools that developers can build on to create their own custom cloud computing software. Examples include Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services.
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Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): In this case, you only pay for the infrastructure you need to do business online. Examples include Rackspace and Google Compute Engine.
The digital transformation era means more businesses are switching from traditional platforms to flexible online tools. It’s why the entire cloud computing market is set to reach an estimated $362 billion in 2022.
Why are large businesses reluctant to move to the cloud?
Previously, office workers would run programs or applications from downloaded software on a desktop computer in a physical office. Companies would manage everything related to their own hardware themselves—including downloads, installation, updates, and security.
There’s the saying, “if it isn’t broken, why try and fix it?” that often comes to mind. Truth is: an IT system shouldn’t have to be broken before a business decides to improve it.
Here are some of the most common reasons why large businesses haven’t yet made the switch to cloud computing yet.
Large businesses have traditionally used on-premise solutions
Some big companies prefer to employ in-house technicians and IT leaders to install and maintain hardware. It’s often perceived to be the best all-around solution as they think they’ll always have trained staff members on hand to fix IT issues.
Outsourcing is sometimes associated with higher, unpredictable costs, and unreliable solutions.
Large businesses with legacy IT infrastructure may be reluctant to migrate, too. It’s more convenient to stick to their current IT solution.
Most have already made a significant investment in legacy systems (which makes it harder to consider other options.) Large businesses that have been using the same system for years aren’t always looking for a change. As a result, they’re unaware of cloud computing options.
Data migrations are perceived to be time-consuming
Isn’t switching IT systems glitchy and complicated? When thinking about changing IT systems, businesses worry about the knock-on effect on productivity.
After all, productivity and uptime have a direct impact on a business’s bottom line. Businesses may believe that exporting years’ worth of data is inherently risky—and often, not worth the hassle.
Potentially complicated onboarding processes that require hours of team training are also reasons for putting off cloud migration.
Businesses don’t trust cloud security
Managing company hardware and IT security in-house gives businesses a perceived sense of control over their data security.
Business leaders only need to hear news of one major data hack to feel concerned. They worry that the same thing is going to happen to their business if they store their data in the cloud.
Enterprises that handle sensitive data may worry about how security compliant cloud computing providers are, too. For instance: healthcare organizations handling patient details need to be extra vigilant about how safe their data is.
The sheer variety of options to choose from
With so many cloud computing solutions out there, it can be hard to differentiate between features and pricing. How do you know which is worth trusting with your business’ most sensitive information?
Time-short business leaders often don’t know where to begin their search for cloud computing solutions. They give up before they’ve started.
The benefits of cloud computing for large businesses
Let’s take a look at the eight biggest benefits of cloud computing for large businesses:
1. Access data when working remotely
Businesses need flexible data solutions now more than ever.
Research shows that 44% of employees are currently working from home for five days or more. Another 42% of staff with a remote work option are planning to work remotely more often within the next five years.
Downloadable programs or physical hardware simply can’t offer the flexibility that cloud computing can. After all, it would be somewhat unreasonable to expect every single employee to install hardware at home and download all company-related data to their laptop.
Cloud computing frees your employees from having to work from a specific location. When all your business-related data is up in the cloud, team members can work from anywhere—so long as they have an internet connection. They’re no longer dependent on physical company hardware.
2. Simple onboarding processes
Migrating your data to a new cloud service is simple. Once you figure out your business’s critical data, and the best way to export your data, your data migration should run seamlessly. Most providers even offer to help people migrating from legacy systems.
Cloud-based applications can more easily mirror a buyers’ low-touch experience, too. Similar to consumer-based software, cloud solutions usually involve minimal human contact during the onboarding process.
Always look for cloud computing systems with simple features. Easy-to-use cloud platforms are often a lot simpler than traditional office hardware—and are easier for your team to get onboard with.
3. Keep your data safe
One of the top reasons for moving to cloud technology is that businesses won’t need to manage their own data security in-house.
Cybersecurity attacks are on the rise. Sadly, they’re also becoming more sophisticated. In 2020, 156 million sensitive information records were revealed in the U.S. alone.
This is where cloud computing solutions trump legacy systems. Businesses often struggle to handle data security in-house. It can be hard to source and hire cybersecurity pros—it’s estimated that 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs will remain unfilled this year.
The good news is: most cloud platform providers are security compliant and follow strict data security protocols. While you’re investigating different cloud solutions, look out for:
- PCI-DSS certifications for payment collection
- EU GDPR compliance
- HIPAA compliance for healthcare companies
- Two-factor authentication for data access
- Data encryption that’s supported by the latest secure cipher suites and protocols
- Access control that enables you to control who to invite to your cloud account
- Low historical downtime with minimal outages
- Physical servers that are based in multiple secure locations
Once you have your data up in the cloud, your data is always available so long as you have an internet connection—which means there’s no longer a need for backup plans. Your provider will automatically back up your data.
You also won’t need to worry about company laptop losses and the sensitive data that thieves could potentially access. Data will be stored securely on the cloud, not on the device—removing data theft as a problem.
4. Cost savings
Creating and running an in-house data center is expensive. Whether you’re implementing a new system or fixing a glitch, you’ll need to hire technicians.
But regardless of whether you hire contractors or full-time employees, it’s expensive and time-consuming to hire and onboard IT talent. Keeping all your IT in-house can quickly add up and eat into your business’s budget.
When you store your business’s data off-site and in the cloud, you’ll free up your IT team to spend more time on other pressing tasks. For instance, instead of having to be on constant call for data disaster recovery, they could be spending time on implementing those changes on your new business website.
Plus, given the flexible nature of cloud solutions, your business will likely save money on software and physical hardware it wasn’t really using.
Gartner reports that one large construction materials company switched from their legacy data storage software to a cloud alternative. They estimate that saved the company upwards of $1 million each year.
Why? Because cloud solutions grow as your business does. You can simply upgrade your package with your cloud provider as and when you need to.
Providers usually charge based on the number of users, features, and amount of storage space. It’s easy to adjust your package to suit your exact needs. Full access to Capsule’s CRM, for example, will set you back just $54 per user, per month. It’s a small price to pay for storing your sales data in the cloud.
5. Work more effectively as a team
When you store all of your business data in one place, it’s much easier for team members to collaborate on projects and easily share data with one another.
Cloud CRMs, for example, come with built-in team management features to help you hire and manage teams. Within the team management feature in Capsule CRM, you can easily assign contacts to a particular person or department, delegate tasks, and review recent activity.
Keeping all your customer and business data in one place also means it’s easier for team members to cover work when others go on vacation or leave the business.
You’ll be surprised at how much more streamlined and under control your business’s day-to-day operations are when everything is in one centralized location (rather than an office whiteboard that everyone forgets to update).
6. Better manage your workflow
Cloud solutions, especially CRMs, can help optimize your business’ workflow and boost productivity across the board. It’s easier to share data across different divisions with team members from other departments.
Look out for cloud systems that enable you to tag your data. For instance, within your CRM, you may want to add different labels to help you categorize and organize all the data you upload.
You could add labels to:
- Opportunities
- Partners
- Customers
- Projects
...to help you categorize them. Search functions allow you to segment the data and build lists with the tagged data.
Since data is shared in real-time, updates are instantly made available to the rest of the team. This removes the need for multiple back-and-forth email conversations requesting certain pieces of data.
Analytics tools and reports can help you track every aspect of your sales cycle, too. Try using sales reports to give you in-depth insights into every element of both won and lost opportunities.
Once you have access to an in-depth report, you’ll be able to analyze all the relevant data to better equip your sales team for future opportunities down the line.
7. Cut time spent on repetitive tasks with automations
Cloud tools can save you time on otherwise manual tasks that eat up hours of productive time during the workweek.
You may decide that within your CRM, you want to set up automatic events when customers or team members complete a specific action. In Capsule CRM, a track is a sequence of tasks that help you build smart workflows.
In basic terms: you can follow the same process every time a specific action is completed.
You could set up a track for every time:
- You onboard a new customer
- A customer cancels their plan
- A team member makes a sale
The end result? Your business is consistent across the board, and you provide customers with the same great customer experience during every interaction.
8. Join up all your systems
Using a cloud CRM doesn’t mean you need to completely overhaul your current systems. Instead, it should make your life easier by linking up your current systems so you have everything in one place.
CRMs with integrations to different software apps link all your systems up and save you the inconvenience of jumping between different apps or internet tabs.
For example, Capsule CRM integrates with hundreds of different cloud applications that handle invoicing, inventory, and POS. You get a view of everything you’re already doing—all in one place.
Migrate to the cloud today
Migrating to the cloud is a great way of saving resources and improving productivity.
When implemented effectively, cloud platforms make it easier to manage all of your business’s data. It’ll ultimately bring your business functionality and flexibility—something that’s more important now than ever.
Four in five companies said their resilience had been tested in the past five years. With the coronavirus having a major impact on the way we work (and the way consumers buy things), cloud computing is the way to build that resilience.
Unlike with physical hardware, your team will be able to access data from anywhere with an internet connection while maintaining high levels of security.
Before committing to a platform, think about the features, integrations, and tools that are most important to your business. Find a cloud platform that handles all of those, while also showing their commitment to keeping your data secure.
Ready to migrate to the cloud and boost your business’s growth? Try Capsule CRM for a free 14 day trial and see the difference for yourself.