Cloud computing gaining traction as benefits become irresistible

Grazed from ITWeb. Author: Johani Marais.

According to the IDC, CIOs in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region acknowledge the benefits of cloud infrastructure and nearly 47% of CIOs in Africa are already engaged in cloud strategy of some kind. Part of this trend of moving towards cloud computing is the adoption of SaaS- (software as a service) based enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, says Johani Marais, Channel Manager Africa, Epicor Software Corporation.

In the past, organisations were hesitant to keep critical data in the cloud mainly because of the sheer value of the data, which seemed so much safer kept on-site rather than in an intangible space outside of the perceived realm of control. This is why systems such CRM, HCM and sales force automation were often cloud-based, whereas manufacturing process management data was kept out of the cloud. Now, SaaS deployments are becoming more widely used than traditional hosting options, even in larger organisations that are becoming far more likely to make use of SaaS. This can be attributed to a shift in mindset caused by advances in technology and a better understanding of how cloud-based ERP works…

The operational efficiencies it brings with it, and the way it enables the automation of business processes and improves profitability, means SaaS-based ERP is an essential tool for business success. Being able to operate across a variety of geographical locations, standardise processes and not only having access to critical data, but being able to tailor data availability to a stakeholder’s role, are some of the biggest advantages offered by leading SaaS-based ERP providers. Having remote access means work can be done from any location, at any time, provided there is Internet access…

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