Cloud computing provides ‘flexible, mobile workforce’ for SMEs
May 16, 2012
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) see the ability to work in a flexible and mobile way as the biggest advantage of adopting cloud technology, research shows.
In a recent IBM study, 39 per cent of senior managers said that a more adaptable and flexible workforce was their number one reason for implementing cloud computing in the workplace, followed by the cost efficiency of this type of service.
This can be largely attributed to the increasing proliferation of smart mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, so that the workplace no longer needs to be defined as a static, physical place…
IBM predicted that there will be one trillion cloud-ready devices as early as 2015.
Figures from the IBM survey revealed that more than two-thirds of senior managers had either already implemented cloud computing or intended to do so in the future.
Some 30 per cent said that they were looking to do this within the next two years.
IBM Europe’s vice president of mid-market sales Simon Porter noted that the attitude towards cloud services is evolving.
"Mid-market companies have understood for some time the financial benefits of the cloud, but we are now seeing an interesting shift to a new, more strategic level of thinking about what the cloud can deliver.
"[SMEs] are quickly moving to a cloud delivery model to bring not only cost efficiency, but also use it as a means to focus on business growth rather than spending time on technology maintenance," he said.
Cloud services are particularly beneficial when it comes to expanding businesses overseas, as they provide an IT infrastructure that is quick to set up.
IT expert Zach Nelson, chief executive of NetSuite.co.uk, said that firms which are slow to adopt cloud computing may risk falling behind their competitors.
The main reason that businesses gave for delaying the change according to the IBM study was a lack of time.