How to successfully move your business into the cloud

June 8, 2017 Off By David
There are many companies that have started to see the benefits of running their business entirely in the cloud. You can access documents and other data wherever you are, and all your employees can keep in touch with you and one anther far easier. Starting to transfer your business to the cloud might sound daunting at first, but here are some useful steps to help make the transformation as smooth as possible.

Why do you want to change?

The above question can be a major issue that some of your employees or clients might ask you, a there has to be a good reason why you want to move your business to the cloud. Maybe, you are thinking of upgrading your current computer hardware or software, or perhaps you are moving to new premises.

Whatever the reason, you will need the help of all your workforce to make it happen smoothly, so being able to get them behind the venture is a good idea.

Do your employees and customers need it?

This is an important question to ask yourself. Do your employees need it, and will they get anything from it? If by moving to the cloud, you will be able to offer more employees the opportunity to work from home, then this is a real incentive for them and you. You might also have many employees who work outside the office, and an online solution could be helpful for them. Alternatively, if you are considering outsourcing a few in-house positions to help cut costs, this is a great opportunity to start the process.

Choosing your base software

When you decide to move over to the cloud, you will need a central support for your applications. There are many out there, but it is best to look at them all and make an informed decision. Once you have chosen one, make it your main vendor for all your applications. This will make it easier to integrate everyone and also help transfer all your processes.

You can always add other software to this platform as long as its compatible, but it gives you the sound base from which to work.

Cost

Depending on which platform you choose and the software you need to run your business, the cost can vary. However, you will be saving money by streamlining your business and throwing out old processes that you no longer need.

You can also save money by having people work from home or only coming into the office for meetings. It will mean less hardware and less office space, so in the long run, it will be worth the cost. If your company is doing well and has many credit card transactions, you might find that a Merchant Cash Advance would be available to you. This would give you the capital you need to move your business online.

The process can take time, but eventually, you will see the benefits of having your business online. The flexibility this gives you will make it worth the effort, as you will be able to work from anywhere and deal with the unexpected far easier.

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