Why Should You Switch to a Cloud-Based Solution?

 

Cloud computing is becoming more and more popular, especially for small businesses. If you’re a small business owner, you may wonder whether you should switch to a cloud-based solution.  While cloud-based solutions are not a new technology, the fact that they are still not widely adopted means that there is a lot of confusion about what they are and how they work. Businesses need to prepare for the future of cloud computing, which will be driven by hybrid multicloud, edge, and other distributed technologies. This article takes a deep dive into the top reasons why you should switch to a cloud-based solution. 

What Is a Cloud-Based Solution?

A cloud-based solution is an information technology (IT) system that runs on servers in the “cloud” and is accessible from any device with an internet connection. Because they are accessible from anywhere, cloud solutions can be used by multiple users at the same time.  When using cloud based CMS, you don’t store it on your physical servers. Instead, a third party hosts it. Thus, you do not have to install software or hardware on your IT systems. You simply access the application through the internet.

Cloud-based solutions allow businesses and their customers to access data through various devices such as mobile phones, laptops, or desktop computers. And considering today’s world of digital marketing, adopting cloud computing is necessary for any business. So, if you are tired of the hassles of managing in-house servers and want more flexibility, switching to a cloud-based solution may be a good option. 

Why You Should Switch to a Cloud-Based Solution

Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider switching to a cloud-based solution:

1. Access From Anywhere

Cloud-based solutions are not limited to physical locations, as with on-premise systems. Anyone can access the data and applications from anywhere –  whether working from home or travelling for business. 

Accessing CMS from anyone is handy for people who work remotely or travel extensively for work. As such, you don't have to miss important meetings or deadlines simply because you can't access your software on your office desktop. With just your smartphone and internet connection, you can access your data and get things done conveniently. 

Similarly, your customers can access your website or application from anywhere without the need to visit your business premises. They can make purchases and place orders anywhere and anytime. And considering today's world where e-commerce is the new norm of doing business, cloud computing is essential for any business destined for success. Therefore, you must invest in cloud ecommerce solutions to take your business to the next level.

2. Ease of Customization

Cloud-based solutions allow companies to customize their systems easily. You can make changes without installing new hardware or software as new needs arise. For example, your service provider can easily change the design and functionality of your website by adding new features or removing old ones. 

You don’t need to hire an expensive developer to create a new system whenever your business changes. Also, you don’t have to spend long hours learning how to code to make changes to an in-house server. Instead, you just have to submit an edit request on your dashboard and wait for it to be processed.

Better still, cloud systems allow you to personalize content based on consumer behaviour so that your clients may get an intuitive experience. As such, you can provide your customers with what they need and meet their expectations. For instance, you can customize content to reach customers through diverse media such as websites, mobile apps, or social media platforms. Doing so will lead to greater engagement and response to customer feedback.

3. Automatic Updates

Cloud-based solutions automatically update themselves as new versions become available, so they're always current and working correctly. You don't have to worry about installing new software when new features are added — those tasks are taken care of automatically by the service provider. Also,  if security vulnerabilities are discovered in your software version, they will be patched immediately.

The good thing about automatic updates is that you don't have to wait for someone else to upgrade the software. Also, you don't have to worry about whether or not your version of the program is vulnerable. You can focus on using the software and performing other vital duties instead of worrying about your CMS.

4. You Pay for What You Need

Cloud-based solutions allow you to get up and running quickly with little or no capital investment. There is no need to buy hardware or software licenses, which means less time and money spent on maintenance and upgrades.

In addition,  software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications allow you to pay for only what you use, which means you can scale up or down as needed. This is especially beneficial if your business is seasonal or has a varied customer base. You can also add on additional features whenever there is a need for it, so there’s no need to buy expensive upgrades just because they were available at one point in time.

5. Faster Performance

Cloud solutions are faster than traditional servers because they run off remote servers rather than local hard drives and processors. Since these applications are located on remote servers, there is no lag time in processing or uploading files. Consequently, it is easier for users to quickly and efficiently access the information they need quickly and efficiently. These applications also perform better when more than one user is accessing them simultaneously because there isn't any lag time for the system to process each request. 

In addition, cloud-based solutions don’t require users to download updates or install new programs because these are handled by the company that owns and operates the application.

6. Cloud Solutions Promote Collaboration

The cloud is a great way to promote collaboration between coworkers and employees. By using easy-to-use interfaces and flexible features of a cloud-based solution, you can easily share files and folders with other people in your organization. This makes it easy to work together on projects or communicate more effectively, regardless of the physical location or time zone. 

With the trend of remote working gaining traction rapidly, cloud computing plays a critical role in enhancing seamless collaboration and boosting productivity. Cloud-based solutions offer access to various productivity tools and utilities, including collaboration tools like chat rooms and video conferencing capabilities.

7. Competitive Edge

Cloud solutions are designed to help businesses compete in today's global economy. State-of-the-art technologies help you stay ahead of the competition by providing access to the latest technology, software, and tools. As new technologies become available, your business can take advantage of them immediately. 

Since these solutions are easy to implement and use, they give your business a head start over your competitors. As a result, your company can be more competitive by providing services to customers who may not have been able to access them before. You’ll also increase operational efficiency and create impeccable customer experience, thus getting an edge over your competitors.

8. Seamless Integration

A cloud-based solution offers smooth integration and interoperability with other business applications. You can integrate your CRM with other applications such as accounting, project management, or inventory systems to create a seamless experience for your customers.

Cloud systems are useful for any business that needs to share data across the company or with other business partners. Thus, it is easy for you to add new features or functions as needs arise.

9. Scalability

When it comes to small business IT infrastructure, scalability is a critical factor. Your company may not be ready to grow into a large enterprise yet, but if you don't have the proper infrastructure in place, you could face serious problems if your business suddenly takes off.

The cloud offers an excellent solution for companies that want the flexibility to scale without the expense or complexity. With cloud-based software, the system can be scaled up or down as needed. When scaling, you don't have to worry about adding or removing servers when your business needs to change. You just add or remove instances on demand and pay only for what you use. The provider takes care of all the heavy lifting.

10. Reliability

Another fantastic thing about cloud-based solutions is that they are reliable. You don't have to worry about hardware or software crashing, as with traditional on-premise IT servers. The cloud is a network of servers that offers multiple layers of redundancy. 

So, if one server goes down or becomes unavailable, other servers are ready to take over and keep your systems running. Plus, your files are backed up regularly, which means that you don't have to worry about losing files, even if your computer crashes. Ultimately, you will have less downtime and increase productivity in your business.

11. Cost-Effectiveness

Cloud solutions also help reduce costs by bringing down operational expenses without compromising functionality or performance. The cloud is affordable because the solutions are hosted on servers owned by third parties rather than being hosted on your in-house infrastructure. Maintenance costs like electricity bills and hardware replacement costs will be much lower than with traditional IT solutions.

12. Quickly Recover From a Disaster

When disaster strikes, whether natural or artificial, your ability to recover quickly is critical. With traditional on-premises solutions, you need specialized IT staff on hand who can physically go into the office and set things right. If those resources aren't available or there's damage at multiple locations, it could take days or even weeks before things get back up and running again.

With cloud-based storage, however, you can quickly recover from a disaster without relying on an expensive recovery plan. Cloud solutions provide automatic backup of your data, and it’s pretty easy to restore it after any disastrous event.

13. Streamlined Content Management

In the modern world, effective data management is central to the success of any business. And you've probably heard how busy your marketing team is. They're always trying to develop new ways to promote your business, but they're also busy creating content and managing your website. 

To keep up with all of these tasks, you need a seamless content management system that makes it easy for them to create new pages and updates without the need for deep technical knowledge. And that’s where a cloud-based solution comes in handy. All you have to do is log in and start creating content right away. With a cloud-native headless CMS platform, marketers can easily create and execute marketing campaigns in various media. 

14. Cloud Computing Offers Security

Another significant benefit of cloud servers is security. With an on-premises server, your data is only as secure as your security measures. If you leave yourself vulnerable to attack or neglect to keep up with patches and updates, there's nothing stopping hackers from gaining access to your data and stealing it for themselves.

Cloud servers use encryption techniques that protect against unwanted intrusion attempts into their systems and network management protocols that prevent unauthorized access by unauthorized parties. Even if someone does manage to break into your system, they won't be able to access any information without authorization. At least not without hacking their way past all those layers of protection first!

15. Faster Deployment Times

It takes just minutes to deploy a new application or server on a cloud platform because there's no installation required. Fast deployment makes it ideal for testing new software and applications before using them in the real world. You can also launch multiple instances of each app without worrying about licensing or system configuration issues that may arise after deploying multiple instances of an app on the same physical server.

16. Enables You To Innovate and Adapt

Cloud solutions allow companies to quickly develop new products, services, or features by leveraging the power of crowdsourcing data analytics to gain valuable insights into customer needs, behaviours, and preferences at an accelerated rate. Thus, you can innovate and adapt to the changing business dynamics faster than traditional methods such as surveys or focus groups.

17. Sustainability

Cloud-based solutions are an excellent way for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. Since you don't need physical servers to manage your IT systems, you can reduce the energy consumption associated with operating large data centres. You'll also reduce the printing of paper copies since everything is digital. Thus, using cloud computing means using less energy compared to traditional IT infrastructures that consume a lot of energy.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, moving to a cloud-based solution has many benefits. The cloud-based software is more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective than the on-premise solution – among other advantages. Switching to a cloud-based solution may be the best choice for your business.