Should Your Business Use "the Cloud"?
Posted by Len Diana on Tue, Jul 26, 2011 @ 02:48 PM
I’ve been writing frequently over the last several weeks about “the cloud”. For many business owners/executives they’re still not sure the cloud makes sense for their companies. Should your whole business be “in the cloud”? Probably not. If you’re thinking about what business applications you should be using then consider how you currently are using “the cloud” to your benefit.
Many small businesses have a Gmail, Hotmail or some other service for email. Basically, they’re cloud-based email applications, right?
You’re a small business owner and you have a LinkedIn profile with connections. This is cloud-based business networking.
Your business has a website that uses a company like HubSpot for content management from anywhere in the world.
You have sales reps throughout the US that connect to your CRM called Salesforce.com. Nothing more than a cloud-based CRM application.
Your marketing person has used ConstantContact or similar service for email marketing. Isn’t it just a cloud-based email marketing application?
Your business believes in the benefits of social media so you have a FaceBook fanpage, a Twitter account and Youtube channel. Cloud-base social networking tools that you’re using for marketing and connecting with your customers and prospects.
I understand I’ve simplified this a bit so you can see how you’re already using some cloud-based applications for your business. Should your accounting or financial software be in the cloud? Would it be more efficient to have your ERP package cloud-based? Should everyone in the office be using MSOffice 365? Personally, I think it comes down to do you need access to the business application anytime and anywhere. Plus is it more cost effective than an on-premise application in the long term? In the end, it comes down to the application you need and how you need to use it. I doubt any small or medium size business will ever be 100% in the cloud but you will be using it.
