Cloud services – a hot IT trend nowadays

Using self service technologies in the cloud is a hot trend which is gaining a lot of ground in the market. Companies can now supply world-class services thanks to innovation and the ability to encourage both staff and customers to contribute knowledge and expertise. Of course, this requires both strategy and well-founded choices of technical solutions. Perceiving the opportunities paves the way for successful progression of development nowadays.

Companies now have a lot of interest in using a secure, robust IT infrastructure. Cost streamlining is also an important factor which always has to be taken into account. Much of this can be achieved using cloud services. Cloud services allow companies to avoid having to make major investments in the operating environment, such as data centres, services and networks, and permit streamlining by making all IT expertise accessible.

Cloud services are a hot trend in the IT world nowadays. Public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud are three types of cloud that are flourishing this year. According to analysis company IDC, the number of business-critical applications used by Swedish companies in the cloud will double in around a year. This shift to the cloud is largely being driven by suppliers with a view to securing the cost streamlining identified. IDC estimates that no less than eighty per cent of all new business systems will be developed for the cloud. We are also currently seeing more and more traditional IT organisations such as Microsoft, IBM and HP gradually becoming big names in the cloud. (Source: Tech Republic and IDC)

Most IT suppliers aim to make their staff and customers happy with their IT services while at the same time maintaining their focus on cost savings. By creating a living workplace which is constantly updated, companies can succeed in attaining their own targets and at the same time create long-term profitability among their customers.

One safe and effective way in which to create long-term customer satisfaction among both staff and customers is to eliminate internal bottlenecks and other administrative problems. Meeting the needs and wishes of customers in all elements of the company's organisation using an automatic self service system such as a Self Service Workplace enhances streamlining. Offering functions such as self service migration of PC workstations can also create an improved service in which knowledge and skills are utilised effectively.

Using self service technologies in the cloud is a hot trend which is gaining a lot of ground in the market nowadays.  This is being confirmed by an ever-increasing number of reports which indicate the enormous interest in cultural change among companies. Here are a number of conclusions that can be drawn:

• Everything will be wireless. More information will be available in the cloud, readily accessible to anyone who needs it – but also to anyone who is not entitled to it. Therefore, there will be greater security risks.
• Computers are getting smarter and smarter. More and more jobs are being replaced by computers
• Companies and employees are happier with honest social commitment. The use of collaboration tools such as videoconferencing and Self Service is becoming increasingly common. This requires support from management and is a contributory factor to skills and knowledge sharing. Social commitment in the form of entrepreneurship and voluntary (social) work during working hours will continue to grow as a result of this.

There is no doubt that these trends will have an impact, and this is happening extremely quickly. It is a mistake to simply create streamlining by rearranging the furniture in the office in order to create an activity-controlled work environment without looking at technology as well. It is becoming more and more important for IT managers to look at the big picture if they are to succeed in following the trends of the day.

What experience do you have of self service solutions or other cloud services? Do you have any questions about my article? Feel free to write a comment and say what you think. If you would like to know more about self service, please take a look at my article "Is Self Service good or bad for me as a customer or employee, or for my company?" I will be discussing various forms of self service in future articles as well.

Jannica Wahlund, JanCan Konsult, www.jancan-konsult.com

Related links:

Blog – Is Self Service good or bad for me as a customer or employee, or for my company?
Blog - Why you should choose the cloud – 5 reasons
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