7 Types of Businesses That Need Better Cloud Performance

Experts have predicted the popularity of the cloud to erupt the past couple of years, but this year it finally did. Now, 87 percent of businesses are using some form of public cloud services, and 74 percent have adopted a hybrid cloud system of public and private services. Companies are less worried about security concerns, and are experiencing a greater availability of cloud services, greater geographic reach, lower costs, and improved business continuity. What industries could benefit from better cloud performance?

1. Education

 

 

Education is stepping on the cloud bandwagon in a big way. Educators using the cloud have better access to relevant research pertaining to their curriculums, improved classroom discussions regarding material and assignments, and easier collaboration among educators looking for better techniques to teach materials. The next step in education is the bare metal cloud, which offers even higher speeds and better service.

2. Energy and Utilities

 

 

The energy and utilities industries have been slower to embrace the cloud, though these services could benefit such companies in a variety of ways. The cloud can offer energy providers easier methods of billing, better ways to manage assets, and lower operating costs. Cloud services requires little financial investment compared to buying new hardware and software, and doesn’t come with huge licensing fees that such software usually commands.

3. Finance and Banking

 

 

The finance industry is number one among the top five industries in terms of expenditure on cloud services. This industry is expected to invest $84,074M in the cloud between 2011 and 2016. The finance and banking industries benefit from the ease of accessing condensed, usable information in a rapidly expanding marketplace. The cloud also eliminates the need to have separate banking portals and client databases for each branch office.

4. Hospitality

The cloud brings the hospitality industry closer to their customers, who are spread around the globe at any given time. Now, customers can make quick, secure reservations from anywhere in the world, as well as access menus and place orders for services. This eliminates the need for having such infrastructure in place at each location, and also cuts down on the amount of training each location has to provide their staff.

5. Manufacturing and Transportation

Manufacturing and the closely-related transportation industry have been extraordinarily slow to embrace the cloud, though the benefits are numerous. These industries are primarily using the cloud for SaaS services, neglecting to realize the benefits of the cloud in terms of inventory control, business strategy planning, market research, and streamlining operations like logistics. Garner currently defines manufacturing’s use of the cloud as “measured.”

6. Retail

The retail industry can benefit from cloud services aside from its obvious uses in web-based shopping. Brick and mortar retail shops can take advantage of big data offered in the cloud that can improve customer service, allow for better staffing at locations, and even improve data gathering and customer service via mobile devices.

7. Startups

Startups can leverage the cloud with very little investment, giving them a wider and more diverse base of computer software without taking on licensing fees or buying expensive hardware systems. The cloud can give the limited-capital startup a more level playing field when competing with the big guys.

Though virtually every industry can benefit from the bare metal cloud, some have been slower to embrace this technology than others. As security concerns wane and the cost savings and other benefits of the cloud become clear, the cloud should become a popular business tool in all industries.