5 Reasons why the Supply Chain Industry must adopt Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is all about delivering software services over the Internet. Typically, it is referred to as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Though cloud services have been available for a long time now, the supply chain industry has been a little reluctant in adopting the technology. However, the scenario has started to change. Reports published recently show that by 2023, the value of cloud-based solutions for the management of supply chain services is likely to top $11 billion. This is because professionals involved in supply chain management have started to appreciate the advantages of migrating to the cloud. The top five benefits are as follows:
#1: Round the clock availability of data
Supply chain managers need round-the-clock access to data to make decisions to effectively handle supply and demand issues. Non-availability of data due to downtime of on-premise systems and servers can seriously hamper their order fulfillment goals. One of the main benefits of opting for cloud computing services is that it reduces the risk of system downtime significantly. Cloud-based services incorporate fail-safe measures to make data available 24/7.
#2: Streamlined collaboration
Ineffective communication among managers, vendors, and logistics providers often impacts supply chain management as they use different systems and datasets. Cloud computing resolves such issues by breaking down information silos and enabling partners to access the same datasets at any time and from anywhere via one platform. This significantly enhances business agility.
#3: Reduced maintenance costs
The cost of managing the supply chain data with the help of on-premise systems is often very high as an organization has to invest in infrastructure development to store as well as access the data. Besides, the company has to employ IT professionals to maintain the on-premise systems and handle issues that arise from time to time. Cloud computing eliminates not only the need to invest in IT hardware and software but also the need to hire qualified IT staff. Organizations have to just pay a subscription fee to the SaaS provider.
#4: Robust cybersecurity
Studies show that the supply chain industry is particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks. The impact of a cyberattack can be devastating for companies, especially if hackers manage to tamper with critical data. Reliable cloud computing services come with built-in cybersecurity features, protecting against cyberattacks. Therefore, cloud computing is a better option compared to on-premise systems in terms of security.
#5: Cloud Computing provides powerful analytics
Cloud computing leverages the power of many servers that are linked together. As a result, cloud computing offers huge processing capability when compared to on-premise IT infrastructure. This allows supply chain managers to gather analytics data that help them with prescriptive and predictive analyses. Such analyses help companies make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition.
Now that you have some idea about the advantages of using cloud computing services in the supply chain management industry, Zerone Hi Tech can help you with the implementation of cloud-based solutions for your organization. As a Microsoft Partner, the leading systems integration services provider has the experience and expertise to design solutions powered by Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing service. The top-class cloud computing platform from Microsoft enables you to store, access, and seamlessly and securely share data.