A few months ago we went over the basics of cloud technology. That post covered what this innovative technology is, an overview of the benefits and a breakdown of some common terminology used in conjunction with it. Today I thought I’d take it a step further and examine how you can harness this powerful tool to benefit your small business.

Scalable – The goal of most small businesses is growth. Cloud computing allows you to scale up when you’re ready, so you don’t have to deal with too much too soon, and potentially waste money while you’re at it. It essentially grows along with your business, allowing for a seamless transition. This can also be applied to downsizing, when necessary. 

Access to Experts – It used to be that if you needed a powerful tool for your business, you would either have to pay an exorbitant amount of money, or develop one yourself. With cloud technology, small businesses can leave that work to the experts in each field, and tap into to the resources they provide. For instance, rather than seek out and pay for expensive email programs, many small businesses rely on the power of Gmail, because Google handles all the behind the scenes work.   

Competitive Advantage – Cloud computing can help position your business to compete with larger organizations that you would not have been able to match a decade ago. When you can take advantage of technology that is cost effective, yet highly powerful, you can provide the same level of service and support to your customers as your larger competitors. You’ll also have a distinct leg up on any of your competitors that haven’t jumped on the cloud bandwagon yet.

Instant, Accurate Analysis – Tracking conversions used to be a nightmare, best handled by analytical masters who had the time (and patience) to pour through endless data and try to make sense of it all. With cloud technology, small business owners now have instant access to powerful and accurate analytical tools, such as Google Analytics, which tells them how their marketing campaigns are doing in real-time.

Automated – Cloud computing allows small business owners to access information at the click of a button, and handle formerly manual tasks with the ease and speed of automation. This saves time and allows you to focus on other more important activities, like boosting sales or growing your business.

Collaborative – Two heads are always better than one. Cloud technology provides the opportunity to collaborate with others without ever having to come together in the same room. File sharing platforms, like DropBox and Google Docs, allow for instant and secure transfer of data. Share documents, spreadsheets and presentations at the click of a button.

Affordable – For most small businesses, this is the magic word. One of the best features of cloud technology is its affordability. Many tools are free, or available for extremely attractive monthly rates that are usually scalable to fit the budget of each business.

Cloud computing is something that can bring your business to the next level, at little to no cost! If you haven’t harnessed the power of the cloud for your business yet, why not start with a virtual phone system? Give us a call or sign up for a free trial today.