Cloud computing brings a whole host of benefits to modern organizations. In this article we'll be taking a closer look at the specifics of cloud computing and how it can benefit a collaborative remote-working team environment. 

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1.  Accessibility

One of the greatest benefits of cloud computing is the level of accessibility. Anyone with an internet connection can log in to the cloud and access data from anywhere. It's ideal for a collaborative remote working environment where people need to share files and data. Key metrics like conversion rates and call disposition can be accessible to the whole team.

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced teams have been working remotely and searching for new and better ways to share information. It's frustrating to type an email, attach a file, click send... and it probably won't even leave your inbox because you've no doubt exceeded the file size limit.

With cloud computing, that's not a problem. You upload your files to the cloud and simply send a link. You can create a central file that everyone on your team can see. The creator decides who can see the file. With cloud computing you can make your documents accessible to whoever you like, wherever and whenever. 

Say your company is looking for a new supplier for a business call forwarding service. You could save your shortlist to the cloud so all your team has access. Individual team members can see the short list and make comments and help you decide.

2.  Flexibility

Cloud computing brings huge benefits in terms of flexibility. Any employee with an internet connection and a smartphone can access files. It gives you and your staff a massive boost to flexible working.

Cloud computing is a great enabler. It gives you and your employees the power to choose a way of working that suits every individual. For example, if you've got multiple incoming calls using a simultaneous ringing (sim ring) system, cloud computing gives your team the flexibility to share the workload.

This type of system can grow, or contract, to suit the needs of your team. For example, companies with a high degree of seasonality can expand their computing power, and cloud storage options, during peak demand. When the high season is over, there is no problem of excess capacity. You'll never be paying for something you aren't using. Cloud-based systems can change and flex in real time according to your requirements.

A great example of this is CCaaS (Contact Center as a Service). The idea of a contact center as a physical location is outdated. Cloud computing gives companies the flexibility to offer decentralized contact centers with operatives all in different locations.

This high degree of flexibility is fantastic for collaborative remote working environments. It supports collaboration with internal teams, and with people outside the organization if necessary.

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3.  Control and Monitoring

The benefits of cloud computing extend way beyond sharing files between a team of colleagues. You can actually host your website on cloud based systems and this brings enormous benefits in terms of control and monitoring.

By hosting a website in the cloud, any member of your team will receive real time information, remotely. They'll be able to control and monitor online activity from anywhere in the world. If your organization operates 24/7 you might find peaks and troughs in resource requirements. Your staff can monitor this and make changes to keep the system running at peak performance.

When your team collaborates remotely using cloud computing, your managers also get to monitor productivity levels and exercise control as and when it's needed. You could have several members of your team all working on the same file, or database, at the same time. Your managers can provide a supervisory role, monitoring activity in real time, ready to step in and offer support when it's needed.

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4.  Speed and Agility

Speed and agility are top priorities for most organizations. Why? Because they are also top priorities for most customers.

Cloud-based systems give you an immediate boost in both cases. Cloud communications are faster and more agile because of the improved accessibility and flexibility it offers.

Successful companies need to move fast. They need to respond quickly to changes in the business environment. Cloud computing lets you do that by improving the way your teams collaborate remotely.

5.  Security

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Perhaps the most important benefit of cloud computing is increased cybersecurity. This happens in several different ways. Cloud based systems offer protection against loss of data. Put simply, if your data is backed up to the cloud, it doesn't matter if anything happens to your hardware as you'll be protected because your files are not kept in a physical location.

If your business relies heavily on data, as many do, you cannot take any chances. Organizations can set up security protocols to protect data stored in their archives. With multi-factor authentication, companies can ensure data breaches are extremely unlikely.

Another way that cloud computing can bring a company security benefits is through the encryption of data. This is a process that uses complicated algorithms to render your data impossible to understand for those who don't have the key. It's a simple, yet incredibly effective method of protecting data. Make sure your cloud computing provider offers a data encryption service, and your remote teams will be able to share data securely.

And it Doesn't End There...

Cloud computing offers a host of benefits, and in this article we've merely dipped our toes in the cloud computing water. We've not even touched upon the reduced server cost, for example. But that's a story for a different day.

Every business is different and you'll no doubt find your own pros and cons with cloud computing, but hopefully more pros. The best thing you can do? Give it a go and see what works best for your business.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Grace Lau - Director of Growth Content, Dialpad

Grace Lau is the Director of Growth Content at Dialpad, an AI-powered cloud communication platform for stand-up meetings and  better and easier team collaboration. She has over 10 years of experience in content writing and strategy. Currently, she is responsible for leading branded and editorial content strategies, partnering with SEO and Ops teams to build and nurture content. Here is her LinkedIn.