The head of small business of MWEB Connect, Paul Hobden, explained the basics of cloud computing and how you can use nifty virtual technology to the benefit of your small business.
You may have heard the terms cloud computing or something being in the cloud, which simply describes a central location hosted on the internet that stores data, accessible to you and your business from anywhere and at any time. Because the data or system is hosted virtually, you as a business do not have to own the hardware to have access to these services. Cloud computing services are successfully being used by small businesses and by medium-to-large enterprises.
Having a good internet connection opens up a world of cloud services to your small business. Those that have started using the cloud are already reaping the rewards. Good examples of cloud-based services, which you may already be very familiar with, are online payroll, payment solutions, customer relationship management (CRM) applications, data storage services and online surveys.
As a small business owner, there are many benefits to using the cloud:
Often ranked among small businesses as the most important tool, email is a prime candidate to be moved to the eeb. Hosting email in the cloud is something most people are comfortable with and have experienced doing. Gmail, Outlook.com and Yahoo are cloud-based email solutions, while Microsoft's Hosted Exchange has become a common feature in many businesses. Adopting the cloud for email has many benefits, especially the stability, securely backed up data and access to email from all locations.
Losing data can be disastrous for any business; there are plenty of cloud storage and back-up solutions to choose from that will offer your small businesses peace of mind at an affordable price. Data backed up in the cloud can be retrieved from any location, is secure and offers protection from hardware failure, physical damage such as fire and corruption of data, through simple and easy-to-use interfaces. By using a quality Internet connection, this can be a seamless and efficient process, allowing you as a business to be rest assured that your back-ups are safe.
VOIP solutions use the internet to make telephone calls. The immediate benefit to the small business owner is cost saving. Local, cellphone and international call rates are, in most cases, significantly less expensive when using a VOIP solution. VOIP solutions offer additional features; most systems allow message-to-email functionality, meaning you can pick up your messages from any location.
Using a VOIP solution such as MWEB Talk, the cloud can open up the option of live videoconferencing. Get the best experience with your webcam and microphone by using a quality Internet connection and meet colleagues, customers and suppliers all around the world.
From Microsoft Office to Pastel, the cloud offers access to excellent software options. These are rented on a SaaS model (Software as a Service), a model that suits the cash flow constraints of many small businesses. There are many free cloud-based software packages available to you, as well as those based on a "Freemium" model. From project management through to email marketing, there is software available out there to meet all your business requirements and to suit most budgets.
When businesses think about the Internet, the starting point often is the ability to promote and market their products and services via the Internet to their respective customers.
MWEB's SelfBuild tool is an example of cloud-based software for building your website, while the Freemium model of MailChimp allows small businesses to mail their customers and track the results. YouTube, Flickr and Instagram are all examples of cloud-based publishing platforms that offer opportunities to present your business online. Meanwhile, Bit.ly offers the ability to track clicks on links and CrazyEgg allows you to measure the usability of your site through heat maps and click tracking.
Embrace the cloud, it will have a significant impact on your small business, improve efficiencies and save costs while allowing you to grow and build your profile and customer base.
MWEB has a range of all of the above products and services to meet your needs and can offer a single point of contact for all of your needs. Visit the MWEB website and for more information and advice for small business users, be sure to visit the Entrepreneur Zone.
