Cloud Computing: Which Industries Are Benefiting Most?

Cloud computing has been the next big thing for some time and it’s probably fair to say that its moment has now arrived. While some industries are still reluctant to get on the Cloud train, others have embraced it and its many benefits.

Cloud computing does offer many advantages over on-premises IT solutions, ranging from cost savings to increased productivity however not everyone has been convinced. Guests at the London Olympia in June this year listened to Cloud World Forum experts discuss problems for business ranging from a lack of understanding of the Cloud to businesses lacking a coherent cloud strategy.

For a lot of industries however it was a case of preaching to the converted as they have long been capitalising on cloud technology and incorporating it successfully into their operations.

Here are four industries that are leading the way in cloud adoption.

1. Retail

The retail industry has been attracted to cloud solutions in order to cut infrastructure and IT costs. It has also taken advantage of the Cloud’s ability to engage with customers and to meet their needs more efficiently and effectively.

Bricks and mortar stores have also realised the benefits of the Cloud with in-store kiosks allowing customers to access online product reviews. In some shops, employees are beginning to use tablet computers to give customers a better understanding of products.

The Cloud makes all of this more efficient. Cloud-based tools make it easier for retailers to gather valuable information about their customers; useful for predicting future market trends.

2. Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry, although not usually known for its investment in IT, has been rather quick to embrace cloud solutions. The attractions of the Cloud to this sector are obvious. As well as reducing capital expenditure and labour IT costs, by embracing the cloud manufacturers can also establish a presence in almost any place around the world, connect manufacturing plants to an IT infrastructure and search for new business opportunities globally.

3. Finance

The finance industry is increasingly moving towards the Cloud, adopting processes like mobile cash flow management. Banks are attracted to cloud solutions for many reasons. Namely it can help them achieve higher levels of consistency, standardisation, productivity, agility and responsiveness. It can also make it easier and faster for them to deliver new products, enter new foreign markets and fulfil their growth agendas.

4. Legal

Solicitors’ offices need to have the ability to store large quantities of files for long periods of time.This data needs to remain accessible and, most of all, secure. This is an area where the Cloud is particularly effective as it can store data securely that can easily be retrieved without the data restrictions of a hard drive.

As a result, the legal industry is increasingly hailing the cloud as a godsend.