5 Key Advantages of Using the Cloud for SMBs

Small businesses need to use every chance to advance their operations.

The faster you perform your business tasks, the more efficient your entire management will be.

Efficiency and speed can be enhanced with various technological solutions, as well.

The cloud is one of these options.

SMBs that use the cloud are more likely to increase their work efficiency and complete their projects on time.

In this article, you can read more about the five key advantages that the cloud brings to SMBs.

1. Comprehensive data backup

Storing business data in the cloud means that you’ll have the option of backup available 24/7.

If you activate the option for automatic backup, every single business document that you store on the cloud will be backed up. This is an important feature that will protect SMBs from data loss. In case of a hacker attack or any other invasive third-party action, business owners and their clients will keep data valuable for their business.

Another possibility is to use the cloud to back up data stored on in-house computers. Some business owners might prefer saving some of their business data on hard drives. The cloud is a valuable backup option for such purposes, as well.

Before you start saving business data on the cloud, learn more about different ways in which companies back up their data.

2. SaaS for more efficient budgeting

Efficient and frugal budgeting is one of the prerequisites for proper business growth.

That being said, SMB-owners need to consider using software-as-a-service (SaaS) features instead of buying entire software solutions. This means that you should opt for features and services available online and save money that way.

Before this option became available, companies and SMBs alike had only the option of downloading entire software solutions. They would pay significant amounts of money for tools that they wouldn’t even use.

Using SaaS-options enables you to pay for and implement only software solutions that you actually need. Since they’re scalable, you can upgrade to have more options at your disposal.

Moreover, you can downgrade your package once your need for certain services stops.

When you compare these options to the costs of licenses for entire software solutions, you’ll see that you can save a lot of money that way.

3. Real-time collaboration

Some business owners want their workers to submit their work tasks in solutions that are based on the cloud, like Word documents submitted to project management tools used on the Web.

Others insist that the entire work process be carried out through cloud-based solutions. Working in Google Docs instead of Word would be a fine example of this request.

Either way, the cloud eventually becomes the central point of workers’ collaboration. This allows them to collaborate in real time. For instance, when the employees deliver their tasks, the team leader or business owner can check them and make any necessary corrections within the cloud-based solution they’re all using. These options speed up the work process, eliminate dead time at work, and enhance overall productivity.

Apart from that, SMBs can use a variety of communication tools to improve their workers’ connectivity and commitment to work.

4. Increased data security

We’ve already mentioned the benefits of cloud storage and backup for SMBs.

What’s also important to highlight is the increased security of cloud-based features.

As the number of Internet users is increasing, countries are adopting more effective laws to prevent data theft and prevent online crimes.

As a result, companies providing these services need to bring strict protection rules in line with the data protection legislation.

Knowing this, it turns out that it’s safer to keep both business data and documents on the cloud than on your in-house drives.

Also, companies providing cloud-based services encrypt communication between servers and between computers. That way, business owners can rest assured that their data are safe 24/7.

5. Effective digital marketing tools

When talking about cloud-based services, this term doesn’t only refer to SaaS, cloud storage, and collaboration. Basically, every tool you use online belongs to the category of cloud-based solutions.

In line with that, SMB-owners need to use all available digital tools to enhance their business operations, starting from digital marketing.

First and foremost, track the performance of your business website. The design pros from a  Web design company in Houston claim that you need to try different options of the same features on your target audience to leave the ones that relate to them most adequately.

Apart from the website, you’ll need a full-scale tool for all your digital marketing efforts. Do your homework and find the right option for your needs that will help you automate email marketing, lead generation, as well as business analytics.

Finally, SMBs should rely on social media tools to maximize the use of these networks for digital marketing benefits. If you can plan, schedule, and publish posts to different digital channels from the same dashboard, you’ll save a lot of time, and you won’t miss a single post.

As it seems today,cloud-based solutions are the future of entrepreneurship. Both SMBs and larger businesses can already use the cloud to store their documents and valuable business data. Since security protocols are advancing, there are fewer and fewer concerns regarding those matters.

Also, using SaaS-features and enjoying the benefits of real-time cloud collaboration will improve business budgeting and work operability.

Finally, implementing various digital cloud-based digital marketing tools will ensure the proper testing of different content and promotion bits to the benefit of both SMB-owners and their customers.