A recent study by Forbes Insights, in collaboration with Cisco, indicates that cloud-based collaboration tools accelerate business results. Among the benefits are big breakthroughs in effectiveness, improved business processes and an increase in innovation, according to an article on Forbes.com.
If you’re still questioning whether to move to SharePoint Online, consider the fact that 64 percent of the survey respondents and 82 percent of “leaders” (defined as “executives with significantly more experience with cloud-based collaboration tools”) think that using cloud-based collaboration tools is a great idea.
Why do so many executives appreciate the power of the cloud? A big reason is that running enterprise content management (ECM) in the cloud allows businesses to lower costs while still getting the tools they need for knowledge management.
It simply makes sense from a cost-benefit perspective to choose cloud-based systems rather than maintain them on-premises. They bring information to people anytime at any place without compromising security. More than one-third of respondents reported that they use cloud-based applications to boost workplace flexibility and allow for BYOD (bring your own device) policies.
Nearly half of companies are relying on cloud-based tools to hold remote meetings that “allow people to share documents and record events,” the Forbes.com article reports. The survey also found that 39 percent of companies are working toward building a digitized, collaborative workspace.
Scalability is another reason organizations are turning to the cloud. It’s much easier to sign up for another server or add memory to your cloud compared to ordering hardware, having it configured and dealing with the man hours associated with maintaining it on-premises.
Plus, SharePoint Online will receive all of the latest upgrades and patches related to the software prior to any on-premises provider. That means SharePoint Online users will receive any upgrades first and, as an added benefit, Microsoft will take care of installing them.
Source: Forbes.com, May 2013
