“We need to move to the cloud.” It’s a commonly heard statement within companies. But is it true?
The cloud is on the rise – that’s a fact. In 5 years, more applications will be running in the cloud while ‘on premise’ will be on the decline. Those unwilling to adjust might hit a deadlock in the long term. Currently, organizations still have a choice, but eventually, they will need to embrace working in the cloud. Therefore, it’s high time to list several facts regarding ‘ERP in the cloud.’
ERP in the cloud is always available
Are you working from a location other than your office? Are you unable to enter the building? Are you dealing with a disaster? If you work in the cloud, you can always access your applications and your data. Of course, this is an advantage, but you might not be comfortable with the idea of your data not being stored ‘within the walls’ of your own building.However, it may be unnecessary to worry about this, because a reliable cloud services provider ensures good security.
Cloud prevents ‘local investments’
When working in the cloud, you no longer need to invest in local hardware and software for your ERP system. This goes for application licenses, but also for the underlying (operating) systems. And you won’t need any administrator(s) for such purposes anymore.
Cloud ensures optimal flexibility
The cloud offers great flexibility. You don’t need to invest in licenses for the ERP environment. Instead, you pay per month and per user. The disadvantage is that the total cost may be higher. At the same time, this often means that you’re using your ‘ERP in the cloud’ a lot – a good sign, because it implies your company is running at full capacity.
Moreover, integrating your ERP software with other software is much easier when your ERP system is running in the cloud.
External administrator’s expertise
A cloud environment is managed by external administrators who, for example, work at Microsoft. They have extensive knowledge of your ERP application, monitor your performance, carry out updates for you (usually in consultation), and adjust system resources where necessary. That’s great, but it also allows fewer possibilities for peering ‘under the hood.’ When it comes to solving problems, you’re dependent on the provider. Ultimately, however, this party’s expertise can save you a lot of time!
Is ‘ERP in the cloud’ right for your organization? Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to discuss your opportunities.
