Today’s executives find themselves in a unique position. Across industries, companies have steadily increased cloud adoption, collectively spending billions to revolutionize their productivity and security. And it’s worked — for the most part.
But not all cloud solutions are created equal, and every firm should be asking themselves How do we optimize the cloud?
451 Research and Embotics recently teamed up to study current cloud solutions. They found that more than 75% of companies are using multiple cloud solutions instead of a single, unified platform.
For many organizations, having more than one cloud platform required them to invest in third-party cloud management or bridge together their cloud tools manually. This caused major headaches. Users complained of long response times, complex resource tracking and a lack of IT transparency.
What’s the lesson? Isolated tools may be powerful on their own, but the drawbacks can cause serious challenges. Here’s why:
Complexity:
The last thing a construction firm wants is increased data complexity. You’re already juggling cost codes, subcontractors, supply chains, change orders and more. Non-compatible tools add data silos into the mix, significantly reducing productivity.
Overlapping Data:
Executives need accurate, streamlined reports so they can make confident decisions. This is much more difficult when multiple tools offer overlapping or conflicting data. Employees may be forced to manually merge reports, slowing operations and opening the door for mistakes.
IT Security:
A single-vendor cloud solution has just one point of risk. A multi-vendor solution, on the other hand, has several. Data breaches and delays may lead to finger-pointing between vendors instead of quick solutions.
So how can today’s firms avoid the drawbacks associated with multiple cloud based management solutions?
Establish a Game Plan:
Never invest in a single tool without considering how it will fit into your overall system. Find a solution that is both powerful and compatible with your current system.
Consider Flexibility:
Look for a unified solution that will grow with your company, and make sure that it will integrate easily with external tools so you can continue adapting within the industry.
It’s important to educate yourself on how to use cloud-based solutions to unify operations. Once armed with the right information, you’ll be able to find a powerful, unified cloud system and avoid the complexity of managing too many tools.