The number of applications available to businesses through the Cloud has steadily increased over the last few years. According to research findings in the 2014 North Bridge Future of Cloud Computing Survey, 45% of businesses want to or already run their company in the cloud.
Cloud applications are increasingly being used to run customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource management (ERP), customer service, accounts, business analytics and ecommerce business operations.
And, with applications such as STREAM, you can now add order management and transport management software solutions to that equation.
Typically, applications delivered via the cloud are developed and maintained by a specific provider – reducing the financial and resource burden on IT departments to maintain and support applications.
Transitioning existing applications to the cloud can save considerable budget. According to respondents in the 2014 North Bridge Future of Cloud Computing Survey, IT is apportioning 80% of their budgets to maintain current systems.
‘Even more businesses are no longer thinking ‘why cloud?’ but will focus the next 12-24 months figuring out ‘how do I execute a long-term cloud strategy?’
Mike Schutz, General Manager, Microsoft Cloud Platform
For larger companies (over 5,000 employees), 27% said they are motivated to do so because they believe using a cloud platform service will help them lower their capex and opex spend according to research conducted by Goldman Sachs.
Cloud-based applications can offer a quick route to solving specific business problem as they do not typically require the installation of hardware or software, making the deployment of applications run into the minutes rather than months.
Agility and scalability of the cloud is also a major benefit. Cloud-based applications can scale instantly to meet changing demands – especially useful for retailers and distributors during peak periods such as the run up to Christmas.
The case study proof for cloud-based order and transport management systems is compelling, for example:
Scandinavian House
Scandinavian House has been supplying high quality children’s bedroom and furniture products through mid and high-end retailers for more than 10 years. As well as a number of independent stores, multiples, online retailers and mail order customers, Scandinavian House also run their online ecommerce business.
Having expanded organically over their history, the organisation’s back office systems were creaking under the pressure of ever increasing orders and retail partners.
STREAM has enabled the business to effectively and efficiently manage their order to delivery processes leading to the ability to deal with a 30% increase in order volumes without increasing head count, while at the same time reducing costs within the business – including an impressive 60% reduction in phone costs.