Top 5 Advantages for Dealers Moving to the Cloud

Business supply dealers need every edge to stay competitive. This means ditching the clunky servers and embracing the technology of the future—the cloud! If you’re apprehensive about trusting new technology and are unsure why 43% of traditional small businesses use cloud infrastructure or hosting services, here are five benefits business supply dealers will see when they move to the cloud.

When your data moves offsite, those clunky on-premise IT servers go with it. This means the costs of powering and cooling computer equipment are no longer a concern for you. The IT staff that was once chained to data management is now free to work on strategic initiatives that can further save your company money. When it’s time for an upgrade, the time and money once invested in in-house servers and hardware can be updated automatically in the background with cloud technology.

The cloud is also structured as a “pay-as-you-go” pricing model, meaning your company pays only for the storage it needs.

Your business may experience peak and off-seasons or an unpredictable pattern. Whatever the case, that “pay-as-you-go” pricing model accommodates it all. Cloud storage scales up or down based on your business needs without having to invest in additional physical servers. If you find your business needs to cut down on costs, you can scale back without impacting functionality.

Globally, 48% of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) have experienced a cyber security incident within the past year. If the critical customer data you keep on-premises were to be breached or leaked, your customers would lose all confidence. Credit card information and office addresses should not be easily accessible to an outside user.

Reputable cloud services offer vigorous security features that are often hard for business supply dealers to replicate. Since cloud servers have teams dedicated to the safety of their customer's data, they are often most up-to-date with the latest cyber security threats, technologies, and best practices. Additionally, since data is kept across geographical locations, natural disasters such as fires and floods, are less likely to wipe out all your crucial data.

According to a Gallup survey, 8 in 10 people are working hybrid or remote, and 79% of managers agree that their teams are more productive when they work remotely. Cloud-based data can be accessed from anywhere in the world—with internet access. Given an internet-connected device and proper log-in credentials, your workers can access critical information from just about anywhere. We all hate waiting, and having access to information instantly improves responsiveness. Access inventory, sales figures, customer data, order history, and more on the go, streamlining communications between teams or with customers.

With this added accessibility comes collaboration among teams. Data is easily exchanged between teams, saving the hassle of morning meetings with whiteboards. Sales can collaborate on a quote with managers, while customer service has access to order history to resolve issues quickly. This improves communication, streamlines workflows, and boosts overall productivity. Additionally, automated tasks free up employee time, allowing them to focus on core business functions and generate more sales.

Ditch the server room and embrace the future. Cloud technology offers two undeniable advantages: reduced costs and increased efficiency. From automatic upgrades and pay-as-you-go pricing to enhanced security and streamlined workflows, the cloud empowers your business supply business to thrive. Don't wait—unlock the potential of the cloud today!