It’s been an eventful year for business as the world continues to face its biggest challenge yet: navigating through a global pandemic as industries close down and economies tumble into a recession that will be felt in the years to come. In the past months, the pandemic has brought out the winners, as businesses embark on digital transformation strategies with varying degrees of success. But a common thread that ties most success stories so far is the shift to Digital, and the rapidly increasing popularity of services that allow businesses to continue their operations.
“Zoom culture”, the new normal, and the concept of working from home, are mostly ushered in by apps and services that use the cloud to deliver resources at the speed and capacity that users demand. As more and more people discover the benefit of using technology to connect and conduct business, the cloud has been instrumental in helping ease the transition. While industries in general have been embracing cloud technology, the pandemic has accelerated its adoption, making the case for the cloud a more important one for any business owner.
For startups, innovation is at the heart of the things you do. As entrepreneurial pursuits that often seek to change the game, startups are most likely to make use of technology to help them do business more effectively and efficiently. Many startups are already embracing the cloud in some way or form: whether through the use of cloud-powered software like Google Drive to store and share documents, or through communication apps like Slack to align with team members remotely. However, the cloud offers more than just services for the end-user: when tapped to its full potential, the benefits of cloud computing could be the key to helping startups bring in the next big thing.
For startups, innovation is at the heart of the things you do. As entrepreneurial pursuits that often seek to change the game, startups are most likely to make use of technology to help them do business more effectively and efficiently. Many startups are already embracing the cloud in some way or form: whether through the use of cloud-powered software like Google Drive to store and share documents, or through communication apps like Slack to align with team members remotely. However, the cloud offers more than just services for the end-user: when tapped to its full potential, the benefits of cloud computing could be the key to helping startups bring in the next big thing.
Unparalleled value and flexibility
For many startups, access to extensive IT resources is simply out of reach. Without an angel investor or a consistent source of capital, much of the company’s expenses are kept at a minimum to keep costs low. Cloud computing helps startups achieve more by providing resources on a needs basis, with flexible payment models where customers pay only for the resources they use. This means greater control over expenses, while also allowing their business to expand and scale without the difficulties.
While big companies probably have their own IT departments and dedicated data centers, startups can make use of public cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and the Google Cloud Platform to accomplish much of what traditional IT setups can do without the hassle of procuring, managing, and maintaining physical IT resources. All of these things can be done in just a few clicks, enabling businesses to work more on developing their product, helping them get to market much faster.
Access to greater security, expertise, and convenience
Most major cloud providers have security measures built in to ensure data and business operations are protected from breaches and outages. While there are responsibilities that are shared between startups (clients) and the platform providers, anyone who invests in cloud computing for their business can access resources that can keep their business secure. Too complex to handle? Cloud providers have a lot of learning materials to keep your IT staff up to speed, along with training programs to help IT staff be more competitive in developing and implementing cloud-native solutions through various programs available online.
Wherever you are, one key benefit of the cloud is that you can access your own business operations from the comfort of your home, which is a great help to startups with remote work setups. With a well-architected cloud computing setup, startups can make use of cloud computing to collaborate with more speed and efficiency– all while following government restrictions and social distancing policies to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Innovation requires a leap of faith
While it may be easy to think that adopting digital solutions is easy, shifting to the cloud is still a major investment for any startup just as it is for corporations. As such, careful planning and consideration is needed before embarking on any cloud journey. Because shifting to the cloud also has its risks, there needs to be a proper cloud strategy in place to help businesses take the necessary steps to take advantage of cloud computing technology in ways that are most relevant and helpful to their business operations. Innovation doesn’t happen in a blink of an eye, and so does the shift to the cloud—success needs a plan to make the leap of faith worth it.
As a startup ourselves, we at Apper know what it’s like to see business from the lens of a young savvy entrepreneur, and as a multicloud solutions company, we are dedicated to helping businesses big and small to realize the power of the cloud for their business. Our services help businesses make the shift and keep the course steady as they venture into the new normal with a more digital mindset, and a cloud-powered toolset.
For those looking for ways to start or improve their journey to the cloud, our consulting service Engage is the best bet in bridging the knowledge gap. Coach is our mentorship platform that arms IT staff with the skills to be certified cloud experts, backed by our own team of cloud certified architects and engineers. Finally, those who are looking for even greater ease and convenience can dip their toes in Manage, our cloud management service where we take care of everything for you, including architecting, building, and securing cloud platforms and applications.
When you’re ready to make use of the cloud to bring your business to greater heights, send us a message and we’ll gladly help you on your journey. Talk to us at Apper today!
Mosselle Cruz
Marketing and Partnerships Lead
Mosselle is an experienced tech startup country launcher and marketing professional with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and Tech Startup industry. She has helped ASEAN tech brands expand to the Philippines since 2015. She has worked with FinTech and HRTech startups during their early phases, setting up groundwork for the local teams to drive growth and jumpstart operations.
