How cloud computing is changing management

The cloud is changing business management. By leveraging cloud computing, we see a new generation of management styles emerging. Businesses have experienced massive transformation as a result of cloud technologies. Managers who embrace these changes are able to harness the power that cloud computing offers.

This new generation of cloud-based computing, networking and storage supports business growth. If managers do not welcome the cloud, they are likely to fall behind and reduce their competitiveness in the globally digitised world.

Using the cloud to manage business operations

Business leaders have been forced to adapt their approach to manage teams and work flows, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even now, as offices are open again and employees have returned to their desks, many businesses are maintaining a hybrid work-from-anywhere approach.

With cloud computing, workloads can be deployed and managed globally. Businesses enjoy seamless connectivity and remote teams can collaborating from virtually anywhere through fibre optic networks.

The cloud enables managers to streamline internal processes and improve interaction with their customers. For example, real-time inventory data serves to optimise e-commerce sites. Machine learning algorithms draw on big data to make forecasts for stock requirements and future sales.

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become intertwined with business solutions and product offerings. Cloud computing not only influences corporate management, but also public and private sector healthcare and educational institutions.

Cloud-based education is making its way into workplaces through learning management systems, content management systems, and virtual machines that enhance learning. By responding to the needs of the trainee, cloud-based learning software offers a customised experience that is focused on the needs of the learner. HR departments are leveraging cloud technologies to improve employee skills and knowledge sharing capabilities

Cloud computing to manage product development

Cloud computing offers a seamless digital experience with improved collaboration. Information is shared more quickly and can move faster across digital systems. This improves access and flexibility because of improved user interaction and closer collaboration among departments.

Various stakeholders can influence a company's products and services. Fintechs, for example, can engage with their stakeholders in product design to ensure that the end users' needs are being met in terms of functionality and performance. Online retailers can anticipate and respond to the needs of their customers. The cloud provides real-time information about the customer experience, giving managers valuable insight into areas that need to be addressed.

It also helps to reduce the innovation cycle: changes and upgrades can be done more quickly. Artificial intelligence (AI) operating from the cloud can collect data and automate workflows. This strengthens the relationship between product development and product deployment through constant iteration with accelerated testing.

Benefits of cloud computing for managers

There are a number of key benefits that cloud computing brings to managers. Various business units can collaborate more closely via the cloud. It helps to remove a silo mentality and fosters an inclusive mindset that leverages diversity - essential ingredients needed for an innovative business culture.

Managers can reduce costs by making use of public clouds, such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS. Through these tools, business leaders can find more efficient ways to manage work flows and process big data. Public clouds are cheaper than private corporate networks because you do not need to make hefty investments in physical hardware or networking components.

When public clouds are based on pay-per-use models, managers can quickly increase their digital resources as needed. They can also monitor costs with a pay-as-you-go subscription, rather than purchasing dedicated hardware and software that is costly to manage and maintain.

The cloud changes IT management

Virtualisation software is used with cloud computing in a variety of different ways. With technologies such as software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN), IT managers can allocate computer resources more effectively. SD-WAN allows tech teams to automate critical data traffic and leverage intelligent routing capabilities to ensure that key business processes are always prioritised.

Cloud computing is changing how IT professionals manage corporate networks. Automated tools allow for a reduction in manual intervention and IT managers can gain excellent visibility into what is happening on the entire business network from a centralised remote console.

Management skills for the future

Within the next few years, the World Economic Forum (WEF) predicts a radical change in the job market. It estimates that out of the top 10 work skills for the future, only two of these are technology related. The rest of the skills involve working with others, self-management and problem solving.

Managers need to focus on skills like collaboration, learning, and emotional and social intelligence. Tech competencies can often be learnt on the job, but the complex analytical thinking required for innovation and leadership are skills that are more difficult to develop. Active learning, stress tolerance and flexibility are key skills that managers need to work on in the coming years.

The role of managers is set to shift from control to enablement - cloud technologies are the enablers. Cloud computing underpins the future of business process management, from product ideation to final delivery. In this information area, it is essential that businesses are able to collect data on key business metrics, including information from various stakeholders and thousands of virtual machines. As such, data-driven management is enabled through cloud computing.

SEACOM Business cloud services

As the cloud gains more traction in the business world, more enterprises are choosing to outsource their IT management to third party professionals, such as SEACOM Business. Tech skills are in high demand, so companies can reduce risk by partnering with a reputable managed service provider. This ensures that businesses always have access to the most cutting-edge ICT resources and expert know-how.

At SEACOM Business, our team of multidisciplinary professionals keeps ahead of all the latest trends and technological advances so that business leaders can focus on managing their daily operations and aligning to business objectives.

Enterprises should choose a cloud service provider that understands their needs. SEACOM Business offers tailored solutions for South African companies, working with management teams to improve business processes and their digital ecosystems. For more information or to get a quote for our cloud solutions, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.

SEACOM owns Africa’s most extensive network of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including subsea cables and secure internet connections. We offer a diverse range of flexible, scalable and high-quality solutions for businesses that meet world-class standards for connectivity.

SEACOM is privately owned and operated, making it agile and adaptable to the needs of the customer. This makes us the preferred ICT and internet connectivity partner for African businesses and peripheral service providers. We can guarantee high-speed, low-latency and secure internet connections to corporates and small enterprises.

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