The Cloud and a Changed Workplace
There’s no question that cloud-based technology has transformed the way we work – from increased security to job flexibility and the opportunity to always be online, our work lives are almost unrecognizable to how they were even just a decade ago.
But what are the specific things that cloud computing has changed? Read on to find out how technology in the workplace has been transformed.
Working from home
The most obvious way that cloud computing has changed our jobs is, obviously, the ability that it’s given us to work from home. Time that might once have been spent traveling is now freed up, meetings can be taken from the home office, and a sudden inability to travel to work (for whatever reason) no longer means an enforced day off. Of course, this is all down to the emergence of the…
Always-online workplace
Cloud-based technology has given us the ability to log onto a system and access files from anywhere. This has been revolutionary in terms of both flexibility and productivity, allowing us to stay connected when out of the office and in turn making life much easier for working parents, those who are required to travel a lot for business, and everyone else who might crave a bit of flexibility in their working day.
Automation and HR software
One of the great benefits of HR software that uses cloud computing is the ability to automate tasks that might traditionally have needed to have been carried out manually. Absence tracking and project workflow, for example, are just two of the things that integrated, intuitive systems can take care of. This means that employees’ time is freed up for the personal, thought-based and creative work that cannot be handled by a computer.
Increased security
There are various ways that the cloud has increased security in the workplace. Increasingly sophisticated encryption means that no one other than those who have been given clearance can access data. Often, cloud computing systems also have unique security settings for each user, giving an extra layer of protection. As this article points out, 93% of businesses that have incorporated cloud security report that they now believe they have better data security.
Email & productivity
Aside from security, HR software and automation, it’s also clear that cloud-based technology in the workplace has had an amazing effect on productivity levels. Now we can log onto our systems as and when we need to; we don’t need to wait to be sent files or documents, and the ease by which we can share projects, discuss issues and sign-off work is increased exponentially. It makes communication between teams, offices and individuals much easier, too.
A greener office
In some cases, moving to cloud computing means offices can go serverless. Without the need for a large server, the space to house it and the staff to maintain it, businesses use less energy as well as less physical office space. The cloud-based office ties in, then, to a move towards cleaner business practices and more efficient ways of working overall.
The ability to reinforce your company’s brand
With a cloud computing system that has been designed and configured to reflect your company’s brand, you have the opportunity to create a tool that really reflects your values and ethos. This has many benefits, one of which is improving how involved and part of a brand your staff feel. This will, in an ideal situation, increase loyalty and professionalism amongst them.
Improved learning and development
Cloud-based HR software can track progress, flag when development areas need to be worked on, and generally, support learning and development across all your teams. You can use cloud software to assess where your employees are in training or onboarding programmes, and use it to set future goals. After all, a workforce that is constantly learning tends to be a happier and fulfilled one. Investing in cloud technology has had a great impact on this across businesses in all sectors, which can only be a positive thing.
Attracting the best talent for the future
As this article points out, attracting the best and most tech-savvy talent to your business means having the most up to date and impressive systems. This is something that managers need to be thinking about in the long-term. The speed at which cloud computing is progressing, alongside developments such as AI, should remind us that our technology and the people who we hire to use it won’t stand still for very long.
About the Author
Adam Reynolds is a freelance business journalist and writer with well over a decade of experience.