Cloud technology has become a necessity in the construction industry as construction firms face bigger and more complex projects while navigating a host of challenges. Whether you are ready to move to the cloud today or still need a bit more time, it is crucial to plan ahead to ensure you are selecting the right tools today that will benefit your business for years to come.
Every business is different so it’s important to choose a path to the cloud that addresses your individual business needs. In helping you plan for your eventual move to the cloud, we’ll take a look at the benefits of cloud technology, cloud options, and the importance of designing a scalable and sustainable IT infrastructure.
BENEFITS OF THE CLOUD
Cloud technology delivers many advantages, perhaps the most important being that it can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This means your teams can collaborate more efficiently and have anytime, anywhere access to the business-critical information they need. Additional benefits include cost savings, security, and cloud performance.
Cost savings: We used to spend 80% of our IT budget to build and operate our technology and 20% to run it. Gone are the days of high costs to manage servers and deploy expensive upgrades. The cloud removes the build and operate costs as firms can now leverage the technology without the IT expense.
Security: Hyper-scaled cloud providers can provide enterprise grade security, covering you from all angles: physical, network, application, and data. You can rest assured that your financial information will be protected in a highly secured environment, as providers work continuously to stop threats and upgrade protections so that you don’t have to.
Cloud performance: Hyper-fast network connectivity is making cloud performance comparable to or even better than traditional in-house networks. Cloud options can also provide peace of mind in proven disaster recovery protocols, helping you keep your mission critical solutions up and running whenever you need them.
CLOUD OPTIONS
At Sage, we believe in the power of choice, the power to choose the best mix of solutions that make the most sense for your business. It’s essential to understand your options when it comes to experiencing the benefits of the cloud. These options include a private cloud, hosting, software as a service (SaaS), and add-ons and mobile applications.
Private Cloud: Managing the move to the cloud on your own. All aspects including updates, maintenance, security, and support are managed by internal IT staff or a trusted IT partner. This option requires the most internal resources and a high upfront investment, plus ongoing costs for maintenance and upgrades.
Hosting: Working with a third-party hosting partner to host your on-premises solution in the cloud. The hosting partner manages the technology—including updates, maintenance, security, and support. There would be an initial upfront investment for moving the solution to the cloud as well as monthly or annual fees for the hosting service.
SaaS: Moving to a native cloud solution, such as Sage Intacct Construction. All aspects of the technology, including updates, maintenance, security, and support are included with your software subscription. This option has a smaller upfront investment to cover any necessary costs for data migration and software implementation, and then a business would only incur the monthly subscription cost.
Add-ons & Mobile Apps: Extending your on-premises solution with cloud-based add-ons and apps. This can be a good option for businesses who are not in a position to completely overhaul their current solution but want to reap some of the benefits of cloud technology. These add-on solutions and mobile apps integrate with on-premises solutions to provide some remote functionality. This option is usually relatively quick to implement and includes a monthly subscription fee.
DESIGNING A SCALABLE AND SUSTAINABLE IT INFRASTRUCTURE
In the past, most IT infrastructure was owned and managed by a business on their premises; however, as businesses are increasingly turning to cloud technologies, many aspects are now managed by third-party vendors. As you look for new technology solutions, it is important to think beyond your immediate needs. Consider where you want your business to be in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, and beyond. Then consider how can technology help you achieve those goals.
Be sure to involve key stakeholders early in the software selection process. This will help get buy-in and support a smoother transition. Determine a timeline and set smaller goals such as cleaning up existing systems, vetting software vendors, and creating an implementation schedule to move closer to your goals.
Selecting the right solutions and building an effective IT infrastructure takes time and resources, so it’s important to turn to solutions that address your current needs and are scalable to keep up with business demand. When selecting cloud technology, look for solutions with an open API. This enables you to integrate the best-of-breed solutions you are using today and will use in the future. Other factors to consider when evaluating solutions are security, uptime, training, and support. You need a vendor you can trust to keep your data secure and your technology up and running.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Cloud technology will continue to power the future of construction. Wherever you may be on your cloud journey, we’re here to support you every step of the way. The Sage team and our robust network of partners are committed to helping construction businesses select and implement the right solutions so you can achieve your goals and maximize your technology investments.
About the Author:
Dustin Stephens is vice president of construction and real estate at Sage. He is a dynamic construction software executive with more than 25 years of experience serving the industry. Stephens is responsible for go-to-market strategies and building partner and customer programs for Sage’s construction business in North America. He is keen about driving healthy change in construction through technology. For more, visit www.sageCRE.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, May 2023
Did you enjoy this article?
Subscribe to the FREE Digital Edition of Modern Contractor Solutions magazine.
