5 Hot Cloud ERP Topics for 2018

At Western Computer, we are fortunate to have a broad and deep view of the ERP market.   With over 160 certified professionals and over 500 implementations under our belt, we are privileged to have our fingers on the pulse of the industry. Read on for some of the hottest Cloud ERP topics for 2018.

1. ERP is all about the cloud.

Why is cloud the preferred ERP platform right now? As businesses look for ways to provide better customer experiences while, of course, reducing costs—the cloud is where it’s at. Here are a few reasons why:

• It’s faster and easy to deploy.
• The cloud eliminates the need for desktop and server IT investments and remote access needs.
• Lower cost of ownership for IT (power, backup power, cooling, and security costs are absorbed by the cloud provider—not your business).
• Stronger security.
• More time and dollars freed up to focus on more value-added services.

However…

2. Choosing between the cloud and on-premises is not always an obvious choice.

Too many people make the mistake of looking only at the hosted cloud monthly fees versus the IT investment needed for on-premises. There are many costs to consider including CAPEX, installation, migration, infrastructure, provisioning, licensing, maintenance, and disaster recovery. For example, the cloud is best for email and most LOBs but large-capacity file sharing and high-bandwidth operations may be better on-premises. When evaluating cloud, on-premises, and hybrid solutions, speak with a trusted consultant on the total cost of ownership and how to ensure a positive user experience and financial outcome.

3. Use the cloud to provide new functionality.

If you are considering a major move to the cloud, make sure you think about the new capabilities that may be at your disposal for the first time. The cloud is a powerful platform and enabler that makes it easier to have more than just ERP. For example, with Microsoft Dynamics 365, you also get mobile apps, sales and marketing, and CRM to name just a few. The cloud also enables advanced analytics, using the shared Cortana resource which would not be affordable for most customers on premise.  You can scale up and down as needed without having to buy infrastructure for peak processing needs.

4. Disaster Recovery is a top priority.

Using the Microsoft Cloud, you get extended disaster recovery protection from Microsoft. They have global capacity for backup, replication, and recovery, whether due to a natural disaster or cyber-attack which you likely don’t have or can’t afford. In addition, you can only get fully mirrored and backup systems using the cloud. It is our experience that when people have access to the cloud, they use it.  If they don’t have (easy) access to the cloud, they often start creating their own local documents. Therefore, using the cloud helps not only with efficiency but also backup when devices are stolen or lost.

5. Today’s customers care about sustainability.

You are selling to a new generation of customers who care about sustainability as much as they care about your products and services. In addition to the many financial and functional reasons to consider the Cloud, one increasingly popular benefit is the impact of the cloud on reducing CO2 emissions. Recent studies show a minimum of 30% and up to 95% less carbon compared to running equivalent software in servers on premises. The cloud not only uses less power but usually leads to less paper usage as well. At Western Computer, we applaud the renewable resource initiatives at Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Many of our customers realize that businesses need to step forward on sustainability and not just wait for government action. We are proud to help our customers leverage the cloud to not only help their organization’s bottom line, but to help save the planet we all share.

If you would like more information about moving to the cloud, contact Western Computer's Dynamics experts today!