5 Things to Know About Cloud Manufacturing

You might have already heard some things about cloud manufacturing. Maybe you've heard it's an innovative tool or that it helps increase production efficiency,  but there are 5 things everyone should know about the cloud that we'll be discussing in this article

1. Reduce capital expenses

Cloud manufacturing has lower capital expenses than legacy platforms. This is because of a few reasons; one of those reasons is that software subscriptions generally costs less than regular upfront licensing. Cloud Manufacturing also lowers staffing costs, particularly for IT (making it a great choice for companies with a high demand for IT assistance) and reduces the need for overtime because it helps businesses run more efficiently across the board. It is the result of work getting done faster and more accurately.

2. Quicker turn around to deployment

The cloud makes it easy to get the process leading up to deployment done faster. With legacy platforms, paperwork can be waiting for a week before it’s data is entered into the system. This creates two major problems: 1. The customer doesn’t receive an invoice to pay for the product even though they’ve most likely already received it, and 2. It messes up inventory by not marking off the materials that have already been used for the order that usually has been shipped at this point. The cloud helps fix these problems by creating a more unified technology environment where each department can communicate faster and with more accuracy.

3. It’s catching on like wildfire

The Cloud has become very popular in the manufacturing industry, with MintJutras reporting that SaaS-based applications make up 22% of all installed manufacturing and distribution software and that number is expected to increase to 45% in ten years.

4. Isn’t limited to the cloud

Just because the word “cloud” is in its title doesn’t mean cloud manufacturing is a one trick pony. Not all cloud products are solely used in the cloud. For instance, Acumatica is a cloud-based ERP software that was designed to be used in the cloud but it gives the consumer the option to use it on a public cloud, private cloud, or an on-premise platform.  To make it even better, you are free to switch to any of the three options at any time.

5. It is Secure

We know what you might be thinking, “Just how secure is the cloud?” The Cloud is great about providing up-to-the-minute versions of your data, even in the case of a disaster or an on-site system failure. Consequently, its ease of access makes some people more cautious about converting to the cloud, because it might make their data too available to prying eyes. So, is the cloud too easy to access? No, cloud services providers are aware of the dangers the cloud can present and offer security services to combat those threats. They also have programmed security measures within the software to ensure that each user can see only what they are permitted to see and it continuously re-authenticates their connection. Host providers supply 24x7 cyber security staff that are stationed in physically secure centers. Security for cloud-based software is understandably different than traditional platforms, but that doesn’t mean it’s less secure. If you’re worried about not having enough control keep in mind that you control where data is stored and processed. This means that if you're uncomfortable with your data being stored with the service provider, such as Acumatica, the software can be installed at your location or to a 3^rd party host to store and handle security for your data.

Want to learn more facts about how cloud business software can revolutionize the way your company does business? Clients First is an Acumatica and Dynamics AX partner whose staff has deep experience in business solution software. Give us a call at 800-331-8382 or email us at sales@clientsfirst-tx.com.

by Clients First