It’s likely that as a business owner you have heard of the cloud, but there still may be questions lingering in the back of your mind about how it can apply to your business.
Cloud computing is changing the way companies operate, especially with modern alarm billing software.
In a recent survey conducted by Security Systems News, more than half of respondents said that cloud technology is going to be a lasting feature in the industry. It’s important in any discussion of cloud computing not to pigeon-hole the technology into one aspect of business management.
Security dealers have generally handled a wide range of business processes, including job management, billing and generating quotes, payment posting and the related accounting. Traditionally, these processes have been largely using manual, paper-based workflows and/or limited, locally installed software programs. There is likely a sense of familiarity in handling customer interactions with a document that serves a reference point, but times have changed for business owners in this industry. Technology has enabled real-time, cloud-based solutions that reduce cost and increase efficiency for both security dealers and their customers.
However, before getting into the diverse applications cloud technology has had and will have on the security services industry, it’s important to understand how it differs from the status quo for most companies.
What does the cloud offer?
It’s likely that as a business owner you have heard of the cloud, and you likely use at least a few cloud services personally. But you may have lingering questions about how it can truly help your business in a practical sense. Most information technology professionals will be familiar with the cloud because it has had a tremendous impact on their responsibilities. Before the cloud became readily available for businesses, you needed an IT specialist to handle your software, hardware and network connectivity. Everything from the computers to the servers and Internet gateways and firewalls had to be managed on an ongoing basis to ensure everything functioned properly and securely.
“As much as 80 percent of IT budgets are allocated for routine upkeep.”
With the advent of software as a service, many applications are hosted in the cloud by a growing number of companies. Another service model is called infrastructure as a service, which is offered by tech firms like Amazon and Google, and hardware necessary to store data and run software is hosted as well. As a result, you pay for access to these resources on a subscription basis instead of having to pay upfront for these capital expenses, explained CIO. All you need is a Web browser to access the hosted applications.
Flexible services
The primary benefit that companies see in using this technology is flexibility and scalability. As a business grows, there will be an increasing number of users who will need access to a software application. A traditional setup would require each employee to install the software, which means they’ll need a specific operating system version. Any outdated equipment will need to be replaced. Cloud-based services take care of these issues for you, making your life – and business processes – much simpler.
Another significant benefit is that the SaaS provider is typically responsible for any maintenance. According to a Forbes article, as much as 80 percent of IT budgets are allocated for routine upkeep, making certain all hardware and software are working as they should. Through cloud-hosted services, you can avoid these expensive headaches and limit any downtime. Plus, you’re able to manage your needs with greater dexterity.
Applications in the security systems industry
Cloud technology has seen traction in business integration automation, including in alarm billing software. Tools like Quickbooks and other spreadsheet-based software have operated as more of a Band-aid because they fit a specific need for a short time, but don’t provide an efficient, long-term solution. Especially when security dealers want to give field technicians the tools they need to generate quotes, pre-authorize payments and manage inventory at the job site, locally-installed and managed software tools are often very limiting, requiring too much time and energy. Cloud-based job and billing software enables workers with mobile devices to access everything they need while in the field, which not only improves customer relationships but also improves efficiency and thus makes the business more profitable.