You’ve got a file cabinet, an ergonomic chair, and pens with your slogan on it. Your small business has everything it needs, right? While these things are important, the Internet can optimize your business further. If you aren’t using cloud services already, you’re likely missing out.
What Are Cloud Services?
A simple definition is applications that provide a service that are accessible through the Internet. While many may think this defines the entire Internet, it does not. The Internet also includes the sites we simply read. Cloud services describe the websites we interact with.
Source: Wikipedia Cloud Computing
Whereas cloud services are the individual processes completed over the internet, cloud computing is the general process that is occurring. Using a computer, tablet or even your phone, you can access services and do a variety of tasks (computing). These tasks are not being done on your phone, they are being done virtually – also known as – in the ‘cloud.
Cloud Services for Small Businesses
It’s somewhat easy to imagine how ‘virtual’ computing can benefit business. One benefit is needing fewer devices. Before cloud computing, taking a credit card payment meant carrying a credit card reader that was attached to a phone line that also needed to be plugged in. With cloud services, that process is hosted in the cloud. Now, all that is needed is a smartphone and a tiny USB device.
This is just one example of cloud services for the modern-day entrepreneur and small business owner. There are many more making a substantial impact on business in general as indicated in this graphic from SkyHigh IT, a cloud-based Internet security firm
Other popular tasks that can be completed in the cloud include:
- Payroll and Accounting (Intuit Quickbooks, Freshbooks)
- Marketing Services (Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
- Contact Management (Insightly, Zoho)
- Receptionist & Telephone Services (Smith.ai, Ruby Receptionists)
- Postal Service (Traveling mailbox, Virtual Mail Post)
- Document Creation (Google G-Suite, Microsoft Office 365)
- Collaboration (Asana, Trello, ProjectManager.com)
- Scheduling (Calend.ly, Bookafy)
Identifying the best cloud services for your business
Choosing the best cloud service for your business is often a process of trial and error. Thankfully, many websites and services offer trial memberships. When considering the best site for your business, consider price, customer service and features.
Here are a few places to start your research:
- 30 Best Cloud Services for Small Businesses (PC Mag)
- Capterra: a review site for cloud-based business software
- 22 Cloud Storage Solutions for Small Business (Business News Daily)
- Cloudwards: a site that compares the best cloud storage providers
With cloud services, any size business can significantly decrease their costs, which leads to more profit.
