Member Article

Will Cloud Computing Software Change the Workplace?

The office workplace, for the majority of people is your generic white box where people go to work between the hours of 9 until 5. However, with the development of technological software, such as Cloud Computing, the office workplace is becoming much more flexible on the standard working hours.

So what is Cloud Computing? … Often referred to as cloud-based software of SaSS (Software as a Service), it enables the user to access applications through the internet. As a result of this, employees have the opportunity to work from home, should the occasion occur.

For the majority of employers the concept of working from home may seem a daunting risk. However, this concept is not completely new factor for the workplace. In truth, a large number of workforces have been driven to reconsider the subject earlier this summer, when the London workers were informed to find alternative transport methods for the London 2012 games. The Government provided a ‘How to’ guide for businesses to facilitate staff working from home.

Cloud computing is an easy and efficient way to achieve the ‘working from home’ issue and will benefit companies in the long run as they are able to provide flexible working hours for employees.

Businesses with travelling employees or multiple office locations will usually need an expensive set up for Virtual Private Networks to allow staff members, in all locations, to access company software and documents. Cloud computing also enables businesses to do this also, with a simple internet connection being required. Thus, reducing time and money spent on complicated IT systems with the laptop becoming the new office place for the employee in any location.

For employees who have children or a particularly long commute into the office, then the option of cloud computing could help to keep staff retention down. Through simply having a flexible working plan in place, for example if a child is off school sick or if an employee is snowed in, the trust created through employer and employee can help to boost productivity and job satisfaction.

So with flexible working, low upfront costs and high availability, will it be that the implementation of Cloud computing be something that we can expect to see in many offices. Turning the generic white box into virtual workspaces in the future, benefitting both employees and companies alike.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Stephanie .