How Cloud Computing is Set to Shape the Next Decade of Technology

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2025: Top Four Predictions for the Cloud

What we can expect from the Cloud over the next ten years.

In the United Kingdom, almost seventy per cent of businesses are using at least one cloud based service.

That’s a huge leap from five years ago, when the Cloud would barely crop up in conversation.

Nowadays, we are forever reading about cloud technology, the Internet of Things, virtual desktops and wearable technology. For the small business owner, there’s a lot to keep up with. After all, you never know when the next generation-defining innovation is going to be launched, and you need to be prepared to use it to its full potential when it finally drops.

So what can we expect from cloud computing in the next ten years? Are we likely to see a shift towards closer integration with mobile devices? And what about the Cloud’s impact on big data?

Read on to find out our top four predictions for the Cloud in the run-up to 2025.

Technology at your fingertips

The next ten years is sure to see a shift towards small businesses working more frequently on mobile devices.

The rise of social media has partly been facilitated by developments in mobile technology. Just as we can update our social media profiles on the go, logging into work databases, updating client information and collaborating on documents, from mobiles and tablets, will
be the norm in 2025, as it is for many of us now.

Mobile and cloud technologists have worked closely together to bring us flexible working options. The future is likely to see a shift of employees working on their clients’ premises, using cloud-enabled technology. This helps foster a positive client relationship, as after all, the most effective business is still conducted face to face.

Big data for small businesses

As social media has become more popular, big data has come into its own. Big data is essentially information that’s been mined from your social media accounts, internet browsing history and email groups. Big data can help corporates gather information about what you are interested in and deliver targeted, and therefore more effective, advertising.

As the big data technology, facilitated by the Cloud, becomes widely available, we can expect small and medium sized businesses to take advantage of the ability to target specific groups with customised advertising material.

As an example, Twiddy and Company, a holiday rental business, used big data to find out how much money customers were willing to pay for certain sized properties. They also investigated when people chose to go on holiday and if there are any particular weeks that are quieter than others. This information was fed back to the homeowners and prices were altered accordingly.

Now, because of these valuable insights, Twiddy and Company is recommended by customers to other homeowners looking to rent out their accommodation.

Easy pay

Small businesses that normally have to cash cheques and deposit cash will be able to take advantage of mobile payment systems. These devices link to the Cloud and register with your bank, so microbusinesses, such as mobile hairdressers, landscape gardeners or anyone that is normally paid via cash or cheque, will be able to take a mobile payment in a matter of seconds.

Small businesses may also be taking full advantage of services such as Real Ex payments, a cloud payment system, which reduces exposure to fraud. Customer payments can be made via phone, mail or PayPal.

Social network at work

Social media does in fact have a place in a working environment, and businesses will be waking up to this. Rather than banning employees from social networking, business owners are likely to encourage staff to use programmes such as Yammer to communicate with their colleagues. Instant messaging services ensure that waiting on an email response will finally be a thing of the past and being able to share documents and images with a group of people, in a group chat area, means staff will be able to get feedback straightaway.

The way we work now will be a distant memory by 2025

More workers are expected to work in Hives, too. Different people, from various locations, will come together to be part of a project and then disband at the end. Cloud technology is likely to evolve to facilitate increased adaptions of this innovative working model.

There’s no doubt about it, the Cloud’s development is going to have a huge influence on many aspects of our lives. Not only will our day to day operations be very different to how they are today, but many are convinced that our working environment will become unrecognisable to the traditional office setup of 2015.

Working hours will become more flexible, as more people are able to work from home using the Cloud. Those who do make it to the office are unlikely to have a retained desk. Hot-desking or simply finding a comfortable space to perch for a couple of hours is likely to be more ‘usual’ than plotting up at a company.

By 2025, we’re certain that the Cloud will have become yet another indispensable tool that’s used to help businesses evolve their practices and enhance their services.

Gary Gould
With over 20 years' experience in the technology and communications industry, I have worked with a number of major global brands holding a senior position with corporations such as Virgin Media, BT and Cisco. I now am CEO for one of the first comparison sites for cloud applications, Compare Cloudware.

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