eCommerce in the Cloud: What and Why for Marketers
Soaring towards the sky has a different meaning in the business world than what you’d normally expect. Cloud-based technologies have started to revolutionize how businesses operate some time ago.
Even though cloud adoption isn’t new, it’s taking slower than expected. Surprisingly, a lot of companies, especially eCommerce companies, didn’t migrate to the cloud, nor did they undergo a digital transformation yet.
One would think that with technology such as cloud computing, companies would jump at the chance to adopt it.
However, the problem is that many of them don’t fully understand what “the cloud” is or how exactly it can benefit their operations. So, let’s address that problem, shall we?
What is the cloud?
Simply put, cloud computing is an on-demand delivery of computing services over the Internet. But what does that actually mean? Let’s put it this way, cloud computing is a subscription (Pay as you go) model that provides companies with computing services and resources, such as applications (software), storage, and infrastructure (computing power).
This model replaces the traditional one, where companies would have to store and maintain their IT data centers on company grounds. Instead, you can now opt for everything you need, pay for it, and have it delivered, typically over the Internet.
Basically, you use resources from a remote data center as your own without any requirements for physical hardware. Pretty neat, isn’t it? Although many cloud providers offer specific solutions, you can always create a custom plan for your company based on your current and future needs. This allows you to plan out a budget the way you see fit.
Why the cloud for eCommerce?
Have you ever been in a situation where huge spikes in traffic, especially during the holiday season, overwhelm your IT environment? Of course, every eCommerce business has experienced such inconvenience at least once during their lifetime.
Moreover, during the busy season, you have to plan out your marketing strategies, prepare inventory, polish logistics, launch your marketing campaigns, do research, and many more tasks. You come to a point where you simply don’t have the resources to do everything right.
Well, the cloud can help you solve those issues seamlessly. As mentioned before, cloud computing is a subscription-based model, which means that if you ever lack computing resources to handle increased demand, you can simply pick a better plan and unsubscribe when the season is over to cut costs.
What can I do?
Before you opt for cloud services, you might want to take the time to familiarize yourself with the technology and the services it provides. The main reason is that you want your eCommerce business to fully utilize the power of the cloud. That requires a bit of planning.
Moreover, if you’re leading a small eCommerce team, you might want to consider becoming more proficient in terms of running cloud services at your company. For example, a lot of eCommerce companies rely on AMW (Amazon Web Services), so taking a few AMW courses would be a good idea.
Next, is time to plan your cloud migration as it takes time, and it should be done carefully to avoid any significant downtime for your business. This all depends on your business needs, of course. You must identify aspects of your eCommerce business that require improvements the most so that you know which cloud services to opt for.
Why choose the cloud?
Cloud services can help out every eCommerce business immensely. The key, however, is in identifying your needs so that you know what to opt for. If you’re wondering about why you should choose the cloud, in the first place, you should examine the benefits it may offer to your business. That said, here are a few benefits of using cloud services.
- Scalability – Anything you need, whether its storage, software, or platform solution or computing power, is available to you at a moment’s notice. You don’t have to plan for procuring any of it months in advance. You can scale your business operations up and down as you see fit.
- Reduced expenses – Remember the subscription model? That’s exactly what the cloud is. You pay for what you currently use and stop paying for it when you no longer need it.
- Various solutions – Software as a Service (SaaS) or Platform as a Service (PaaS) can come in handy when you need it the most. For example, you need a platform solution to improve your supply chain, a CRM solution to improve customer service, or just a software solution to automate your inventory management. You can find pretty much any solution that you need.
- File sharing – Any and all data is safely stored in the cloud. You can access files and information from any device, anywhere in the world.
- Enhanced security – Everything in the cloud is properly secured. Moreover, all data has a backup and recovery features in case of a disaster. You can even use cloud services to improve cybersecurity for your eCommerce business and protect both yourself and your customers.
By migrating your business operations to the cloud, you can tackle market problems more efficiently and seamlessly. In today’s competitive market, especially in the eCommerce market, companies must be fast and productive to remain relevant and competitive.
Cloud computing is a relatively new technology. Like any other technology, it evolves and advances over time. It’s never too late to adopt the cloud and give your eCommerce business a much-needed boost. That said, make sure you consider your options before moving forward.
