Cloud can help small businesses

Q. I am an independent real estate broker in danger of being shut out by my larger, better-funded competition. My budget is tight, however I’m considering new hardware and software research to “keep me in the game.” What choice do I have?

A. Many small businesses are considering cloud computing. Instead of purchasing multiple software packages, you really rent the business-specific software and access it through the Internet for a monthly operational charge based on usage. Instead of investing in software that quickly becomes obsolete, small businesses can save money with “pay as you go” plans for sales, accounting, payroll, inventory, productivity, scheduling and other business software that resides “in the clouds,” which is techno-speak for its being accessible via the Internet. Utilizing cloud computing, you can look like your larger competitors for a fraction of the investment and operational cost.

“With cloud computing, you may be able to reduce overhead costs if your employees work from home or on the road during showing properties. Ability to work remotely is a big benefit if your business is in an area that experiences weather-related stoppages, like much of the Northeast did this winter,” says Cindy Bates, vice president of U.S. Small, Medium Business and Distribution at Microsoft.

Keep in mind that cloud computing should work at the same time with much of your existing innovation investment. One of the biggest benefits is your business’s independence from hardware and software crashes – no more lost data or downtime. Imagine the cost and hassle if your computers were lost, stolen or damaged by a fire or flood. To boot, cyber crime, malware and other threats can shut down a small business within minutes. With cloud computing, these concerns are not an issue because the data is kept “in the cloud.”