According to PCMag, cloud computing simply means storing and accessing data or software over the internet instead of your computer’s hard drive. This means that no software download or installation is necessary.

When you update your Facebook status, you’re using cloud computing. Checking your bank balance on your phone? You’re in the cloud again. Sending emails? It’s the cloud. You can access it through any computer or mobile device connected to the internet.

In short, the cloud is the new normal. Forbes estimated that by 2020, 83% of enterprise workloads will be in the cloud, and that 94% of enterprises use the cloud (be it private, public or a hybrid model).

So, Why Should Contractors Move to the Cloud?

There are several advantages that have empowered other industries, which can also be beneficial to the construction industry as a whole.

1. Cost-efficient

Before cloud computing, a large business will have to spend a large amount of capital on buying hardware and software, and setting these up. Furthermore, they would have to hire IT experts for managing the infrastructure. These will definitely take up most of your capital expense.

With cloud computing, all these expenses are now reduced to a subscription-based model that fits your budget better. Moreover, some cloud computing services often charge per use, meaning users need only pay depending how much data is being accessed during the billing period. There is more flexibility to the payment scheme that makes it much easier to manage your cash flow, thus reducing your overall operational costs.

2. High-speed

Previously, using downloaded software and accessing it from your office computer requires a lot of patience and time. The speed of processing or even accessing your data depends a lot on the quality of your machine. If it’s old or almost obsolete, doing these simple tasks can take up to an hour!

Cloud computing often boasts high-speed on-demand services, which means that data processing and analysis can be done in a matter of minutes, or even seconds, depending on the complexity of the task. Furthermore, there is no need to upgrade to a newer machine – as long as it can access the internet, you can access your resources on the cloud with just a few clicks.

3. Increased Productivity

The reality for most construction enterprises that have not engaged cloud-based services is that your employees often have to set up the software or even the spreadsheet formulas to compute project data. Furthermore, you are responsible for ensuring the programs are up-to-date.

With cloud-based services, these programs and processes are often more advanced and efficient. Additionally, companies offering these services will ensure minimal setup required—some only need your email and password for registration and access, and that’s all you need to get started. However, choosing the right provider is also important—these services should be reliable and kept up-to-date at all times. Without excessive upfront effort to set up or even ongoing work arounds, your team can focus on delivering the project, thus enhancing your overall productivity.

4. Reliable Collaboration and Document Control

Without a doubt, collaborating with various stakeholders (internal or external) and maintaining documents are integral parts of a construction project. A smooth collaboration where all involved parties have adequate transparency and properly maintained documentation will ensure that your project is delivered in a timely manner within the budget.

Contractors do not have to expect or wait for employees to be in the office to complete their work. As long as they are connected to the internet, they can access the cloud-based software/service. This allows them to stay connected to your data even at the project site or off working hours. Since the data is also stored in a single place, your team need not send files back and forth or flip through hard copies of documents. At times, doing so can cause conflicts in the document content or formatting. With cloud computing, everyone sees the same version of the file, along with a proper audit trail.

5. Security and Disaster Recovery

With local servers, you bear the risk of losing your data especially in the event of natural disasters like floods or fires that may destroy both your running and backup servers. Cloud computing eases data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity, because the data is mirrored at multiple redundant sites on the cloud provider’s network.

Moreover, broken, lost or stolen devices pose the threat of losing important data. With the cloud, your data is not stored on any device you own, but in the cloud, which makes it easier for you to access or retrieve your data anytime, regardless of what happens to your devices.

6. Market Competitiveness

Contractors spend a lot of time in meetings. Being able to retrieve vital or any information on demand during a meeting allows you to make quick decisions and impress your client. This gives you an edge over your competitors, as you can now act faster and win the contract.

Speedbrick Is A Cloud Computing Service

Speedbrick is a software-as-a-service (Saas), which is a method of delivering software applications over the internet, on demand and a subscription basis. Speedbrick hosts, manages, and maintains the software application, as well as the underlying infrastructure. This means that upgrades and security updates are Speedbrick’s responsibilities. Our clients can connect to Speedbrick through mobile or computer devices, as long as they have an internet connection.

About Speedbrick Solutions

Speedbrick Solutions builds easy to use software for contractors to do more with less. Allowing contractors to monitor risks ahead of time, on mobile. Currently Speedbrick has 4 products: procurement management, revenue management, subcontractors management and business analytics dashboard.

Currently, Speedbrick is servicing contractors in Malaysia and Singapore.

Find out more at www.speedbrick.com.