Manufacturers increasingly reliant on the cloud

Manufacturers increasingly reliant on the cloud

Manufacturers who are keen to make themselves stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace are turning to the cloud, with many adopting cloud-based systems across their entire organisation.

Under pressure to increase the level of accuracy they provide, as well as being easy and appealing to work with from a supply chain point of view, manufacturers are also eager to capitalise on their own experience to make sure that every service interaction between suppliers - or others - is positive.

With fast turnover and short time-to-market schedules, cloud-based strategies allow manufacturers to bring their “own innate intelligence and knowledge into every sales situation,” reported Forbes. Cloud-based systems are not only quicker to implement, they are far more straightforward to customise and can also be easily adapted to meet the needs of the manufacturer should adoption rates increase or stock levels change.

“Using cloud-based systems to streamline key areas of their business, manufacturers are freeing up more time to invest in new products and selling more,” Forbes went on to say.

Manufacturers are primarily using the cloud for several key practices, including to capture and apply company-wide intelligence and knowledge through the implementation of business intelligence and analytics. The cloud works so well in this instance as it allows for mobility support for rules engine reporting and analysis, something which is essential to manufacturers in the fast-paced sector.

Other key areas making use of the cloud include piloting the launch of supplier portals and workflows and ‘designing-in services’, meaning that the cloud is implemented across communication tools including phones and other services.

Businesses looking to move services into the cloud, should evaluate the performance of their existing network and consider setting up a leased line or MPLS network.