White Paper. How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud Cloud9 Real Time (888)

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1 White Paper How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud

2 How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud 3 Summary Why should construction companies utilize the Cloud? Whether you own a construction company, are an employee or a client, it is important to know some of the reasons why the Cloud can help a company succeed in this competitive market. The 3 Types Of Clouds There is a Private Cloud, a Public Cloud and a Hybrid Cloud. A Private Cloud is just how it sounds: it s private. Organizations using a Private Cloud are the only ones who have access to it. Information in a Private Cloud is secure behind a firewall, therefore it is not exposed to the public. With a Private Cloud, companies purchase and mainain the infrastructure and software which ultimately saves costs. A Public Cloud is also just how it sounds. It can be used and accessed by virtually anyone. A Public Cloud contains services and infrastructure at an off-site platform over the Internet, therefore it is more vulnerable than a A Public Cloud. One way to think about how the Cloud works, is to view the Cloud like the internet. Basically, the Cloud is a virtual place that will secure your applications, data and information. There are three different types of Clouds. A Hybrid Cloud is a combination of a Private and Public Cloud. By using a Hybrid Cloud, companies can store confidential information in a Private Cloud and put other information and applications in a Public Cloud. Users have the ability to use both a Private and Public Cloud interchangeably in everyday tasks. Hybrid Clouds can be a little more difficult to manage, since companies need to keep track of multiple security platforms while making sure that bussiness are still able to communicate with each other.

3 How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud 4 How The Cloud Specifically Relates To Construction Companies BUILD in the CLOUD Construction companies have several daily duties that need to be accomplished in a timely manner. Tasks such as billing, payroll, running financial reports, paying invoices, planning logistics and project management. need to be taken care of either at the client s office or on the job site. These responsibilities are easier to accomplish with the Cloud since these tasks can be done in both the office and/or at the jobsite. The Cloud offers applications which allows staff to be able to access information from anywhere at anytime. According to a report by The Associated General Contractors of America, Average construction companies are not always up-to-date with the latest forms of technology. If this sounds like your company, maybe it s time to make a change. Since working offsite is critical in the construction world, the Cloud is accessible from anywhere at anytime as long as there is an internet connection. Not only that, the Cloud allows employees and clients to access data, information and files simultaneously, enabling collaboration when managing projects and making immediate decisions. Collaborating in real time is essential on construction projects. With the amount of consolidation, decentralization of offices, travel-based positions and project work being done in different regions of the country or internationally, being able to offer solid remote access technology to employees is critical for a construction company s success.

4 How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud 5 Mobility - On The Go By putting your construction company on the Cloud, companies can access their data on their mobile devices, laptops, tablets and computers as long as there is an internet connection. According to Entechus, 80% of construction company employees work on the go. The Cloud is perfect for construction workers since they have 24/7 access to information at their fingertips. Before the Cloud, project managers had to manually hand write updates to project and then later enter it in their companies network system. This type of mundane work is extremely time consuming and simply unnecessary. Mobility on the Cloud makes it easier for businesses to move data and work information between on-premise and Public Cloud platforms. Disaster recovery, dev/test and Hybrid Clouds are ideal for Cloud mobility solutions. Mobility on the Cloud offers automates self-service, APIs and the ability to combine Public and Private Cloud platforms. Mobility increases proficiency by allowing management and reducing the shadow IT that haunts many businesses.

5 How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud 6 Why Collaboration Is Important In The Construction World There are countless decisions that need to be made at a construction site. If there are issues, errors, concerns, or questions, it is important to have immediate contact between the contractors, employees, clients, and owners. Construction professionals work as a team. The most important aspect about having a successful team is communication. Construction workers need to have a high level of accountability for the property owner. According to a report by Constructech s, by using the Cloud, construction companies will be more collaborative by utilizing use of the Cloud and embracing technology by connecting all project team members in one location. No need to back-up. There s nothing like a crash on a computer or a laptop left behind on a construction site to ruin a company. The importance of having data in a safe place, in case of a natural disaster or a failure in the system is crucial. Even if a device is lost or stolen, all of the data and information is saved on the Cloud. This is where the Cloud comes to the rescue since it automatically updates your work and creates multiple copies of your data so it will be safe from any accidents, natural disasters or even theft.

6 How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud 7 Reasons for Construction Companies to Jump on The Cloud Cost-Efficient: By switching to the Cloud, construction companies will save on reduced upfront investments on servers and software, and will save hundreds of thousands of dollars by not needing IT expertise management and maintenance. According to a report by The Economic Strategic Benefits of Cloud Computing, companies save 15% on costs by switching to the Cloud. Modern Technology: Leverage the Cloud to not only compete with other local construction companies, but set your business apart and differentiate your business by using the Cloud. It is here to stay so master it before it masters you. Security: The security of the Cloud is built with the highest layer of protection. The Clouds state of the art infrastructure ensures secure files, data and information is in a safe and dependable solution which is important when considering contractors building plans. Customization: Businesses have the advantage of designing their own Cloud with the right host or partner. You can also customize the Cloud to have your own industry software such as Sage or UDA Construction Suite. It s important to be in control of what your clients, contractors and employees see when accessing your companies Cloud. Scalability: With the Cloud, you use what you need and pay for what you use. This is another way for construction companies to save money as opposed to traditional IT infrastructure.

7 How Construction Companies Benefit From Using The Cloud 8 "I no longer have to worry about upgrading or software installations... the switch to the "Cloud" is a no brainer. " -New Cloud Customer Conclusion By moving to the Cloud, it will make every step of the construction process easier on contractors, owners, employees and clients. The Cloud has a reputation of opening up a world of successful possibilities for all types of businesses; and construction companies in particular will experience increased productivity, efficiency and success. Even if you are skeptical about moving your construction company to the Cloud, remember the Cloud allows scalability, meaning that you can always start slow and progressively increase usage over time. With the ability to access your data on your mobile device, tablet or computer, workers have access to the Cloud at their fingertips. It cannot be stressed enough that construction companies need to keep up with the modern world of technology in order to compete with larger construction companies that are using the Cloud. So, don t waste any more time and take your construction company to the Cloud today.

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