Cloud computing adoption among SMBs key to UK Plc growth, says Fasthosts

SMBs (small to medium sized businesses) that have used the power of the Internet to grow their businesses are driving the UK’s economic recovery, according to figures released by Barclays today. British Internet companies are growing 50 times faster than the rest of the country, and are being touted as the key to slow but sure economic growth.

In response, Fasthost’s Simon Yeoman explained that SMBs are quickly adopting Internet-based business models because they do not have the resources of larger enterprises, and new IT delivery models such as cloud computing are giving an even bigger boost to the sector. He said: “When you’re a young or growing company, most – if not all – of your efforts should be ploughed into attaining business goals and increasing profitability. Using the right tools and resources to get there is critical; really maximising everything that is available to you both now and in the future is important. This is why moving some or all of a company’s data and services to the cloud is proving so popular.


“Being online today is more than just having a reactive website to take orders and collect leads. With mobile working via smart phones, tablets and laptops becoming a ‘must-have’ for the growing business now – rather than something C-level execs do in big Blue Chips – every second of the working day now relies on being connected to the Internet 24/7. But the important thing is flexibility to changing markets and the ability to scale what you need up and down in line with growth. Small and medium businesses are recognising this and to their own benefit,” he said.


In its latest research into cloud adoption rates, The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) found that 58 per cent of organisations with fewer than 200 employees (SMBs) are using at least one hosted or cloud-based service, an increase of 10 per cent in total on the previous 18 months.


Internet Business Kickstart, and IT services company for UK start-ups, is one such SMB that has seen a 70 per cent cut in its operating costs by moving its clients’ websites off-premise to the cloud. It spends 50 per cent less time on administration and more time on growing its business. SMB and accounting software developer FISCAL Technologies has also been able to increase its sales cycles by moving its software packages to the cloud, increasing revenues and giving it enough flexibility to create personalised services for the likes of Virgin Atlantic.
 

Next generation product set provides end-to-end, digitally sovereign cloud services.
Cockroach Labs has formed a new partnership with Crayon, a global provider of software and cloud...
Console Connect and Wasabi Technologies to support businesses with fast and secure cloud migration...
West Midlands Trains is owned by Transport UK. Operating London Northwestern Railway and West...
AWS becomes the Official Generative AI Provider of the DFL as part of its long-term innovation...
Alliance will focus on modernising IT infrastructures by streamlining connectivity to multiple...
New serverless Inference-as-a-Service offering available from Vultr across six continents and 32...
Google Cloud and Akeneo have formed a technology partnership that will boost Akeneo’s innovation...