AT the recent “National Services Week” staged in Hilton Hotel by the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) a roundtable discussion was held on the opportunities in ‘Cloud Computing’.
Industry expert Enrique Camacho gave interesting insight to local service companies into how this technology was being effectively applied in the local market.
Camacho who is the managing partner of eSource Capital Technologies, the largest Google partner for Central America and the Caribbean stated that although the term ‘cloud computing’ is being mentioned frequently these days, it has been around for the last 10 years.
“Cloud computing supports a large number of services for computer users easing individuals of the need for costly infrastructure. Sites such as Gmail, YouTube, Facebook and Linked In all utilise this service.”
Cloud computing has caused a ‘Consumerisation of the enterprise’ that is, the business market has been embracing consumer products over enterprise products. “It is becoming increasingly common that persons in companies are more likely to send and receive business emails including presentations and huge files, via Gmail because their enterprise email service cannot not support that type or size of attachment” said Camacho.
Cloud computing puts a host of cost-effective virtual servers at the disposal of users and can be used for countless applications without the sticker shock of having to buy equipment. As such, it has positively impacted the lives of entrepreneurs globally. Cloud applications such as Google Voice and online fax services make communication with employees, suppliers and customers an effortless undertaking while Skype is a perfect conference call tool which saves several start-ups from the costs of having in house IT staff. Additionally, Microsoft 365 and Dimewise practically eliminate the need for a personal assistant or an accountant respectively.
Camacho affirmed that here in Trinidad and Tobago, TSTT was one of the pioneers in using cloud computing. A prime example was upgrading their ‘tstt.net.tt’ email service to a Gmail-based application. According to Camacho, “TSTT’s implementation of cloud computing technology has truly benefitted their clientele especially the small office and home office (SOHO) entrepreneurs who are relieved from the financial task of purchasing expensive yet necessary equipment to support the large amounts of processing power and data storage for their day to day business activities”.
Cloud computing continues to positively impact on consumers, entrepreneurs, governments and major corporations. This ultra-efficient service allows start-up businesses to leap frog some of the communications challenges that previously hindered new businesses. By eliminating much of the IT in-house resources required, they are able to place additional finances and investment into other areas that add value for the customer.
