Success in move to cloud computing requires business change approach

Cloud computing offers business potentially huge cost savings and productivity gains, but security concerns are preventing many organisations tapping in to these benefits.

However, an international London-based communications agency, Imagination, has found a way to avoid the pitfalls, save money, boost productivity and even improve information security.

The firm has begun a roll-out of web-based collaboration tools under the leadership of Matt Ballantine, head of IT at Imagination.

He estimates that the project has saved £420,000 in software licensing and additional staff costs over three years.

The firm has also saved £12,000 in air-conditioning replacement costs for a server room that is being de-commissioned at its London offices

Productivity boost
But the biggest gains, says Ballantine, have been in terms of increased productivity because of better collaboration between staff and clients across 14 locations in nine countries.

Just two months into the roll-out, with Google Apps software-as-a-service for e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks and groups deployed, 60% of about one-third of the staff who have been polled so far say it is easier to work with colleagues and clients, particularly those in other parts of the world.

The business is leading the project, which is crucial, says Ballantine. "IT's role is as facilitator, rather than setting the direction and objectives of the project," he said.

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Source: computerweekly.com
By: Warwick Ashford