Cloud software has revolutionized the business world (and beyond). The dawn of Industry 4.0 – also known as the fourth industrial revolution – has meant that we’re better connected than ever before. But it also means that modern manufacturers need to strive to remain competitive in an increasingly automated industry.
If your manufacturing firm hasn’t yet embraced cloud-based software, the question has to be ‘why?’. To hold your own against the competition, cloud software is fast becoming a necessity – whether your business makes furniture, food, or fashion.
In this blog post, we’ll share the top three advantages of using cloud-manufacturing software.
1. You Can Go Paperless
The move towards a paperless society isn’t straightforward, with many sources suggesting that the use of technology is far more harmful to the planet than the destruction of trees. But as anyone who’s battled mountains of paperwork in the past will know, one of the major benefits of cloud software is the reduction of physical data.
Not only can paperwork clog up valuable space in your business, but it’s also far less secure than storing your sensitive information in the cloud. Accidental shredding, theft, fire, flooding – any of these can pose a serious risk to your paperwork.
In a world where data is one of the most valuable commodities you can have, losing all of your information irretrievably is a business’s worst nightmare. This disaster is a real possibility if you haven’t made the switch to cloud software.
2. It Makes Collaboration Easier
Another key benefit of using cloud-based manufacturing software is the fact it makes team collaboration a lot easier.
Cloud software usually features a single interface that anyone can access from a range of different devices. This means that real-time collaboration is possible, enabling everyone to view the same data – and edit the same documents – without having to peer over each other’s shoulders.
If you’re editing files or updating spreadsheets, cloud software such as the Google suite also means that you can view previous versions of a file from within the document itself. This removes the need to save multiple copies, giving you a single source of truth that every member of your team can work on.
Because all of the information is stored in the cloud, it also reduces the number of work emails you need to send and receive. (Statistics show the average worker receives a staggering 121 emails every day)! Gone are the endless email attachments and convoluted threads – instead, your team can view all of the data they need in just one platform.
3. You Can Create an Agile Working Environment
Business agility may have become a bit of a buzzword, but it can also bring real benefits to your manufacturing company.
Cloud software enables you to control all of your key information and business processes from within a single platform. This complete overview makes it much easier for you to optimise your manufacturing management, stay on track with your production processes and respond to bottlenecks in record time.
By helping you to visualise your production data, cloud software can also help you to spot any changes – both internal (such as an inefficient workstation) and external (increasing delivery times from a supplier). Armed with this information, you can take the necessary precautions a lot sooner, helping to smooth out bumps in the road before they become disruptive.
