Have you been thinking about moving to the cloud, but you’re not sure how to get started, or if it’s even worth doing? Cloud migration is no small feat and will require time and planning. However, once the move is over, you’ll reap extensive benefits.

Each day you postpone cloud migration is a day your business is at a disadvantage in your industry. If you wait too long, you’ll struggle to catch up with your competitors. 

Here are some reasons to get started right away.

1. Cloud file storage creates better organization

When your files are organized, your business will be efficient, and nobody will waste time recreating lost files. You can achieve this organization through cloud migration.

Just the process of undertaking a cloud migration will make you more organized. On one hand, your files will be in one place. On the other hand, the process of moving to the cloud presents opportunities for organization.

As Box says, a cloud migration is a great opportunity to remove duplicate data and rework your IT processes. To create a smooth and organized cloud migration, you won’t just upload all of your files as they are. 

You’ll apply naming conventions to your file names, create minimal folder hierarchies, and create a system for tagging new files as they’re added to your account.

Tagging files makes them easy to find

Where do you store your files? Are they on your laptop, an external hard drive, or spread across several online platforms? How long would it take you or one of your employees to find a specific file?

If you or your employees struggle to find specific files, a cloud file storage system will get you so organized you’ll never lose track of another file. With the right cloud file storage system, you’ll be able to tag each file with multiple tags that will come up in search results.

With tagged files, you’ll never have to sift through folders or rely on file names alone to find files through your computer’s search function.

2. You’ll gain an advantage in your industry

Just about every industry is utilizing cloud computing in some way. While some companies have moved all operations to the cloud, others are adopting cloud services as needed.

According to statistics published by TechJury, 61% of businesses migrated their workloads to the cloud in 2020. If you wait to move to the cloud, you’ll fall behind a large number of businesses in your industry.

Whatever your industry, moving to the cloud will give you a clear advantage over your competition. Although the cloud won’t automatically make you successful, moving to the cloud will place you on even ground.

3. Cloud services have more power

Cloud services are more powerful than non-cloud services. For instance, you’ll need cloud web hosting if you plan on growing an ecommerce business. Specifically, you’ll need the load balancing capabilities that only cloud servers can provide.

A cloud-based web hosting account can “borrow” resources from multiple machines on an as-needed basis. For instance, if you run a Christmas special, your cloud hosting plan will automatically provision the resources you need to handle the extra traffic when you need it, and you’ll only pay for those additional resources as they’re used. This is called ‘elasticity.’

With a traditional hosting account, you have to pay monthly or yearly for all the resources you might ever need. If you don’t have enough available resources year-round, your site will crash if your traffic exceeds your allotted resources during your Christmas rush.

If you don’t move to the cloud, your ability to generate more traffic and sales will remain limited by your web server’s limitations.

4. Some essential business tools are cloud-based

Cloud migration involves more than just moving your files to the cloud and using cloud-based web hosting. It also involves embracing cloud-based solutions for needs like collaboration and task management.

There are endless software programs out there for task management that can be used locally or through your company’s intranet. However, cloud-based task management and collaboration tools are more efficient in the cloud.

With a project management suite like Basecamp, for example, your team members can collaborate anywhere they have an internet connection, including from their phones.

Cloud computing is already the standard

Cloud computing has already become the standard in business. It’s time to consider moving your business to the cloud, one step at a time. Start with organizing your files in the cloud and then look into cloud-based web hosting.

Once you experience the cloud, you’ll see the impact it has on your business, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t transition sooner.