A few years ago, you couldn’t send somebody a file if you weren’t in your office because all documents used to be stored on a computer. But today, it’s possible to send files from any part of the world, thanks to cloud infrastructure.
Cloud has made life easier. You can stream music, watch your favorite shows and movies, and keep notes on your phone from anywhere in the world because most of this information is stored on the cloud.
According to research by IDC, there’s been a 28% growth in the number of people who use cloud services. This growth is projected to increase by 10.9% by 2023.
Cloud services haven’t only transformed how data is stored but they’ve also affected how IT departments print documents. Currently, you can host print infrastructure in the cloud and minimize their costs and burdens while boosting the customer experience. Fortunately, companies like Konica Minolta can help you set up these services.
Here are some ways that cloud technology has transformed business printing.
1. It Has Enhanced Acquisition Model Purchase
As many businesses continue to transfer their applications and data to the cloud, the purchase and acquisition of IT products through subscription-based models and as-a-service have become popular. In fact, most enterprises are already spending more than half of their IT budgets on these services.
This means that instead of maintaining and purchasing on-premise servers and print devices, businesses can pay for a subscription model to have their print environments managed in the cloud. This model requires subscribers to pay for print capacity instead of buying and owning physical infrastructure. This reduces capital outlay, eliminates the use of balance sheets, and enables companies to scale their printing capacities. It also reduces the burden of procurement and asset selection.
2. It Has Enhanced Security
By eliminating print servers, cloud technology has reduced physical IT access point numbers and the need to update print servers. That’s because it has a print authentication technology that’s secured through passwords. As a result, the risk of accessing documents, devices, and sensitive information has been lowered.
The best cloud print infrastructure solutions have advanced authentication technology to ensure safe cloud printing. They ensure that access print devices with user names and smart cards or passwords access the technology. That way, intruders can’t access documents and applications they aren’t authorized to access. It also protects network folders from leaking into the wrong hands.
Businesses that use cloud print solutions also benefit from vendor devices that simplify and unify security and management. According to a survey by Quocirca, 44% of organizations using cloud print technology reported fewer data loss incidences.
However, to keep the data in the cloud secure, security specialists in company IT departments must work harder. That’s because some cybercriminals have mastered ways of hacking into cloud data.
3. Simplified Management
To be honest, most company IT departments are overburdened. If your business is in such a situation, you need to think about cloud printing solutions. By adopting cloud printing services, you’ll eliminate the physical infrastructure needed to support the print environment. Instead of sending documents to a specific print device, the documents will be held in the cloud until a user makes a printing authentication. This not only enhances print security but also manages uptime because the cloud is managed by a single provider.
Buying print infrastructure through as-a-service models can also reduce pressure and responsibility on IT teams. Research by Spiceworks indicates that these teams spend a lot of time networking and maintaining or deploying hardware. By leveraging cloud printing solutions, a business will create more time for its IT workers and enable them to concentrate on other digital transformation priorities, such as combating new threats and inventing new products.
4. Improved User Experience
Through automated supplies replenishment and artificial intelligence-powered services, cloud printing solutions maximize device uptime. These systems quickly detect faults and fix them before issues occur. They also replace supplies when required, giving users a consistently high-quality device user experience.
The IoT part of cloud print solutions also gives users access when they’re far from the organization and enables them to print documents from wherever they are.
Predictive analytics have also boosted user experience by ensuring the deployment of devices based on best practices.
5. Global Visibility
Cloud print technology has a service level agreement that enables businesses to view their print infrastructure from anywhere in the world completely. This can enable departments to identify productive gains opportunities, source cost savings, and drill down usage micro-details. As a result, companies can boost operational efficiency and user productivity across print infrastructures.
Wrapping Up
Businesses are trying to find ways to manage IT elements that are cheap and efficient. Cloud printing technology enables companies to scale down their physical infrastructure and only budget for operational expenditure. It has also simplified printing and enhanced security because only authorized users can access them. Without a doubt, cloud technology is here to stay and will transform how businesses continue printing.
By Gary Bernstein
Gary has written for several publications over the last 20 years with his primary focus on technology. He has contributed to sites such as Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch and several others.