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RENTAL PRODUCTS SOFTWARE
IRN JANUARY 2014
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ways of dipping your toes in before making the full
leap; “Consider Cloud solutions like Cloud backup,
Cloud document storage and such first. Once you
are comfortable with the reliability of your internet
connection, you can start moving critical business
systems to Cloud.”
RMI favours the phased approach, with the scale
and speed of implementation depending on the
size of the business and its ability to absorb the
migration; “Although some of our customers have
migrated their entire business all at once, we
generally implement in a phased approach, often
times leading in with Office Worker functionality
and then building from there according to our
customer’s needs and abilities.”
Ramesh Babu at Ramco Systems advises
companies that are using legacy applications and
who are looking for a refresh should evaluate
comprehensive Cloud-based options; “On the other
hand, companies using point solutions [‘best of
breed’ applications] and seeking a limited refresh
of a point solution can begin with a point solution or
limited modules.”
Having decided to go down the Cloud route, there
are some key things to note to minimise problems
during implementation. Mr Babu says customers
should discuss ‘must have’ customisations upfront
with the vendor; “and the software’s flexibility to
incorporate future changes should be evaluated
upfront. A genuine Cloud-based application
vendor should have a Cloud-based tool to build
new extensions and enhancements as needed by
business.
“Similarly, while moving to Cloud selectively,
all integration requirements should be clearly
understood and considered. Again, mature Cloud
platforms offer Cloud-based integration platforms
which can do the job.”
Security issues
Solutions by Computer’s Jack Shea says he see no
particular challenges in moving to the Cloud that
aren’t also present in moving to any new software;
“In other words, the challenge is simply the change
itself. Cloud users sometimes have concerns about
cyber security, but that’s more related to the Cloud
environment, and not to the process of transition.
When handled properly, the transition itself
shouldn’t create any security issues.”
At Point of Rental, Wayne Harris says there are
several common warnings about the Cloud; “The
good news is that many of them have diminished
over the last few years. While it may feel less
flexible to move your systems into the Cloud, in
practice this is rarely the case. In reality, using a
Cloud provider allows you flexibility that can’t exist
with an on-premise product. For example, Cloud
products grow with you without any need for buying
UK-based Echo Barriers, which manufactures, rents and sells
portable acoustic barriers, is using MCS’s Cloud-based MCS-rm
system to manage its business. The software has helped the
company expand quickly and manage its new operations in the
Middle East, USA and Canada and Asia Pacific.
“Make sure that the
provider you choose allows
you to retain ownership of
your data in the event of
an issue. Also make sure to
choose a reliable vendor;
if the vendor goes out of
business over night, you
don’t want to be left without
a system and your data.”
WAYNE HARRIS, Point of Rental
