The Cloud And Vending The Time Is Now

Today, everyone seems to be talking about "the cloud." You hear it and see it mentioned on the news, in countless TV commercials, and across numerous newspaper and magazine ads for computers and network providers. But what is the cloud, why does it exist, and most importantly, what will it do to help you as a vending operator? Like most other mysteries, there are simple answers to these questions, too.

What And Why

In simple terms, cloud computing means being able to access any data, program or system you commonly use in your phone, tablet or computer from anywhere at any time. You do not need to download a program from a CD or use a specific computer to retrieve this information. As long as you have an Internet connection, your device can link up with other systems and services on the Web to deliver the information you need.

There are three main reasons why the cloud has evolved. They are as follows:

Efficiency. Being always connected offers enormous benefits to many businesses, including vending operators, such as multimedia collaboration with remote and mobile staff, improved employee performance, more efficient management of resources and better oversight of the operation.

Cost. Rather than having to purchase and maintain equipment, license software and hire an IT army to integrate all these tools, operators can instead rely on the cloud to perform and manage a number of business functions -- without the expense or disruption associated with integrating hardware and software.

Freedom. The cloud gives vending operators the ability to manage their operations while on the road, in the office or at home, or any place with an Internet feed, and do so safely and securely.

At the end, productivity increases, efficiency improves, and hard costs are dramatically reduced. From a functional level, cloud technology gives operators several advantages over traditional offerings. They include:

Mobility. As the world becomes more and more mobile, workforces and owner/operators need anytime/anywhere access to their systems. Cloud computing makes connecting to your business management tools from the road as easy as if you were in the office.

Wi-Fi, broadband, cellular towers and other communications infrastructure make it possible for us to connect to the Internet from virtually anywhere in the world. Most importantly, when the business tools and applications we use are reachable through a Web browser -- eliminating the need to download complicated software applications -- we remove a major obstacle, in terms of access. The end result is a faster and more convenient way for operators to run their businesses from wherever they are, and on whatever device they choose to use. Nothing can be simpler or more efficient.

Security. Cloud computing is considered by most experts to contain the world's most highly protective security measures available today. Data centers that house these servers must protect sensitive transactional and personal data on behalf of their clients on a continuous basis. It would be difficult and cost-prohibitive for businesses to purchase and maintain these high-end security solutions on their own.

Instead, they use the resources at remote mega computer centers to provide those upper levels of security. In addition, businesses no longer have to worry about their computers being stolen or destroyed in some fashion. Since all the data remains in the cloud, it remains protected, and is only accessible to authorized users that have been given the proper security credentials.

Computing power. Most business owners find that it is increasingly difficult to keep pace with data processing loads that are exponentially growing each year, and that it's become too expensive to continue upgrading hardware to keep up with the computing power they need to operate efficiently. Subscribing to cloud-based services gives vending operators unlimited room for growth, and relieves them from the burden of reinvesting in servers, networks, software and other systems that will still have limited shelf lives, at best.

Storage. Computer systems have limited storage capacities, and buying more storage space is a costly exercise that could conceivably go on forever. However, businesses that move their systems to the cloud have access to virtually limitless storage capacity. It saves both time and money -- two things that every vending operator wants to hear.

Savings. The combination of each of the previous benefits creates the most compelling argument for operators to use the cloud: savings. The cloud reduces expenses across most cost centers by eliminating the need to invest in hardware and software, which translates into better security, more computing power and storage, and the ability to run the business from any location.

Cloud providers also offer their services through affordable and predictable monthly subscriptions that give operators a level of cost certainty that is unavailable through existing premise-based technologies. From these essential points of view, the cloud simply makes better business and financial sense than office-based systems.

What Will It Do For A Vending Operator?

In a word, everything. It makes your machines and systems much more secure. Its superior mobile capabilities improve management and staff access to all business information and operational tools from any location. Real-time route management and vending management services can be evaluated and configured on the fly. And automated notifications can be transmitted to employees on the road when maintenance is needed, or when cash needs to be collected.

Best of all, the cloud is extremely versatile. It can be scaled to meet the needs of any vending operator. With all these advantages, there's little wonder so many operators are now reaching for the cloud as a vehicle to dramatically improve and grow their businesses.