January 19th, 2012
New York-based health information exchange (HIE), HEALTHeLINK has recently joined other HIEs that have adopted a cloud-based image storage and exchange system.
This solution will only require the installation of edge servers and will speed up the electronic mobilization of healthcare information across multiple facilities. This can be done by allowing access of images through an online platform without requiring any special security processes.
Technology provider, eHealth Global Technologies (eHGT) expressed their optimism that more HIEs will be adopting the cloud, as they named a couple more HIEs already using their system:
Here are some improvements that the new solution will give:
Read the full article and be updated on the technological initiatives of the healthcare industry, visit Fierce Health IT.
January 18th, 2012
In Columbia Sportswear Company’s efforts to reduce PCI scope for retail locations and allow scalability to support future growth, the company has contracted three payment and system experts to collaborate and create a comprehensive and secure cloud-based payment solution:
Through this integration, Columbia believes that this new solution will not only be able to secure transactions on a daily basis, but as well as adjust and scale solutions to pave the way for future payment methods such as e-wallets and EMV’s.
To read the full article about the integration, you may visit Apparel: Technology and Business Insight – From Concept to Consumer.
January 17th, 2012
After the introduction of the cloud and mountains of releases about the many benefits it gives to businesses, there is already a growing trend. In Networking Exchange Blog, a writer talks about the next step to cloud service: Managed Cloud.
Here are some takeaways from the blog:
Though this direction is quite different from the original definition of the cloud – where you receive resources with little to no interaction - this has to be taken into great account. Like many unpredictable occurrences, the evolution of cloud computing has started to take shape and meld with business processes.
See how the article further discusses why businesses are slowly looking for managed cloud services, click here to visit the site.
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January 16th, 2012
How do you associate the cloud pertinent to your business?
An article in Thoughts on Cloud discusses an argument that the cloud may be likened to ice cream – that it is only desirable when things are hot, and its popularity boost was only brought about by the slow growth in the economy.
The author of this article believes otherwise. Instead, he likened cloud computing to a super-efficient oven in winter, which is more about the baking and less on the eating. The jist of the article mainly is on how to leverage on the cloud in creating business strategies. With inputs from IBM Cloud Business Solutions manager, Dave Carmichael, the write gave some valuable points on running a commerce business using the cloud:
The cloud, like many technology shifts, is a game-changer for many businesses – especially the small ones and the start-ups. This gives them an opportunity not only to save on costs and other resources but also paves the way for these companies to think of new ways to improve on their businesses.
This is a very useful read for small business owners as this provides and in-depth look into using the cloud for reinventing opportunities. To visit the site and read the full article, click here.
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January 13th, 2012
Numbers Don’t Lie, SMB’s Still Leading the Way to the Cloud
A recent article by TMC Executive Editor, Erin Harrisson, debunks the assumption that large enterprises are adopting cloud-based services much faster than small to medium-sized businesses.
A couple of research initiatives proved that SMB’s are the bigger market of cloud computing services. The article was about Cisco’s and Gartner’s separate surveys and this is the summary of the findings:
Several predictions were also made:
Cloud service providers are given the opportunity to offer network-based features because SMB’s are realizing the benefits of the cloud. What they need to do now is to guide SMB’s on their cloud investments and in getting through the challenges that they may encounter.
Find out more about the research results, read the full article here.
Growth On Cloud-based Service Offerings
In yet another research by Infonetics on global service providers, it showed that there is so much potential for growth and increased diversity in the coming year.
From a sample of 20 current data center operators, 70% are already investing on the technology to prepare for the anticipated demand surge. According to IHS iSuppli, the growth of the cloud market this year will be strong as well as the interaction between technology and mobile devices; and as for the more complex solutions such as Platform as a Service (PaaS), although currently only offered by a few, will be more common by 2013.
Read more about the research, visit Codestone.
US Government On to the Cloud
The US Government’s CIO, Steven VanRoekel, says that his office is leading the charge on shifting to the cloud, in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) as written in an article in Ibtimes.
This year, VanRoekel plans to streamline US government services to make them more citizen-responsive with the use of technology. His mentions included improving the provision of real estate information about housing in census tracts by providing access to broadband internet.
As he welcomes technological evolution such as the BYOD policy, he also stressed that it will all be facilitated along with better security management.
Still, he believes that internet-based services will improve their work efficiency quoting, “We can do our job more efficiently with technology”.
To read the full article, visit Ibtimes.
Cloud Tech-Powered Automobile
On the lighter side of the CES 2012, Daily Tech writes about Mercedes-Benz’s new cloud-connected infotainment system: Mbrace 2
Packed with features, Mbrace2 will be included in select 2012 models but will be in most 2013 models.
Here are some features of the MB’s Mbrace 2:
Telematics features:
… All of which may be accessed via an app on android or iOS-based smart phones
Infotainment features:
The system can also be updated through Mercedes-Benz’s cloud network.
Read the full review and discover the other exciting feature of this new cloud-based auto-technology at Daily Tech.
Only Positive Outlook for the Cloud Market in 2012
How can new technologies contribute to achieving customer satisfaction? An article in Social Media Today synthesizes some insightful blog posts about the transition from transactional to personal fulfillment systems and customer engagement, and Forrester’s US Tech Market Outlook for 2012, and came up with some useful points:
Smart computing is defined as platform technologies including business intelligence (BI), service-oriented architecture (SOA) infrastructure, and virtualization. According to the article, smart computing will only happen when the other technologies are used to make customer experiences constantly positive.
What matters most is that service providers are able to follow through and be able to contribute to customer experience, engagement and creation of customer lifetime value (CLV).
Read the full article and find out the other findings of the research at Social Media Today.
Understanding the Cloud Era
“The convergence of social, mobile and local technologies is revolutionizing the way we think about enterprise information.” This is according to AIIM president John Mancini, in reference to the organization’s upcoming conference this March: Managing Information in a Social, Local and Mobile Era.
In a release by Market Watch, the conference is said to have keynote presentations by industry experts and will be covering these topics:
The conference aims to equip business professionals with better understanding on the application of information assets and solutions.
Visit Market Watch to read the full press release.
Smart Use of the Cloud
A video in Small Biz Technology shows Dal Gemmell of Symantec and Raj Sheth of Recruiterbox as they talk about how the cloud can help small businesses.
As a small business owner, you should first ask yourself:
Also mentioned were some tools and benefits from using the cloud, that help SMB’s in cost reduction, accessibility and ease of use. For instance, the cloud provides meaningful automation that helps businesses with their daily repetitive tasks.
In summary, SMB’s need to
Indeed, cloud technology is great, but it become the contrary if it will not save you any time or help you meet your business objectives.
To watch the video clip, visit Small Biz Technology.
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January 12th, 2012
As contractors continue to look for ways to save on costs, the notion of cloud computing – and the benefits it has to offer- is becoming more attractive.
An article in Constructech said that in 2011, construction technology providers offered cost-reduction opportunities by providing Software as a Service (SaaS) and managed services for cloud computing to contractors.
This January, contractors are offered cloud-based timekeeping that gives several payment options based on access and not on standard headcount. License costs will be reduced considerably because only those users with direct access will need to be licensed, the field-based personnel can just digitally sign their time sheets making their licenses discounted.
This is a clear indication that the industry is thus becoming more comfortable with the concept of the cloud. Contractors can expect more cloud-based application from technology companies to help them minimize costs on overhead and other in-house technology infrastructure.
Keep up-to-date on the technological developments in the construction industry, visit Constructech and Construction Cloud Computing.
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January 11th, 2012
Cloud technology has reached this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) in Las Vegas.
The conference features cloud solution-based electronics. A release in Market Watch talked about Haier’s launching of their product line-up for the year – particularly, a television with a “cloud living” solution. This technology has evolved the role of television from being a mere source of entertainment to a hub that connects, integrates and enables remote access to other devices in the home.
Technorati also wrote about the participation of two leading consumer electronics manufacturers, Lenovo and Acer in the event, showcasing their cloud-syncing solutions:
Experience first-hand these newly-released cloud-based technologies. To view CES 2012 details, visit the official site.
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January 10th, 2012
Now that cloud computing has well-established its position as the “next big thing” in technological advancement, the next challenge for the industry is to guide organizations on how to ensure consistent connectivity; acknowledging that with cloud, networks will become the most important aspect of ICT infrastructure and at the same time, the most vulnerable.
An article in Free Business Thinking provides a list of the top 5 points of action that CIOs need to consider this year:
To aid CIOs with the resolutions above, some guide questions were provided:
Want to know more? Continue reading the guide questions on the site and see how you can help your organization address the challenges ahead.
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January 9th, 2012
The article focused on how the cloud has enabled tools such as IP-powered unified communications (UC) solutions and IP-based video collaboration have shifted views that removed technical limitations and cost restrictions.
The author had also suggested that through robust, cost-effective gateways, a business can optimize its use of the cloud. With this combination, the new technology will provide well-recognized tools for connecting networks and will be able to address specific and multiply protocol negotiation tasks.
Cloud communications not only gives a low-cost and innovative way to supply the best communications service, but also provides efficiency and reliability to businesses that let them keep abreast with innovations, and powerful tools to aid the use of the cloud.
To read the full article, you may visit Telecom Reseller.
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January 6th, 2012
Cloud Business Continuity Planning Webinar
Cloud Best Practices will be holding a webinar about Cloud Business Continuity Planning (BCP) this January. One important topic to be discussed is be the cloud-aware applications, or applications that are now engineered for cloud environments. The webinar will also tackle on the primary advantage of the Cloud BCP as against traditional BCP, which is multi-site resilience.
In a nutshell, Cloud BCP is described as disaster avoidance, while contrary to that is the traditional, which is defined as disaster recovery.
Read more about the differentiation of traditional BCP and Cloud BCP in Cloud Best Practices. To confirm your attendance to the webinar, you may go to this link.
Cloud Technology Provides Ease of Access to Legal Documents
For the first time in the industry, lawyers will be able to easily access courtroom documents using mobile devices.
Magnum Cloud has developed a system that allows users to log in to the cloud anywhere at any time and will be able to keep up to date with courtroom developments, acquire case materials, evidence and case law, all on a secure network.
This development has not only eased the acquisition of legal data of lawyers and judges but it has proven to enforce paperless processes as there is a going case that had already saved at least 5 million sheets of paper.
To read the full article, you may visit Insight.
Cloud Brings Greater Efficiency and Savings to the Healthcare Supply Chain Industry
Mckesson Strategic Supply Sourcing, the healthcare services and information technology company focused on improving healthcare businesses, is offering the fist cloud-based supply chain solution that brings the promise of new customer advantages.
The system is the first offering in the market that can support materials management information systems (MMIS), and users will have access to data on critical-surgical medical supplies, high cost physician preference items and group purchasing organization through a private marketplace. Ultimately, users can effectively leverage each organization’s purchases and choose the better contracts.
This solution will aid in the implementation of an effective supply chain management, which will help hospitals improve contract compliance and reduce unnecessary spending.
To read more about Mckesson’s cloud-based supply chain solution, you may visit their site now.
The Newly Improved Cloud
This article takes a deeper look on what really is new about the cloud. It discusses that “cloud” per se has always been there, since the 1990′s when the term was coined to represent the internet.
What is rather new about the concept of the cloud is its significant improvement to deliver ease, convenience and value of using the cloud. Case in point, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) has evolved into virtualization and orchestration technologies, while Software as a Service (SaaS) is continuously improving its connectivity aided with more interactive browser technologies.
Read more about what new concepts the cloud has brought to the technological scene at Readwriteweb.
Transparency Needed From Cloud Service Providers
In the Cloud Fundamentals Video Series, Mr. Mark Estberg, the senior director of Microsoft Global Foundation Services emphasized the importance of a partnership between customers and cloud providers so customers will be ensured of transparency.
What is currently happening is that in exchange for the benefits of cloud service such as low costs and increased business agility, some customers are willing to accept a reduced level of transparency.
This video says that cloud service providers need to have due diligence and provide transparency to their customers to show that they are being responsible with the applications and data entrusted to them. At the same time, customers also need to be aware of the requirements and whether these requirements are matched with deployment models. Mr. Estberg says that until the industry is able to provide a richer automated reporting system, it may help to have periodic audits by trusted auditors with some level of automated reporting.
To view the full video, you may visit the Microsoft Development Network Site.
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