10 Critical Requirements for Cloud Applications

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In the enterprise software industry’s rush to fulfill rising demand, some providers may skip requirements that are critical to delivering the true benefits of cloud applications. Industry pioneers for cloud applications that use the software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model know shortcuts don’t exist. Applications, architectures, and processes must be built from the ground up to produce superior, modern alternatives to the traditional on-premise software and maintenance model.

In a research paper on Cloud Applications, Stan Swete and Steven John from Workday, outline the following points as the 10 critical requirements of cloud computing to help organizations distinguish the difference between real and fake cloud applications. If cloud applications and their providers do not meet the following requirements, it’s unlikely they can deliver the full benefits of modern SaaS. So, watch out!

#1 – Providing True Multi-tenancy

The truth is that multi-tenancy is the only proven SaaS delivery architecture that eliminates many of the problems created by the traditional software licensing and upgrade model, so it’s extremely valuable to know whether the provider uses a multi-tenant architecture.

#2 – Regularly Delivered, Vendor-Managed Updates

To realize the true cost benefits of SaaS, the provider should be managing all of those updates at no additional charge, and customers should be able to adopt the latest capabilities in the updates on their own timelines.

#3 – Seamless Integration On Demand

A cloud application provider worth doing business with will share the burden of integration with its customers versus leaving them on their own.

#4 – Business Driven Configurability

A configurable cloud application should include a catalog of choices in business processes that are designed to meet the needs of any organization.

#5 – World-Class Data Center and Security

A cloud application provider should be able to offer world-class security and data privacy better than its customers can do on their own, and at no additional cost. Processes and policies should encompass physical, network, application, and data-level security, as well as full back-up and disaster recovery.

#6 – A High-performance Sustainable Infrastructure

The cloud application provider should maintain a high-performance IT infrastructure, which includes the data centers and databases, operating systems, networks, and storage systems used to run cloud applications and manage customer data.

#7 – Predictable Total Cost of Ownership Model

There should be no surprise costs with cloud applications. Implementation costs should be predictable, and subscription-based pricing should be transparent with no hidden fees.

#8 – Faster Deployment

Since cloud applications don’t require investments and installation of hardware and software, organizations should be able to get them running and productive in a fraction of the time compared with on-premise software.

#9 – Control

Cloud applications should allow organizations complete control of their data, even though it is located off premise.

#10 – Liberation from Non-Strategic IT Issues

Cloud applications should free the higher management and their teams from time and energy spent on non-strategic, back-office IT operations and software coding.
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Enterprise asset management (EAM) involves the management of mission critical assets of an organization throughout each asset's lifecycle. EAM is used to plan, optimize, execute, and track the needed maintenance activities with the associated priorities, skills, materials, tools, and information. The aim is to optimize the quality and utilization of assets throughout their lifecycle, increase productive uptime and reduce operational costs.

Enterprise asset management (EAM) involves the management of the maintenance of physical assets of an organization throughout each asset's lifecycle. EAM is used to plan, optimize, execute, and track the needed maintenance activities with the associated priorities, skills, materials, tools, and information.

The software helps in effective maintenance of assets through preventive, predictive, shutdown and breakdown maintenance strategies. The system also helps enterprises mitigate equipment risks by enhanced safety standards. The streamlined operations and improved asset performance helps organizations increase their investment effectiveness.

EAM is important because it helps organizations track, assess, manage and optimize asset quality and reliability. Asset intensive Organizations have hundreds, thousands, even millions of assets which needs to be maintained to maximize / optimize life of these assets to increase the return on investment.

The key features of effective EAM are:

  • Work management.
  • Maintenance Strategies (Preventive/ Predictive / Breakdown / Shutdown).
  • Planning and scheduling.
  • Supply chain management.
  • Health and safety.
  • Mobility.
  • Analytics.
  • Improved Asset Health at reduced cost through data driven maintenance Programs​
  • Complete visibilityon entire maintenance data across Equipment, across Models, across Branches to aid in analysis & decision making such as to Repair or Replace the Equipment​
  • Insightful analysis of Inspection Data to improve customer satisfaction​
  • Effective maintenance management enhanced by predictive maintenance and inbuilt analytics​
  • Increased reliability and safety, keeps complete track of all the inspections & calibration schedules​
  • Mobile Application enables users to execute work while “in the field” leading to minimized non-productive time and increased productivity and reduces duplication of work and human errors in recording information.​
  • Quick turnaround time through Actionable Notification & Alerts for every process in real time and accessible anytime and anywhere.
  • Improved Regulatory Part of asset management involves the implementation of better O&M practices, which can significantly improve compliance.

Asset Intensive companies under the following Industries :

  1. Ports
  2. Cement and Mining
  3. Utilities
  4. Fleet Maintenance
  5. Equipment Rental
  6. Other Manufacturing
  7. Real Estate & Infrastructure
  8. Power Generation

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This differs on case to case basis, based on the type of installation and unique industry specific requirements. Contact us for a meeting and schedule a demo.

This differs on case to case basis, based on the type of installation and unique industry specific requirements. Contact us for a meeting and schedule a demo.

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