Next-gen cloud technology: What can we expect and what can we use it for?

Featured article by Darryl Kitchener, Independent Technology Author

It is fair to say that cloud technology has made a real impact in the last few years. This has been felt across society as a whole and certainly within business. The many benefits of cloud computing, from cost savings to more flexible IT arrangements and increased data security, have made it a firm favorite with many companies. Although first coming into use in the 2000’s, it has been since 2010 that cloud tech has become more popular with business users.

The big names in the sector, Microsoft Office 365 and Amazon Web Services, have been around for a while now. What makes cloud tech so exciting is the wave of next-gen advances that are waiting to help businesses achieve more. Infor, the top cloud tech organization led by Charles Phillips, is right at the forefront of this move into the future. An investment of $1.5 billion by Koch Equity Developments was recently announced to set up a massive tech IPO by Infor which is expected soon. When this happens, it will help the company to expand and generate increased revenue to develop the cloud tech products of the future.

But what is included in this next wave of cloud computing technology and what could it be used for?

Blockchain

Probably the most eagerly awaited piece of next-gen cloud tech is Blockchain. This first came to life as the code which underpins digital cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Since then, it has been discovered that it could be used for more than that. In simple terms, it allows digital data to be sent without the need for it to be copied. Blockchain also negates any one person from misusing it or the data it holds by making it impossible for one single entity to own it. Instead, the system it is based on simply records transactions automatically at 10-minute intervals. Common uses for this cloud tech revolution include the banking and finance sector. Systems based on Blockchain could be used to handle cross-border cash transfers or be set up as smart payment systems for customers to use.

Container as a Service

Container as a Service (or CaaS for short) represents another leap forward for cloud computing within the IT sector. As such it should prove very useful for IT professionals and developers who could use it in their day to day roles. It allows for easy container management through an API or web interface. When used, the hope is that it will help ease any stress points on IT projects between the development team and operations staff. The tools in CaaS simplify container management and help to render a new framework for deployment and ongoing monitoring. The net result is improvements in terms of scaling and availability for IT professionals that use it.

Machine learning

AI is already pretty well known about in IT circles and by the public but machine learning could be even bigger. This is when a computer uses online cloud tech to sift through large sets of data and identify patterns within it. Why could this be useful? It gives a faster and more reliable way for relationships within data sets to be established. As it sifts more data, it begins to learn from what it does and become more effective. This could prove useful across many industries from insurance companies using it for fraud detection to quality assurance or hospitals using it for help with medical diagnosis.

New CRM and ERP software

One thing you can say for certain with the next wave of cloud computing tech is that even more innovative CRM and ERP suites will be at the forefront. These handy systems help businesses to manage their interactions with consumers and analyze how their organization is doing. As such, they have become a reason why cloud tech has taken off in recent years. The next generation of this tech could well help businesses to innovate more and be able to offer far more in return to their customers. This will cut across industries but could be applied in manufacturing and retail among others.

Multi-cloud in healthcare

The healthcare industry has been a big user of Cloud tech for a few years now. The new wave of cloud computing could be in how it is used by industries like this as well as the systems that underpin everything. A new model for healthcare providers using the Cloud could be Multi-Cloud where different providers are used to form a cohesive cloud network for hospitals or surgeries to take advantage of.

The future looks bright for the Cloud

Cloud tech seems to be going through a burst of activity at the moment which is helping it to grow beyond its initial entrance to the market. With the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence helping to pave the way for more advances, then it is an exciting time for all involved.

About the Author

A data analyst from the shores of the Wash, Darryl Kitchener enjoys the simple things in life – like a properly formatted Excel sheet and a functional Vlookup command. He uses the spare time gained through his mastery of formulae to apply himself to freelance writing – whenever his cat Dilly can stay off the laptop long enough, anyway.