We have set out the reason for you and the process of moving your Contact Center to the Cloud.
Firstly, let’s discuss what advantages moving to the could might bring you.
- Enhanced processing time: moving to the cloud speeds up the deployment time and helps you reach your objectives faster
- Manageable: servers are easy to run and information is available anywhere
- Upgradable: the cloud becomes smarter with time, saves you from the costs of upgrading hardware
- Broad Reach: the cloud and the information on it are. available to anyone, anywhere and at anytime. Especially during these challenging times, this is an asset that is indispensable for the good functioning of your business
- Emergency backup: in case of any eventual disasters or emergencies, the information remains stored on the cloud, meanwhile the hardware can be affected or even destroyed
Therefore, moving to the cloud has increased benefits, as we have explained above.
However, it is imperative that we talk about the biggest risk of them all: internet connection.
During the last years, internet has become an indispensable resource to us all. We rely on its service daily and whether we like to admit or not, we cannot function properly without it.
Here comes the question: what do we then do, when internet is down? How do we reach our servers?
Here are some ideas to prevent a total disaster and keep the productivity at a suitable level:
1. Contingency plan
Always have an alternative to the current work platform, in order to keep the processes running. Every application on the SaaS portfolio should have an alternative option. For example, if you’re working in Google Drive for your sales pitch, make sure you have the file also saved on-premise in order to prevent you losing the work.
2. Use premium version with offline sync
Make sure you opt for your files to be offline synchronised; you can continue to work locally on your document/task even if the internet is down. This feature does not incorporate high costs, many apps offer the offline sync function for as low as 50€/ year.
3. Prepare your team for an eventual loss of connection
Many employees do not know how to react to a loss of connectivity. This attitude prevents their productivity and often brings more stress than necessary. In order to avoid such problems, it is important to give them some instructions on how to deal with a bad connection or how to react and how to continue their tasks if internet is down. This approach can prevent a serious downfall and can ensure good practices in case of crises.
How to move to the cloud?
If the decision of moving to the cloud has been taken, there are some important steps to consider about the moving itself.
- Cloud computing takes time, do not expect everything to run smoothly and uninterrupted in the first 30 minutes of installation
- Working phases: take time to analyse and improve the processes that are happening in the organisation, see what needs enhancement and what not
- Moving is a gradual process, it never truly ends. This is a circular procedure that is aimed to be upgraded and adapted frequently, as new, better ways of working are discovered.
And now, for the actual moving process to the cloud. Here at 3Fiftynine, these are the steps we take to ensure a smooth transition and efficiency.
First is the Initiation phase, where everyone is introduced to the change and every detail and procedure is explained, to make sure everyone understands the change, the benefits and all the expectations of the transition and the future.
Then, the Design and Connectivity of the data is set up. Here, we work on computing your data with the servers and decide together what needs to be added, where and how you would like it to function.
Next step is the actual Implementation of the moving process and setting up all needed software or apps so you can access all your information and analytics everywhere, at any time.
Then, there is the Preparation phase, where we explain and teach you all the knowledge you need to know for the future smooth running of activities.
Lastly, we move on to the Testing Phase, where we experiment and observe the new transition and its functionality. If adjusting needs to be done, this phase is where it happens.
Once that is completed, we switch on the cloud and the system will go live.
And congratulations, you are now on the cloud!
This is just a brief explanation of all the work and processes that happen during the transition process. But have no fear, once you decide to move to the cloud, everything will be explained in much more detail.
For any questions or unclarities, we are here to answer all your concerns.
We hope this article has cleared up some questions you had about moving to the cloud. Regarding the actual decision, you have to make that yourself.
Just remember, software, especially SaaS, is gaining more and more attention and recognition and eventually, everyone will be inclined to switch. What are your next steps? Are you in for the change?