Remember the time when you had to physically print a document and deliver it in person to someone? Or when you have to go all the way to the office because there is a document that you need to sign? It is all in the past. With technological advancements, now we can store and edit documents in real-time everywhere, using cloud computing. The technology of cloud computing has gained popularity around the world, including in Japan.
The cloud market in Japan is experiencing significant growth due to the continuous transition from on-premises systems to cloud solutions and increasing demand for cloud-centric platforms. In addition, the Japan cloud computing market drivers include the emerging new work methods, heightened dependence on technology, expanded remote communications, and increased network system upkeep.
A prominent research firm, GMI Research, noted that the Japan cloud computing market size would see substantial growth over the coming years due to the growing adoption of smartphones and the expansion of internet connectivity in the country.
Why is It Popular?
So, what factors that have significantly boosted the popularity of cloud computing in Japan?
- Reduce cost
Many organizations and companies are worried about the initial investment to implement this cloud technology. Even though it is true that the initial budget can be high, businesses should consider the long-term financial factor, which can significantly be reduced by implementing cloud computing. When using this technology, you and other team members can easily access the company’s data. This will lead to saving a lot of money for a project.
In addition, cloud service providers usually offer pay-as-you-go subscription method which allow businesses to compensate only for what they actually use. This can be cost-efficient as businesses do not have to pay for what they do not utilize. Not only the features, but it can also apply for the storage space in the cloud. You can pay for the storage space exactly what you need, so you can allocate the money for other needs.
- Ensure security
Since cloud technology heavily depends on the internet, many organizations have concerns regarding security issues, particularly cybersecurity and cybercrime. However, cloud service providers usually offer guaranteed security and safety for the company and client’s data. This kind of protection is more obvious when businesses switch to online data storage in comparison with offsite data storage as the security system can always be controlled all the time. Cybersecurity can involve encryption, two-factor authentications, among others.
- Improve collaboration
By having a platform where team members can access document real-time, many people in Japan feel the improvement in their collaboration process. Each member can have the necessary information in real-time or address issues as soon as possible. Some cloud service providers even offer collaborative spaces for the members to connect and discuss. This will lead to an increase in effectiveness and productivity in the organization.
- Flexible
As it is based on the cloud, everyone can access the data at all times and all places, which provides the highest flexibility in comparison to traditional data storage which probably needs a more expensive data infrastructure. The team members can access the data through their smartphones or other devices to ensure that they are always in the loop of the updated data. This can also enable work remotely trends that are emerging in Japan.
- Ensure quality
As all team members can access the necessary data on one platform, it enables regular and multiple quality controls. It can help in preventing human error, ensures data consistency, and provide records regarding any updates or revisions.
- Disaster recovery
Any incidents that are out of control can lead to harm and disadvantages to the organization, for example fire, natural disaster, or downtimes. With cloud computing services, companies in Japan can receive fast data recovery in a matter of hours.
- Prevent loss
Losing data permanently might not be an issue anymore if organizations utilize cloud computing services, either due to misplace or other reasons. By using the cloud, the data is safely kept even though your computer is broken, infected by virus, or missing. Without a cloud, your data is very vulnerable to permanent loss, especially if there is something wrong with the computer.
- Sustainable
Without having to use physical hardware and products as well as minimizing paper waste and increase energy efficiency, cloud computing is supporting the sustainability campaigns that are widely encouraged in Japan. As people can work from anywhere, it can also decrease the emissions from transportation.
- Auto-update software
Some of the team members, especially from the IT department, may have a lot on their plate thus they do not have any more time to manually conduct regular updates on software. By utilizing the cloud computing market, the service providers will be setting up an automatic update, which can improve efficiency and can save time and energy for these small yet important tasks.
