2012 Prediction: DISCUS Software
As we venture into 2012, it seems inevitable that the world of virtualization can expect to garner plenty of attention in the coming year for cloud advancements yet to come. But perhaps an even better question than “What’s in store for the cloud in 2012?” is “How will the enterprise adapt and adopt the cloud in 2012?”
Consumer Cloud
No question, 2011 has been a banner year for the explosion of cloud-based applications for consumers. 2012 will see an even more dramatic adoption of applications allowing users to share data on the cloud. The signs are already clearly written on the wall. As technology users, we’ve adopted a multi-device lifestyle—substituting ultra-compact cell phones and tablets for once-portable laptops when we’re on the go. As a result, cloud storage is making a lightning-fast transition from novelty status to necessity. A business example of this is Dell’s recent shutdown of its Netbook Division. The company knows that tablets will increasingly serve the needs of users in 2012. For these consumers, some cloud apps, such as device-syncing SugarSync, are already firmly embedded into daily life.
Will the Enterprise Find Cloud Nine?
As the CEO of a software tool company for quality planning and manufacturing engineers, many of whom are in aerospace and defense, I am well-versed in the inherently greater demands on the cloud in the form of speed & security that these industries will require in contrast to the consumer market. The cloud industry stands at a crossroads in terms of its ability to provide the enterprise the agility and stronghold it needs to conduct business. Lockheed Martin’s mid-year network infiltration by hackers is an example of the ever-present security concerns enterprises weigh. Ultimately, the growth of the cloud industry in 2012 will depend on how cloud applications can conquer security issues and remove this obstacle to wholehearted adoption.
A More Nimble Supply Chain
Fueling their growth, cloud-based applications are already showing their value in the supply chain. A more widespread ability to share data on the cloud will drive better security, easier access and more sophisticated integration with other computer systems, such as ERP and PDM. The supply chain really is the area that has the most to gain from further development of cloud-based applications. Cloud-based collaboration of course means that both supplier & customer are working on data at the same time. The cloud is promoting this collaboration on a whole new level. Sending and returning emails is passé and five years ago. With the cloud, we’re cutting out iteration cycles. A process that once required a courier, transfer of physical documents between offices, and hours was reduced to minutes with the advent of email collaboration. What cloud-based apps are doing for the supply chain is taking that time down to seconds—ultimately providing greater consistency in manufacturing and quality planning processes. Better quality will drive improvements in cost and schedule, and first-pass yields will reach new success rates.
