Headed to the Cloud? Three Questions Every CEO Should Ask Before Taking the Leap

[Roger Farnsworth (Roger_ Farnsworth)]

Business communication is changing. Questions like is a conference room open or is everyone in the office and available to join the call are now a thing of the past. A physical location is no longer required! Connecting face-to-face is possible from anywhere, whether you’re in a conference room, at your desk or even on a mobile device. The good news is the proliferation of software, video, or unified communications “as a service” means companies have more choices. 

This has influenced adoption of cloud-based video collaboration solutions as well as demand. But before signing on the dotted-line, CEOs and decision makers should consider the following questions.

1. Why do I need cloud-based video collaboration? Improving business processes and effectively leveraging human capital are key drivers across the board. Companies with project-based business models want reliable and secure video collaboration solutions so they can bring in expertise as needed. Other companies are seeking to ramp up time sensitive projects like financial audits, legal research or design elements for a photo shoot. Still others need the most effective way to develop proposals or bids in order to enter new markets. Regardless of the reason, choosing a cloud-based solution offers quick implementation and the level of flexibility that is critical for small and medium sized businesses. 
2. How much is this going to cost and is using this technology going to be complicated? Cost is ALWAYS a factor and flexible payment terms are a big part of the attraction to cloud-based video collaboration solutions. The “pay as you go” model allows companies to monitor and manage expenses. However legacy solutions and recent technology investments will ultimately impact total cost of ownership (TCO). As such, weighing options shouldn’t be done in a vacuum.  A cloud-based video collaboration solution that requires a complex work around or gateway to connect with existing solutions should raise immediate red flags as the absence of interoperability could result in downtime due to instability—these things will undoubtedly impact productivity, or even worse, cash flow. 
3. How long will it take to get going once I’ve signed on? Deployment of a cloud-based video collaboration solution is immediate and using the solution should be intuitive as the best cloud-based video collaboration solutions require virtually no training. This is where the benefit of working with a provider that has a solid track record becomes important. A skilled provider will bring the technical expertise required to address needs immediately and as a company expands over time. Ultimately, experience implementing collaboration technology in a variety of environments and deployment models are valuable assets.

In the end, determining total business requirements and asking these important questions will ultimately help decision makers arrive at the best cloud-based video collaboration option.