The very nature of collaboration makes it ideal for cloud technology, says Rosenberg. A single connection enables communication among multiple partners.
Information-technology platforms for buyer-seller relations aren't new, he notes. Companies have been collaborating through private networks for decades. But the cloud takes it a step further, providing the capability to manage a variety of key business processes.
With the help of the cloud, business-process management can take place among many discrete organizations. The obvious tool for that goal is a supplier portal, although Rosenberg doesn't believe that the concept could have reached its full potential without the aid of the cloud. Combining cloud technology with a portal, especially for smaller companies, can realize benefits that weren't possible before.
Small and large organizations alike can benefit, says Rosenberg. Smaller entities can share services in a way that mirrors the activities of larger companies. The latter can benefit "from the ability to transact with everybody," says Rosenberg. "They can dramatically reduce the cost of ownership."
Some companies have been reluctant to embrace the cloud out of concerns over security and privacy. "It's a risk," acknowledges Rosenberg, while stressing that the security issue has been addressed extensively and successfully by users of cloud technology.
