• Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Supplier Directory
  • SCB YouTube
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
  • My Profile
  • LOGISTICS
    • Air Cargo
    • All Logistics
    • Express/Small Shipments
    • Facility Location Planning
    • Freight Forwarding/Customs Brokerage
    • Global Gateways
    • Global Logistics
    • Last Mile Delivery
    • Logistics Outsourcing
    • LTL/Truckload Services
    • Ocean Transportation
    • Rail & Intermodal
    • Reverse Logistics
    • Service Parts Management
    • Transportation & Distribution
  • TECHNOLOGY
    • All Technology
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud & On-Demand Systems
    • Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)
    • ERP & Enterprise Systems
    • Forecasting & Demand Planning
    • Global Trade Management
    • Inventory Planning/ Optimization
    • Product Lifecycle Management
    • Sales & Operations Planning
    • SC Finance & Revenue Management
    • SC Planning & Optimization
    • Sourcing/Procurement/SRM
    • Supply Chain Visibility
    • Transportation Management
  • GENERAL SCM
    • Business Strategy Alignment
    • Education & Professional Development
    • Global Supply Chain Management
    • Global Trade & Economics
    • HR & Labor Management
    • Quality & Metrics
    • Regulation & Compliance
    • SC Security & Risk Mgmt
    • Supply Chains in Crisis
    • Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility
  • WAREHOUSING
    • All Warehouse Services
    • Conveyors & Sortation
    • Lift Trucks & AGVs
    • Order Fulfillment
    • Packaging
    • RFID, Barcode, Mobility & Voice
    • Robotics
    • Warehouse Management Systems
  • INDUSTRIES
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Apparel
    • Automotive
    • Chemicals & Energy
    • Consumer Packaged Goods
    • E-Commerce/Omni-Channel
    • Food & Beverage
    • Healthcare
    • High-Tech/Electronics
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Pharmaceutical/Biotech
    • Retail
  • THINK TANK
  • WEBINARS
    • On-Demand Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Webinar Library
  • PODCASTS
  • VIDEOS
  • WHITEPAPERS
Home » Virtual Data Platforms Reduce Costs and Improve Sustainability

Virtual Data Platforms Reduce Costs and Improve Sustainability

December 7, 2016
strategy+business

When firms move their data from in-house servers to the cloud, they can save money on maintaining IT infrastructure and storage. Hosting applications, information and networks on the cloud, typically through a third-party service at a much lower cost than a physical setup, also allows companies to quickly analyze and disseminate data, loop in partners and scale their technology needs to accommodate changing budget and business requirements.

But little empirical evidence exists of cloud computing’s impact on a firm’s economic and environmental record. Aiming to fill the gap, the authors surveyed 247 CEOs, managers and IT specialists at U.S.-based firms about the extent to which they used cloud computing. The companies operate in industries up and down the supply chain, including manufacturing, retail and distribution. The authors interviewed employees in multiple levels of the companies to get feedback on both big-picture financial returns and the hands-on experience of using cloud computing.

Because the costs of environmental initiatives are often cited as the biggest impediment to implementation, the authors sought to determine whether firms could balance the finances relating to their sustainability efforts via the cloud. They found that firms’ use of the cloud was associated with sales growth, operating earnings and improved return on assets and investments.

On the sustainability front, companies’ application of the cloud also typically led to reduced costs — firms spent less on materials, waste treatment and disposal, and they consumed less energy.

Read Full Article

    RELATED CONTENT

    RELATED VIDEOS

    Cloud & On-Demand Systems Technology Global Supply Chain Management Quality & Metrics Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility High-Tech/Electronics Pharmaceutical/Biotech
    KEYWORDS Cloud, SaaS & On-Demand Systems Global Supply Chain Management High-Tech/Electronics Pharmaceutical/Biotech Quality & Metrics sustainability Technology
    strategy+business

    Activists Are Most Likely to Target These Types of Firms, Study Says

    More from this author

    Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter!

    Timely, incisive articles delivered directly to your inbox.

    Popular Stories

    • A MEDLEY OF IMAGES OF GRAPHS AND CHARTS SUPER-IMPOSED OVER A HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL

      How Companies Can Avoid Competing Solely on Price

      Logistics
    • A RED AND WHITE FRITOS DELIVERY TRUCK IS PARKED IN THE LOADING ZONE OF A PARKING LOT NEXT TO AN ORANGE TRAFFIC CONE.

      Climate Change Threatens a World Without Doritos

      Global Supply Chain Management
    • Is-There-a-Right-to-Work-Remotely.jpg

      Watch: Is There a ‘Right’ to Work Remotely?

      HR & Labor Management
    • Managing-Supply-Chains-in-the-Face-of-Climate-Disaster.jpg

      Watch: Managing Supply Chains in the Face of Climate Disaster

      Regulation & Compliance
    • SYMBOLS OF TRADE AND RISK HOVER OVER TWO HANDS TYPING ON A KEYBOARD

      Navigating Supplier Risk Challenges to Shore Up Cyber Defenses

      Supply Chain Visibility

    Digital Edition

    Scb may 2023 lg

    2023 Supply Chain ESG Guide

    VIEW THE LATEST ISSUE

    Case Studies

    • JLL Finds Perfect Warehouse Location, Leading to $15M Grant for Startup

    • Robots Speed Fulfillment to Help Apparel Company Scale for Growth

    • New Revenue for Cloud-Based TMS that Embeds Orderful’s Modern EDI Platform

    • Convenience Store Client Maximizes Profit and Improves Customer Service

    • A Digitally Native Footwear Brand Finds Rapid Fulfillment

    Visit Our Sponsors

    Antuit Zebra Anvyl Brother
    Cleo Data Capture E2open
    Eva Air Enveyo GAINSystems
    Generix Geodis GEP
    GreyOrange Here Holman Logistics
    Infor Inmar Kinaxis
    Locus Robotics Logility LogistiVIEW
    Lucas Systems MCA Connect MPO
    Old Dominion OneRail Overhaul
    PartnerLinQ (Visionet) Port of Virginia Ryder E-commerce by Whiplash
    Saddle Creek Logistics SAP Shyft
    Sourcemap Tecsys TGW Systems
    Verusen Workshop
    • More From SCB
      • Featured Content
      • Video Library
      • Think Tank Blog
      • SupplyChainBrain Podcast
      • Whitepapers
      • On-Demand Webinars
      • Upcoming Webinars
    • Digital Offerings
      • Digital Issue
      • Subscribe
      • Manage Your Subscription
      • Newsletters
    • Resources
      • Events Calendar
      • SCB's Great Supply Chain Partners
      • Supplier Directory
      • Case Study Showcase
      • Supply Chain Innovation Awards
      • 100 Great Partners Form
    • SCB Corporate
      • Advertise on SCB.COM
      • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Contact Us
      • Data Sharing Opt-Out

    All content copyright ©2023 Keller International Publishing Corp All rights reserved. No reproduction, transmission or display is permitted without the written permissions of Keller International Publishing Corp

    Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing