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PaaS (Cloud Computing) takes lead in IT

PaaS takes the lead

“Cloud will define next gen IT”

This statement seldom crosses our ears. But what is it in cloud that will actually gain pace? Well, the answer is PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service). How? Let’s see.

What Consists of cloud computing

Many companies are now using cloud computing in different ways according to their needs. Their needs vary from hosting internal communication, CRM to get rental storage, servers, etc. Cloud services with its three layers address all these. The Lowest layer, IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-service) helps in providing solutions for Networking, Security, Sys mgmt, Servers, Storage, etc. The Uppermost layer is SaaS (Software-as-as-service), which encompasses services for Emails, CRM, ERP, etc. The middle layer is PaaS.

What is PAAS

PaaS provides a platform over the web to the buyers for creation and development of software. Thus it brings in the best of both the other layers near it. While the buying and maintaining hardware and software remains Cloud provider’s baby, it gives the buyer a flexibility of altering and editing the software by providing a platform to do so (not available in SaaS).

Where PaaS is useful

A lot of companies now work in an environment, where multiple developers from multiple locations are simultaneously involved. PaaS eases this by providing:

- Development, Test, Deployment, Hosting and Maintenance of applications in an integrated development environment.

- Architecture where multiple concurrent users utilize the same application.
- Integration to web services and databases and support for development team collaboration.

Given the services, PaaS provided the best trade-off between investment required and capabilities needed. It defines and supports a growth path for companies in their development stages in an efficient way by allowing them to concentrate on their business.

Future of PaaS

With market of PaaS predicted to be nearly $1Bn by 2016, it has shown the maximum growth until among other Cloud offerings. The leading PaaS service providers such as Microsoft, IBM, Google & SalesForce are keen on increasing their market share.

According to IDC, a popular analyst firm, 65.2 percent of PaaS revenue was derived from the Americas in 2012, and that's not expected to change much by 2017, dropping only to 62.3 percent. But PaaS revenue in Asia-Pacific including Japan with 14.1 percent market share in 2012 is expected to grow to 19.0 percent in 2017. Europe, the Middle East and Africa accounted for 20.7 percent of PaaS revenue in 2012, but that total is expected to drop slightly, to 18.7 percent, by 2017.

Surely there are shortcomings in PaaS, but with IT giants investing heavily in research and innovation in cloud computing, these can be surely fixed. Emergence of new players (while they prefer collaborating with leaders, so they don’t have to reinvent the common platform services) is certainly adding new value to PaaS. PaaS is no doubt taking lead in IT.

Importance of Sales Ops

A Sales leader is required to coach & enable selling. His utmost concern is achievement of his targets while keeping his force motivated. All his efforts are focused to achieve this goal. In the mid-size and large companies, this much needed undivided attention may be interrupted because of many support activities involved. This is where Sales Operations (Sales Ops) steps in.

Sales ops team’s fundamental goal is to enable a Sales Leader in concentrating his 100% efforts towards Sales. Sales ops will make sure to not only keep an eye on the horizon (how are we achieving targets) but also enable the journey (reporting, improving sales cycle, carving sales strategy, etc).

5 ways in which Sales Ops can benefit:

1.       Measurement of Results: Sales Ops team support leaders with various Matrices & Analysis reports (turning raw data into meaningful information), enabling strategy carving for the organization. Accurate & concise information on the progress of the team through Sales Forecasting, predictive analysis and other data analysis methods can help the leader to decide on the course for future sales. A thorough performance analysis will help the leader to gauge the productivity and efficiency of the team.

2.       Sales Cycle Optimization: A deep study of process and procedures currently followed so as to point out the loop-holes and carve out the better process can help the organization to get rid of unneeded bureaucracy. To keep abreast of current trends in the industry, it is must for any organization to continuously keep improving Sales Cycle and remain competitive. These can also safe-guard the organization against many frauds.

3.       Internal Communication Effectiveness: While the sales guys remain busy talking to customers, Sales ops can act as his representative for all the internal customers. To establish smooth communication channel and imparting training for latest protocols so as to keep all the concerned teams at par, is one primary function of Sales Ops.

4.       CRM Development & Administration: Sales Ops also develop, implement and administer various CRM tools and processes. They also make sure that the sales force is effectively trained to make the most benefit of the tools and processes. Coordinating to collect latest data and to maintain the full accuracy of same at any point of time is pivotal to organization’s success. With latest tools and technology, Sales Ops can provide much accurate information to the leaders.

5.       Improving Sales Productivity: Sales Ops keeps an eye on the utilization of the Sales Force. They also enable individual sales guy with budget allocations, monitoring and a smooth progression through the complex Sales Cycle. By supporting them in dealing with internal fuss & chaos, Sales ops play a key role in keeping them more productive and motivated.

While in many organizations, sales operations seem to be the support function, which gets effected vastly and it is considered one of the areas to cut back on. It is surely very unfortunate for any company to do so. Sales Ops can help a company to maintain its competitive edge. New technologies, improved processes & accurate visualization can definitely enable an organization to achieve more sales in a much efficient manner.