Instantaneous access, increased innovation, automatic operation, and self-service are just a few of the reasons why the cloud industry is seeing a huge spike in demand. The cloud, for those who aren’t already well versed on its capabilities and overall purpose, is a network of servers that allows users to access data via the internet as opposed to through a computer hard drive. The Cloud offers its users unlimited accessibility to their stored data providing them with a greater degree of flexibility. With a seemingly immediate connection and rapid retrieval it’s easy to comprehend why the market for Cloud Computing is growing exponentially; experts predict $105 billion in economic growth within the industry by 2020. Cloud Computing is expected to be one of the most massive investment opportunities right now and will remain so for years to come. According to the
2017 BDO Technology Outlook Survey, 74% of Tech Chief Financial Officers say that relative to other forms of technology (VR, Blockchain, etc.), Cloud Computing will have the most quantifiable impact on businesses in 2017. Windstream’s most recent acquisition of the leading cloud-based UC provider (to small-midsized companies), Broadview, is expected to reign in $30 million in annual operating synergies within the next two years. This acquisition was carried out by Windstream in an effort to reduce unnecessary costs and increase overall revenue. Windstream’s decision to purchase this company was not only resourceful but perceptive of the current climate, one that’s forecast grows increasingly cloudy. And so I ask, what does this projection tell us about the future of Cloud Computing as it relates to shareholders and the economy?