More businesses are reducing expensive IT costs by moving their data and applications to the Internet, which is also know as the cloud. Internal economies of scale can be achieved when resources are easily shared across large networks, no matter the location or time zone. Tying together the power of computers and communications in a more cost effective way, cloud computing is not only growing rapidly, but also it is the next generation in computation as more individuals expect on-demand information.
GPS tracking systems technology is data-driven, and self-hosted environments that avoid the use of cloud technology mandates considerable costs associated with building and maintaining proper server infrastructures to host the collected data. A small business wanting to use GPS tracking systems for their fleet would typically be required to do the following in a self-hosted environment:
- Purchase and configure a server to host the database
- Depending on the fleet size and the database technology used, the business may be required to purchase costly DBMS licenses from Microsoft, or Oracle
- Lastly, the GPS tracking systems software must be installed and configured on all computers
In addition to the upfront cost and time required in an initial setup, the customer would be directly responsible for regular maintenance such as backups, upkeep on the database, and manually applying updates and patches on a regular basis.
By moving to the cloud, companies can get started in a matter of minutes with little to no overhead costs and minimal application maintenance time. As a core part of the cloud service, data is typically backed-up more frequently and protected at higher security levels. Businesses can focus their resources on managing their fleet, and not on their software. Because of the mounting benefits that simplifies daily work and eliminates unnecessary costs, using the cloud is becoming an adoptable technology for many organizations.
On a similar note, MyGeotab is one example of a cloud technology where software updates are included in the price and made available to all clients simultaneously thought a central server. Data is accessible from anywhere via the Internet, and any new software updates are rolled out quickly and seamlessly. The only infrastructure needed by software users is an Internet connection.
