Best Practices Magazine - issue nº1 - English

Our experts I Software
Logistics software: the cloud is the future
Due to the continuous evolution of technology, our business
landscape is changing at a high speed. One of the most important
paradigm changes that has taken place in recent years has been
caused by the software industry, with the creation of cloud-based
applications. The logistics operations of companies have quickly
adapted to this change, demanding that software applications be
implemented which are increasingly compatible with the cloud.
This paradigm shift has been led principally
by the needs of the clients themselves,
who in light of periods of crisis have opted
for the type of solutions that only the cloud
can offer: controlled expenditure, versatility
and portability.
However, it is also important to take into
account the fundamental influence that the
evolution of technology has brought upon
us, which has made it possible to increase
the connection capacity both within locally
or mobile based communications. The
social changes caused by globalisation, the
sharing of information and the need for
continuous access to information can also
not be ignored.
What do we mean when we talk
about “the cloud”?
There are many definitions for such a broad
term and that, in the here and now, is part of
almost any solution. Perhaps the one that comes
closest says that it is a “consumer technology
model” (applications, computing
and storage) as a service through a network
(usually the Internet), without the need for
investments, securely and accessible from
anywhere. This virtual set up makes data
control and management more obtainable.
Key advantages
The main features that have led to this
growth in cloud based solutions are:
• Savings in the initial investment of
any project of software deployment.
The hardware infrastructure to house the
solution is eliminated, and only the equipment
in use is required. Nor is the initial cost
of licensing necessary, since a payment by
use and monthly service (SaaS) is applied.
• Automatic and secure application
updates. There is no need to spend several
weeks to update a company’s applications,
with problems that can result in loss of data,
downtimes, etc. Updates are completely
transparent and without any form of
intervention.
• Savings in maintenance costs. By
adopting a SaaS model, the maintenance of
the application and the housing of the solution
lies with the provider. Who is the one
responsible for hardware upkeep.
146 Best Practices