Working better in the cloud: how it helps employees and businesses

Julian David

CEO, techUK

Moving the workforce to the cloud makes businesses more agile and empowers employees.  

Cloud is making it easier for organisations to empower their workforce with new digital tools, agile working practices and the latest emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. This could lead to a new generation of data-driven businesses across the economy.  

Adapt to the needs of a cloud-enabled business 

Cloud is part of a broader shift from capital investment to operational expenditure across the IT industry. While this can enable greater automation and flexibility — such as freeing workers to focus on tasks that add more value — it also creates new job roles in actively managing cloud use to make it as cost-efficient and sustainable as possible.  

For example, using cloud-based technologies, Costain has managed and maintained data in a responsible way while following best practices around data storage and archiving to support their net zero goals. At the same time, flexible cloud-based digital platforms help them integrate applications, systems and data. 

As many as 85% of organisations will embrace
a cloud-first principle by 2025.

Investment in supporting employees to use such tools is crucial. The findings of techUK’s recent Digital Economy Monitor survey show that 30% of techUK members need better training and skills support in order to grow and prosper. Employees should be given back some of the extra time created by automation and more flexible cloud tools to focus on development and learning skills in new areas. Upskilling and re-training are needed to make full use of digital capabilities. 

Wellbeing-focused and human-centred design  

The increased productivity potential of a cloud-enabled workforce — with greater flexibility and collaboration tools bringing people together — is a key driver of the workforce of the future. This needs to be led with people-first thinking so that the digital transformation is sustainable. Companies should look to fostering digital confidence in the tools they provide. Gartner predicts as many as 85% of organisations will embrace a cloud-first principle by 2025. Let’s get future-ready.