With many businesses shifting their workforce to working from home amid the global COVID-19 pandemic - its important to consider how this change is leading more businesses to move their critical business files and processes to the cloud.
A few years ago, cloud technology was a mysterious digital storage space that people knew very little about. But in the past few years, cloud technology has become a proven, reliable resource that businesses can use to streamline their work operations and allow appraisers to access data from anywhere.
But what is cloud computing, exactly?
Simply put, cloud platforms are services that store all of your data online. This allows users a wealth of benefits, such as more space on their computer hard drives and nearly no need for external storage space. Utilizing cloud services also allows you and your coworkers to share and access documents at any time, from any location. Cloud technology is a wonder to be revered — so why are appraisers so quick to deny themselves this obvious business upgrade?
The truth is, appraisers have a less-than-ideal relationship with technology. Many in the industry believe that the improvement of technology correlates directly to decreased relevance in human appraisers. On the contrary, this doesn’t have to be the case. As an appraiser, it’s crucial to utilize the right technology to help you work more easily and efficiently — doing that will allow you to take on more clients, which means more money in your pocket.
Not sure where to start?
Start by freeing up some space on your computer and ditching all of those USB key drives and external hard drives. Here are a few reasons why you should move your business to a cloud platform.
Fewer Expenses
Fewer Expenses
Computer hardware isn’t cheap. Constantly upgrading your data center to handle the capacity of your data can become expensive very quickly. Not only do you need to make sure you’re using the right equipment for your business, but you’ll also have to hire a technician to provide installation and maintenance. Additionally, you will need to be prepared to pay an on-call IT worker to handle any issues that pop up.
With your business hosted on the cloud, there is only a monthly fee that covers the aforementioned expenses. In the event that there are any issues with your cloud account, service reps can access your account remotely for no extra cost.
More Flexibility
Perhaps one of the best parts of switching to cloud computing is freedom. You no longer have to stay chained to your desk in order to access all of your account files and appraisal services. As long as you have an internet connection, you can work virtually anywhere. This is a great benefit for commercial appraisers who may need to conduct business from the field at a moment’s notice. Appraisal firms can also benefit from the cloud; more workspace flexibility means that you can let your appraisers work from home to reduce in-office costs.
Online storage also means online sharing. With cloud technology, you can share files easily between coworkers and clients, and provide them the opportunity to collaborate on projects remotely.
Fast Accommodation for Business Growth
It’s important to be prepared to handle the additional add-ons and new expenses that come with a growing business. If your appraisal business is expanding, you’ll need more storage space, licenses, and additional servers. Not only are these new expenses costly, but they can be stressful time constraints when the need for them arises.
With cloud computing, scaling up your business is as easy as a mouse-click. If you need more storage space, all you need to do is communicate with your provider and upgrade your plan. Even with the increased monthly service cost, cloud computing is less costly, more time-efficient, and much less stressful.
Guaranteed Data Protection
Conventional operations need to be backed up constantly to ensure that you don’t lose any data. In the event that your computer crashes, you could be in deep trouble if you don’t have any backup storage space. When you store your data via the cloud, you don’t have to worry about losing it.
Data security is a common concern among cloud skeptics. However, storing your data this way is much safer than storing it in a physical data center. Cloud platforms employ a number of security measures to prevent unauthorized entry.
Tired of letting your old appraisal tools slow your business down? Move your appraisal business forward by upgrading to a cloud management platform. Valcre’s cloud-based appraisal manager keeps your data backed up and provides you a better transition into a more optimal work experience. Talk to our Valcre team today to see what our platform can do for you.