3 Tips for Changing Corporate Culture with the Cloud

Moving to the cloud is among the smartest moves modern small businesses can make. The technology can provide SMEs with cost savings and better security. But it’s also likely to have an impact on corporate culture and this is something organizations have to keep in mind.

Corporate culture is part of every business, no matter how big or small. It deals with how the organization operates and what its values are. A big part of maintaining and forming this culture will be the technologies used as part of everyday operations. Moving to the cloud will always disrupt these operations and this will then result in changes in the corporate culture too.

The disruption shouldn’t be detrimental, of course. The good news is that there are ways to deal with the transformation and make the most of the positive impact the cloud can have on corporate culture.

1. Preparation is the key

It all starts with preparation. Moving operations from on-site hardware and software to the cloud needs to be considered carefully. It’s specifically important to keep people within the IT informed and updated. But as the cloud can have an impact from the HR to the finance department, it’s important to prepare everyone in the organization for the change.

The key things to do include:

• Introducing everyone to the cloud and the different software you’ll use.
• Creating a clear timeline for the change.
• Allowing employees to get familiar with the cloud prior to the change.

If your organization’s IT doesn’t seem equipped to handle the transformation or training, you should consider outsourcing it. Proper training is important in terms of ensuring you make the most out of the cloud. SMEs can find affordable training online and from the software or service providers. It’s important to approach the process with the mindset that investments in training and education are only going to help you reap benefits in the future.

2. Focus on the benefits

When introducing the technology, it’s also essential to explain the benefits of the cloud to the employees. Change can seem daunting and often unwelcomed, as a PwC study found out.

According to the findings, 53% of employees don’t feel the introduction of new technology is done with employees in mind. In order to counter this, it can help to make employees aware of the benefits of the technology but not just to the organization but also the employees.

The truth is that the cloud is the future and anyone who can master it, can expect to do well in the employment market. Technological literacy is good for not just the IT personnel but also anyone working in today’s world.

It’s not just the benefits employers will get in terms of possible future jobs and their CV. The cloud will provide immediate benefits to employers in terms of added workplace flexibility and transparency.

Lots of cloud solutions will make it easier for employers to allow working from home and therefore, by outlining the possibilities the cloud will open up in terms of workplace flexibility, you can ensure your employees are happier to welcome it.

3. Keep communicating

When introducing the cloud, the process shouldn’t stop as soon as you’ve implemented the changes. You must make sure communication continues to stay open and honest afterwards to guarantee employees don’t feel abandoned.

The best way to do this is to:

• Designate personnel to monitor the cloud use
• Organize pre-training, as well as training during implementation and continued training afterwards in terms of software in use
• Ask for feedback regarding the cloud and its use regularly

If employees have a channel in which they can discuss the changes, the transition will be smoother. It will also provide the management the opportunity to monitor the changes in corporate culture. You will be able to see what the impact is and correct any issues before they turn into a bigger problem.

The cloud can improve corporate culture

The cloud’s benefits are wide-reaching and any kind of organization could benefit from them. Today’s organizations can find great services in the cloud from the most modern HR software for SMEs to bookkeeping products. Cloud is everywhere, from serving customers to handling the workload.

In terms of corporate culture, the implementation can influence the current culture in three key ways:

• Improve transparency
• Enhance efficiency
• Boost communication

But the benefits don’t happen automatically. When implementing the cloud, organizations have to focus on the above three tips in order to benefit. If they do, the transition will be smooth and advantageous.