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When is the Time Right?

Frustrated with Modern Technology?

Blame Innovation. It seems that every time I power up my laptop I have an update to “keep it running smoothly.” I understand that the manufacturers are delivering on their latest promises to us, the consumers, but I continue to ask myself: why?

All of these updates progressively weigh down an older machine. An update to Autodesk Revit may give an architect a dreaded notification “Revit detects an unsupported video card” or an engineer who uses Grasshopper on Rhino is “unable to load DDL” or worse: the Blue Screen of Death.

After a number of attempts to resolve the issue, the laptop’s life is in danger as well as the nearest window!

The Struggle is Real

Even if you upgrade to the latest Cheese Grater Mac or a ultra-book which resembles your partner during a Pilates lesson, the fundamentals of using a physical machine remain:

  • How will you scale quickly if a project requires multiple workstations with 24 hours notice?
  • How to share an Autodesk 3ds model between you in Brussels, Wisconsin with a project partner in Ghent, New York without strapping the Cheese Grater to your pick-up truck and driving cross-country?
  • How to run Windows-based data-driven software on your fabulous new macOS machines bought to keep up with the Mr Jones & Co. down the road?

Will the heavens open and a hand appear?

Come to the Cloud

The heavens will open, no hand but only Clouds?

Cloud technology can offer unparalleled agility and speed which supports innovation. Where physical computers struggle, Cloudalize’s GPU-powered Cloud Workstations (DaaS) succeeds. It is a private-cloud solution on which you have the ability to work from home, capacity management, maximum security from ISO-certified data centres and all the power needed to run a multitude of different resource-heavy applications simultaneously.

It is widely believed that the primary reason to move to the Cloud is cost. However, Cloudalize has come to realise that the principal driver for companies and institutions to move to the Cloud is innovation. Each has its own specific goal and objective whether embracing digital transformation, centralising collaboration and going digital.

Transform Digitally

The process of transforming and innovating is not simple but as part of a strategy, it can be very successful. This was the case with the Infrastructure Department of the Belgian Province of Limburg. It had an objective to become more agile, embrace new technologies and not to be left in the past.

It’s IT infrastructure was outdated while older computers were no longer capable of maintaining top performance running the newer versions of its CAD software making model rendering slow and causing issues with IT support.

Since the Department’s move to the Cloud with Cloudalize, these are no longer issues for the Department’s teams. Cloudalize now manages its infrastructure and Cloudalize’s GPU-powered Cloud Workstations provides all the power needed to run the latest versions of the CAD and BIM software in the Cloud.

Centralise Collaboration

Effective collaboration is another essential to organisational success. Collaboration is achieved by aiding internal and external stakeholders to communicate, share files and work together to complete projects on time and on budget.

The ability to collaborate in real time was why a German-based manufacturing firm* moved to the Cloud with Cloudalize. Many of its technical teams work in remote areas of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Cloud Workstations enables them all to share files and work on 3D models of transportation infrastructure in real time with remote access from the Cloud 24/7.

Digitising Processes

Remote access was one reason why Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) moved to the Cloud too. It has two AHO campuses: one in Oslo, the Norwegian capital and the other in Tromsø, over 300 kilometres (190 miles) inside the Arctic Circle. However, the primary driver was to completely go digital.

AHO wanted most of its infrastructure and assets in a virtual environment. AHO adopted a digital-first policy by which all of infrastructure and assets are in a virtual environment managed by Cloudalize. This has the benefit of allowing AHO to manage its infrastructure systematically and have a straightforward update process of data-driven and BIM software running on the GPU-powered Cloudalize Cloud platform.

What’s more is now students of AHO have a better user experience thanks to Cloudalize’s Cloud Workstation solution. Uniformity and a perfect user-experience is guaranteed even when running over multitude programmes at any one time.

Facilitate Further Growth

According to Weinman and Power, organisations actively using cloud computing have higher revenue growth rates which suggests that cloud platforms are essential for organisational growth. Even though, Cloudalize has not yet analysed this aspect, it is evident that Cloudalize can support organisational growth in other ways.

Our platform can scale in real time for short- or long-term projects with internal or external personal. Storage capacity can grow with requirements. This unique capability of cloud storage means that organisations no longer have to worry about running short of resources, as is usually the case for on-premise infrastructure which can often hinder organisations and restrict growth.

Making the Right Move

Moving to the Cloud can depend on many factors. What is already known is that you will not in a pick-up truck, a huge tin can with processors or just windows to achieve digital transformation efforts, work from home, increase collaboration or digitise your business processes.

Book a demo below to find out how Cloudalize can help you make the right move to the Cloud in the most cost-effective and best way for your business.

Book a personalized demo

*Cloudalize is bound by a non-disclosure agreement not to publish the name of the company.

References

 

Weinman, J., 2018. Toward a Theoretical Model of Cloud Computing. IEEE Cloud Computing, Volume: 5 , Issue: 6, 92 – 101.

Editor’s Note: Updated on 30 July 2020
Author: Koenraad Willems