What does cloud mean to you and what benefits do you think it brings to businesses?

The cloud is probably the next major step in computing. It enables users to access and make use of software and services through remote access via the internet – through their desktop PC, laptop, tablet or phone. For businesses, this means that they no longer need to have super powerful computers at their premises, whilst still being able to easily access the software they need without any administration or updating headaches. It also means that they are no longer tied to a desktop in their office, but can actually access their work anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud enables greater collaboration potential across departments whether in the same building or different continents. Ultimately, decision making can be faster and enables better expectations.

In the UK, we generally have very good internet access, both through the landline network and mobile networks. Our compact geographical size means that mobile coverage is excellent across most of the country. This makes cloud access pretty good wherever you may be. Users are getting used to using cloud services such as Google Docs and Dropbox, so this means they are becoming much more familiar with the concept.

What else do you think needs to be done to champion innovation in the UK cloud industry?

Businesses are already making great strides into the cloud arena. I think it’s now really just about thinking ‘outside the box’ and focusing on ways in which the cloud could benefit their clients. 

Please can you provide a bit more detail for those not familiar with your company?

Fujitsu specialises in producing high-speed, professional document scanners and software. Our scanners can quickly convert paper documents into electronic, searchable PDF documents, saving valuable office space and reducing the risk of loss or damage to the information through fire, flood or theft.

Why have you decided to get involved with the UK Cloud Awards 2019?

We’re really keen to promote the benefits of working in the cloud and associate ourselves with this exciting shift we are seeing in everyday workplaces. Our products are all focused on enabling businesses to be more effective, work smarter, and realise the benefits that moving from paper to digital processes can bring.

Our latest scanners can automatically route scanned documents to the right cloud service at the touch of a button. They can intuitively recognise what is being scanned and route accordingly. For example, this could be your receipts straight to expense systems, business cards to a CRM or those important documents straight to a cloud service for instant access and action.

Education is probably the biggest challenge with the cloud. Customers don’t always instantly pick up the ways in which the cloud can help their business, so part of our job is getting to know the customers and suggesting ways in which they could make the most of it. The next-generation workforce will demand how they interact and engage.  Right now, though, it is about trying to shift habits and ‘but this is the way we always do thing’ mentality to help businesses realise that they have to move with the times to remain competitive and profitable.

How do you think the cloud landscape has evolved in the past five years?

Cloud access and use is getting more ubiquitous through popular software use such as Dropbox, Evernote and so on, whilst Microsoft, Google and Amazon Web Services are serving more and more software platforms. It’s also getting easier and cheaper for mobile data to be sent quickly on the go. We are also seeing more niche providers such as those who can manage expenses so perhaps we will see more evolution as we see greater adoption.

What do you think has driven this shift?

It’s a mixture of both customer demand and businesses taking advantage of the enormous, scalable computing power available through the cloud, offering new and innovative services for consumers. Customers are keen to take advantage of any new technology that will save time, money, and make their lives easier. Businesses can also take advantage through the increased resilience and security that big cloud service providers are offering.

IT departments around the world are going through a transformation. It’s becoming unnecessary for them to have their own enormous servers and computing power on site when they can outsource this business to cloud computing specialists. This will save administration time and expense, whilst they can easily pay to scale the cloud computing power to suit their needs at any given time.

What role do you see cloud playing in business life a year or five years from now?

Cloud services are already becoming indispensable for businesses. Hopefully, they will benefit our quality of life by allowing more remote and flexible working for a greater majority of employees. This should, ultimately, lead to business cost savings through remote sharing, virtual meetings and more efficient workers who spend less time on the road.

It’s clear that this technology is developing at an incredibly fast pace and cloud services will have a huge impact on the workplace in the future. These are exciting times and I can see that the cloud will enable businesses to take advantage of increasingly useful technologies such as artificial intelligence and unthinkable amounts of computing power. I’m really looking forward to seeing Fujitsu continue to develop its ScanSnap Cloud services to make our scanners even more useful to our users in the future.