The Washington Bridge closure that disrupted commutes and impacted local businesses in and around East Providence in December serves as a powerful illustration of the vulnerability businesses can have to physical disruptions.
It reminds us of the essential role that technology, particularly cloud technology, plays in ensuring business continuity.
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The bridge closure led to immediate and tangible effects on local businesses. Supply chains were disrupted, customer foot traffic decreased and overall revenues dipped. According to East Providence Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, at least 175 businesses in East Providence reported that they were financially impacted by the bridge closure. Such physical disruptions, whether due to infrastructure failures, natural disasters or other unforeseen events, highlight the inherent risks associated with traditional business models that rely heavily on physical presence and location-bound information technology systems.
According to a report by cloud provider DigitalOcean, roughly 44% of traditional small businesses use cloud infrastructure or hosting services. That leaves a lot of room for improvement. Cloud technology, with its scalability, flexibility and accessibility, offers a robust solution for businesses facing physical disruptions. By enabling remote operations and access to data and applications from anywhere, cloud technology helps maximize business continuity, even in challenging situations. Services such as cloud storage, software as a service, and cloud-based communication tools can be critical in maintaining uninterrupted operations.
My team provides cloud-forward information technology services to small businesses in and around Providence, and we saw very few service requests related to the bridge closure. And for the few we did receive, those requests were related to giving specific on-site employees access to work from home. With the cloud infrastructure already in place, we could respond quickly.
Here are some ways small businesses can and should use the cloud to maximize business continuity.
Business telephones are accessible anywhere. A physical therapy practice with more than 20 locations throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts minimized disruption during the Washington Bridge closure. They are using a cloud-based phone system that enables staff to send and receive calls using their business phone number, handle appointment scheduling and provide vital information to patients without being physically present in the office.
This was incredibly valuable when trying to coordinate logistics for patients and employees who were having trouble getting into the clinics due to traffic.
E-commerce platforms for retail. A brick-and-mortar retail store in East Providence, impacted by the reduced customer traffic due to the bridge closure, provides a compelling case for cloud technology. A store could quickly adapt by setting up an e-commerce platform.
This cloud-based solution will enable them to showcase and sell their products online, reaching customers beyond the geographical constraints imposed by the bridge closure. This pivot could also expand the store’s customer base and revenue streams by showcasing the potential long-term benefits of integrating e-commerce into traditional retail models.
Cloud-based data backups. Having the ability to access company data from anywhere is a lifeline for operations amidst the chaos. Businesses that had proactively implemented cloud-based backup systems were able to retrieve and use their essential data remotely, without the need to physically access their primary office spaces.
This capability is especially crucial for sectors such as legal services, accounting and consulting, where access to client files and sensitive data is paramount to business continuity. Cloud backups not only provide a secure repository for this data but also ensure it is up to date and accessible from any location. This accessibility allows businesses to maintain continuity, proving indispensable in a situation where traditional, on-site data storage will fail.
Cloud technology offers small businesses numerous advantages. It is cost-effective, scalable, enhances collaboration and provides robust security and data recovery options. These features are crucial for small businesses looking to adapt quickly and maintain operations during unforeseen challenges.
Zopito “Zo” DiGiovanni is president of Remi IT Solutions Inc., an information technology services company based in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
