How Cloud Computing Can Impact eCommerce
 | Maddie Davis is a co-founder of Enlightened-Digital and tech-obsessed female from the Big Apple. She lives by building and redesigning websites, running marathons, and reading anything and everything on the NYT Best Sellers list. |
The age of eCommerce is here, and it shows no signs of slowing down. As the internet becomes more accessible on a multitude of devices, consumers are choosing convenience over experience. ECommerce now accounts for almost 10% of all retail sales in the U.S., and it’s expected to grow nearly 15% annually. This includes traditional online shopping as well as new trends like social shopping and mobile commerce. Cloud computing promises three key benefits, as explained by Oracle CEO Mark Hurd in his interview with Forbes: lower cost, more innovation, and greater security. Let’s take a critical look at how eCommerce companies can stand to benefit from this technology.
Speed
Sites need to load at the highest possible speeds and include customer-friendly features in order to keep consumers on the hook long enough to complete their purchase. ECommerce sites are also increasingly taking advantage of tools and technologies that increase their chances of creating repeat customers. Utilizing optimized platforms such as CS-Cart can set you up for success in this sense.
It’s been shown that 40 percent of visitors will abandon a webpage if it takes longer than three seconds to load. Considering the potential loss of revenue that could result from less-than-optimal operating speeds, it’s too great a risk to leave to chance. Cloud computing arms your site with greater bandwidth, computational power, and storage to handle any unexpected slowdowns.
Security
The alarming number of high-profile cyberattacks on large and small businesses in 2017 made clear need for increased cybersecurity. It’s particularly imperative for eCommerce retailers to take proactive measures to secure their mobile apps and company websites. ECommerce retailers need to safeguard the personal information customers share while shopping, a mandate more important than ever after the EU’s GDPR law went into effect this year. To narrow it down, there are a few key factors that ensure security in cloud computing:
Thoroughness: Data is copied and stored three separate times in three different places, which means that in order for you to actually lose any data, three hard failures must occur.
Protection: Files stored in the cloud are only accessible through proper credentials. Because data is stored in physically secure data centers, the only responsibilities you have are managing your passwords and securing your local machine.
Frequent Auditing: Automated software updates and audits are built into the contract to protect against any looming security flaws.
Scalability
To remain profitable and efficient, it’s important to have scalable architecture that can best meet the company’s needs. With the cloud’s advanced scalability, eCommerce sites can easily adapt to fluctuating market scenarios. The cloud enables you to properly handle increased workloads when needed, depending on demand, visitor traffic, and seasonal spikes or declines.
Cloud computing is rapidly becoming common practice for many companies. Migrating your eCommerce business to the cloud will generate immediate results and the benefits will only continue to grow as the technology does. Whether you’re a small startup or an established giant, the cloud’s ability to optimize your efficiency and security are worth the investment.
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Yan Anderson is the Head of Content Marketing at CS-Cart with over 10 years of experience in the eCommerce industry. He's passionate about explaining complicated things in simple terms. Yan has expertise in building, running and growing eCommerce marketplaces. He loves to educate people about best practices, new technologies, and trends in the global eCommerce industry.