5 Cloud Trends Which are Set to Play a Key Role in the Digital Workplace of Tomorrow

Business deployments of cloud-based resources have moved beyond a simple reliance on distributed architectures for increased storage or computational power. Telecommunication has been added to the mix, with cloud provision of hosted PBX systems based on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), and related technologies.

Communication between services, processes, devices, and applications is also being facilitated by the cloud medium, as the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow.

In this article, we’ll be looking at the major cloud trends likely to affect the digital workplace of tomorrow.

1. Integrating Services With APIs

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are set to play a key role in enabling diverse cloud services to work together in a manner that’s independent of infrastructure. Drag-and-drop interfaces simplify the process, and eliminate the need for hiring developers to create heavyweight applications.

This API-driven approach will empower businesses to quickly create user-friendly, personalized, and mobile applications.

2. Blurring The Boundaries Between Applications

The seamless integration of various cloud services will translate into smoother and more flexible experiences for workers on the ground, as their day to day business applications gain additional functionality derived from interaction with other systems and services.

So, a document generated as a result of an opportunity on the Salesforce application (for example) could be automatically authenticated and signed (using a digital signing application), then shipped to storage on a cloud platform, with no apparent differentiation between the processes, as far as the user is concerned.

3. Greater Agility Through Micro-Services

More agile and flexible application development should become possible through the use of micro-service architectures in the cloud, which allow for the creation of programs which may be compatible across a range of environments, due to plug-and-play mechanisms. This agility will enable organizations to create customer-facing applications linked to high-end services made available across a range of platforms.

4. A Shift Away From Purely Mobile Apps

A greater reliance on APIs as the medium for linking and integrating applications, processes, and services may signal a shift in emphasis from purely mobile app deployments to more platform and system-wide applications.

So rather than needing to have individual modules (single mobile apps) which plug selectively into a given platform and are limited by that single app’s functionality, ecosystems based on Application Programming Interfaces will allow for more universal compatibility, and a more seamless experience as several different platforms will seem to work as a single system.

5. An Industry-Wide IoT Platform

Finally, a cloud-based network infrastructure connecting devices, processes, vehicles, and machines will make it easier for organizations to collect and analyze information at all levels, while also facilitating operations, transactions, and business logistics.

This will be a “multi-cloud” ecosystem, in which public, hybrid, and private cloud deployments can connect and deliver a wide spectrum of IoT (Internet of Things) related services across a range of different industries and institutions.

Expect organizations such as net2phone to play a role in this environment of cross industry engagement and interaction.