Many people are faced with the problem of finding space for all their data, such as videos, music, podcasts, ebooks, apps, and files. That is no longer a problem with the invention of computing cloud technology. What once existed in the realm of science fiction has become a reality. With cloud computing, all your data can be stored in the infinite space of the internet instead of on the small storage space of computer hard drives. So, in this article, we will talk about cloud computing and its applications in different fields.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is the process of storing data and applications on remote servers and accessing them using the internet rather than saving or installing them on your personal or office computer. In the same way that the cloud we see in the sky is a dense cluster of water molecules that appears as a single object from a distance, a computing cloud is a network of computers working together to complete heavy processing tasks and appear to be one large computing resource.
The cloud can be accessed via the cloud computing systems interface software. It can be as simple as using a web-based service that hosts all the apps and files you will need for your job or personal life. The cloud is not only used to store data but also as an inexpensive, efficient, and flexible alternative to purchasing, running, and maintaining in-house computing equipment and software. Also, the cloud gives you the ability to work anywhere at any time because your information can be accessed easily. Now, let us check some cloud computing applications in different fields.
Ten cloud computing applications
Agriculture application
In recent years, the farming sector has begun to adopt cloud technology heavily. This is because all the data collected from GPS, field workers, monitoring tools, and sensors placed on crops, animals, and soil need to be stored on a cloud, where it can be easily accessed at any time and place. For example, with farm monitoring, farmers can now find the location of a bale of hay on the field and determine the amount of moisture.
Data analytics application
Data scientists can use cloud computing to obtain patterns and valuable insights from organizational data, which is used to make predictions and informed decisions on the company's future. Scientists and researchers can also use cloud computing to mine large amounts of data by providing sophisticated tools and higher processing power. Many open-source data tools can be used for this purpose, such as Cassandra, Hadoop, HPCC, etc.
Airline industry applications
Airlines use cloud technologies to provide self-boarding gates and luggage groups with label printing services. This is made possible using data generated from reservation systems, check-ins, and bookings, including customer details that are centrally located and validated. This data is accessible to passengers, airline staff, security personnel, and all authorized personnel.
E-commerce Applications
Another common application of cloud computing is in e-commerce software. It helps e-commerce business customers have easy access to and smooth functioning of the company's products or services. Cloud computing can be used to track the business process of the company starting from when an order is received to when it is delivered, including tracking costs, damage, and refund rate for the businesses. Most large companies prefer to use cloud computing because it involves less effort and time and runs smoothly. Also, with cloud computing, the burden of a high upfront cost is reduced as you can pay in bits every month.
Healthcare applications
Within the healthcare sector, cloud computing has proven beneficial for both patients and providers. On the business side, it helps reduce operational costs while allowing providers to deliver personalized and high-quality care. On the patient's side, they have access to immediate and high-quality care. It helps them access vital information on their health status and can even participate in decision-making, resulting in improved treatment outcomes.
Accounting application
Cloud computing has become very important for the accounting sector of every business. It helps track the company's expenses, losses, and profits in real-time.
Education application
Education institutions are also rapidly adopting cloud computing because it can help them store large-volume data at a lower cost, process billing, and access their data anywhere. This ensures that students can access study materials, communities, and websites at any time and any place.
Governance applications
The governments of many countries use cloud computing to provide lots of services to the citizens. It can help the government transition from a conventional method of management to a more advanced and efficient way of working. Cloud computing can ensure that the services provided by the government are readily available to everyone. It can also help reduce the cost of managing, installing, and updating apps.
GPS applications
Nowadays, it is almost impossible to imagine a world without GPS, one of the applications and advancements of cloud computing. GPS helps people find locations on the map free of charge.
Entertainment application
Almost everyone uses the internet for entertainment. So, lots of companies use cloud computing to provide entertainment content such as videos, online games, and streaming services to their customers worldwide.
Cloud computing has a vital role in the future of application development. It already has a significant impact on how companies provide products and services. Also, the COVID pandemic has increased the demand for applications of cloud computing as companies now have to ensure that their business continues to function despite employees and customers being at home.