How Cloud Technology is Reshaping Australia’s Shopping Experience
2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created each day. There’s no denying that technology is evolving fast and people all around the world are embracing it. One of these influential technologies that’s making waves in 2023 is Cloud-Technology. But what is cloud technology and what impact is it bringing in an Australian’s daily life?
Let’s explore how cloud technology is reshaping Australia’s shopping experience.
What is Cloud Technology?
The cloud in cloud technology does not actually denote the real fluffy patches of clouds in the sky but a virtual space on the internet where we can store our digital files. You can not only store your documents, pictures, videos and games but also share them with others through the internet. This tech also allows you to control physical devices via the internet which we’ll be focusing on today.
Positive Impacts of Cloud Technology on Australian Businesses
The world is embracing cloud technology and the massive impact that it brings into everyone’s lives.
It has enabled retailers to:
- Easily manage their inventory and never run out of stock with the help of real-time stock levels, and delivery status.
- Offer more personalised services with the help of customer data from previous purchases, online adverts and more.
- Save costs by not needing to invest heavily in hardware and infrastructures when upscaling their businesses
- Increasing sales by multiple folds through e-commerce platforms for Australian Businesses.
As for the customers, cloud technology has brought these positive impacts:
- Faster and error-free POS transactions leading to less time wasted on queues.
- Easy and effortless shopping thanks to e-commerce platforms, home deliveries, and delivery status trackers made possible by cloud technology.
- Improved healthcare services thanks to doctors and nurses gaining access to remote diagnosis, telemedicine, and health monitoring, especially for rural and remote communities.
- Reduced energy consumption and carbon footprint thanks to the decreasing need for physical infrastructure and making use of cloud infrastructure.
Negative Impacts of Cloud Technology
Just like how the flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world, the introduction and growth of the use of cloud technology has had a few unforeseen negative impacts as well.
Here are some of them:
- As cloud technology is heavily dependent on the internet, connectivity issues can cause significant losses for businesses and customers who depend on cloud applications and data. For example, a 2020 survey revealed that 25% of respondents across the globe reported that average hourly downtime costs their businesses between $301,000 and $400,000.
- Another big threat that comes with cloud tech is cyberattacks. Since all the data is stored and processed on remote servers, it can be vulnerable to hacks and phishing attempts. While there are data protection laws such as the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), data breaches are possible.
Current State of Australia’s Shopping Experience
Today, whether you want to buy a pair of sneakers or a bucket of KFCs, undoubtedly, the first thing that people reach out for is their smartphone. Without even thinking about it, we make a few taps on our iPhones and fulfil our shopping needs. But behind the scenes, the heavy lifting is done by cloud-based POS systems that seamlessly connect with e-commerce platforms and make your shopping desires come true. And that’s just the online side of things.
If you take a closer look at all the places that we shop, there’s cloud technology already being used for ages. You’ll rarely be able to find a restaurant, cafe, bakery, grocery store, supermarket, or clothing store that doesn’t use a cloud-based POS system. The wide acceptance of this technology is proof of its advantages and how cloud technology is reshaping Australia’s shopping experience.
Conclusion
To conclude, there is no doubt that cloud technology has and is providing a massive impact on today’s retail industry. Not just in Australia but all around the world, a variety of technological tools that rely on the cloud and the internet are being used to not only help retailers but also to make shopping easy and seamless for everyday customers. With more and more consumers demanding flexibility, choice, and value from their shopping experiences, cloud-technology is the best solution to meeting these needs.
