Benefits of Cloud Computing for Country & Golf Clubs

6 Ways Country & Golf Clubs Benefit From Cloud Computing

Why are cloud solutions the right technology for today’s country clubs? More and more country clubs in Texas are “jumping on the Cloud.” This is because cloud technology offers an efficient, more affordable solution than on-premises systems. It makes accessing your applications and data so much easier.

These are the top 6 benefits country and golf clubs gain from using cloud computing:

1. Cloud computing affords clubs a faster return on their investment

(within weeks rather than months or even years). It streamlines application use with pre-designed software solutions and project management systems you can easily customize for your use.

You’ll also get significant savings using the Cloud’s mass-scale computing capabilities. Not only is the initial capital investment lower than IT infrastructure and servers, but it gives you the flexibility to expand and adjust your IT needs as you grow, invest in upgrades without causing a complete IT system overhaul, and it removes the administrative burden of managing an IT system in-house.

2. There’s no upfront capital expense when using cloud technology.

It’s a pay-as-you-go model and can also be categorized as a service expense rather than a capital one. Clubs can write off the costs of cloud solutions in the year they were used rather than depreciating them over 3 to 5 years as you would a capital expense.

Plus, if your club is just starting out, you can start small and scale up as required easily. As seasonal demands increase or decrease, you can access what you need, or stop paying for what you don’t.

3. Using the Cloud provides anytime/anywhere access.

Because you access your services over the Internet, your staff can use your computing resources wherever they are in your facility, even from their tablets or smartphones. All they need is a computer device and the Internet. Your staff will stay connected, and with up-to-date information, better serve your members.

Because the Cloud is available on-demand to computers and other devices from any location at any point in time, this means your workforce can collaborate no matter where they are. Documents can be shared or edited in real-time. This increases your staff’s productivity and efficiency.

You don’t need to worry if a mobile device is misplaced or stolen. An IT service company like ICS, with offices in Houston, San Antonio and Austin, can set up mobile device monitoring that can remotely wipe your data from a device.

4. The Cloud provides business continuity.

You often hear about backups and disaster recovery services (BDRs). This is where your IT provider ensures that no matter the disaster (natural or manmade, likes storms, accidental data deletion, ransomware attacks, even power outages) that you can keep your staff working.

Your critical information is stored in a secure data center, so it’s always accessible and recoverable. The right Business Continuity Solution ensures that no matter the issue, you can work from wherever you are. And when a severe storm hits and your administrative staff can’t get into the club to work, they can still access critical IT resources to keep your services running.

Other options where the Cloud can provide business continuity include:

• A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system to communicate when phone lines are down.
• An Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to transmit data, including orders and payments from one company to another.
• Approved laptops and wireless devices to create, process, manage and communicate information electronically.

5. Storing data in the Cloud is more convenient, safer and efficient.

It’s even more reliable than storing documents on your local servers or hard drives. Although some cite security as a reason for their reluctance to move to the Cloud, there are actually very few data breaches involving cloud providers. The majority of data breaches are due to lost, stolen, or discarded devices and paper records, rogue employees, or human error. And it’s very flexible as well. You can quickly increase the amount of storage capacity without purchasing equipment.

6. The Cloud makes it easier for small country or golf clubs to compete with larger ones.

In other words, …the Cloud levels the playing field. The Cloud offers unique business solutions. It gives everyone a chance at the same technology resources. It provides small clubs the ability to handle large-scale business requirements at lower costs. The Cloud greatly simplifies the back end of a club’s IT infrastructure. You can take advantage of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and expansive file storage space, as well as email and unified communications.

What’s The Bottom Line for your country or golf club?

With today’s cloud computing solutions, your country or golf club can have a system that’s protected and accessible from anywhere 24 x 7; one that’s totally encrypted and secure. And the Cloud is completely affordable for today’s club owners. Most professionals agree that the benefits of using the Cloud far outweigh any drawbacks. It’s no mystery why thousands of clubs each year jump on the Cloud.

Still aren’t convinced that the Cloud is right for you? We can tell you more. ICS specializes in providing IT service and support for country and golf clubs in Houston, San Antonio, Austin and the Rio Grande Valley.

Jason Simons

ICS is a Texas-based 40-year-old technology company specializing in Managed IT, VoIP, Video Conferencing and Video Surveillance solutions for US and International businesses. ICS has over 4000 regional installations and specializes in multi-site businesses between 25 and 2500 employees. ICS’s customers enjoy the experience of ICS’s Total Care program which provides clients flat fee services with obsolescence and growth protection. Whether a customer elects to deploy their IT, Video Conferencing or VoIP in the cloud or on the customer’s premise, ICS can provide a full turn-key solution for our clients under one flat monthly fee.