Analysis of applications and success factors of cloud computing for small- and medium-sized businesses

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Context

1.2 Objective and structure

1.3 Methods

2 Fundamentals

2.1 Fundamentals of software applications

2.1.1 Definition and characteristics

2.1.2 Type of software applications

2.1.2.1 Email communication

2.1.2.2 Office applications

2.1.2.3 Project management

2.1.2.4 Team collaboration

2.1.2.5 Customer relationship management

2.1.2.6 Procurement

2.1.2.7 Web development

2.1.2.8 Unified messaging

2.1.2.9 Enterprise resource planning

2.1.2.10 Fleet management

2.1.2.11 Human resource

2.2 Fundamentals of cloud computing

2.2.1 Definition and characteristics

2.2.2 Computer topology evolution

2.2.2.1 Mainframe

2.2.2.2 Client-Server

2.2.2.3 Mesh topology

2.2.3 Cloud computing service models

2.2.3.1 Infrastructure as a Service

2.2.3.2 Platform as a Service

2.2.3.3 Software as a Service

2.2.4 Advantages and limitations of cloud computing

2.2.4.1 Advantages of cloud computing

2.2.4.2 Limitations of cloud computing

2.3 Fundamentals of success factors

2.3.1 Definition and characteristics

2.3.2 Methods to identify success factors

2.3.2.1 Analysis of demand

2.3.2.2 Analysis of competition

2.4 Fundamentals of small- and medium-sized businesses

2.4.1 Definition and characteristics

2.4.2 Definition of small- and medium-sized businesses

2.4.2.1 Small-sized businesses

2.4.2.2 Medium-sized businesses

3 State-of-the-art research

3.1 Cloud computing in the insurance industry

3.2 Cloud computing in the logistics sector

4 Empirical survey

4.1 Objective

4.2 Method

4.3 Sample

4.3.1 Industry distribution

4.3.2 Employees distribution

4.3.3 Revenues distribution

5 Analysis of cloud computing applications for small- and medium-sized businesses

5.1 Acceptance and usage of cloud computing

5.1.1 Acceptance of cloud computing

5.1.2 Usage of cloud services models

5.2 Cloud computing solutions

5.2.1 Infrastructure as a service solution

5.2.1.1 Storage

5.2.1.2 Processing / Computing power

5.2.2 Platform as a Service solution

5.2.2.1 Application deployment and hosting

5.2.2.2 Storage

5.2.2.3 Development environment

5.2.3 Software as a Service solution

5.2.3.1 Team collaboration

5.2.3.2 Email communication

5.2.3.3 Web development

5.2.3.4 Customer relationship management

5.2.3.5 Project management

5.2.3.6 Unified messaging

5.2.3.7 Office documents

5.2.3.8 Enterprise resource planning

5.2.3.9 Fleet management

5.2.3.10 Human resource management

6 Analysis of success factors for cloud computing for small- and medium-sized businesses

6.1 Security related factors

6.1.1 Overview

6.1.2 Data security

6.1.3 Data storage in Germany

6.1.4 Security audits

6.2 Cost related factors

6.2.1 Overview

6.2.2 Low cost

6.2.3 Price transparency

6.3 Technology related factors

6.3.1 Overview

6.3.2 Service stability

6.3.3 Interoperability

6.3.4 Customization

6.4 Support related factors

6.4.1 Overview

6.4.2 Support in german language via phone and email

6.4.3 On-site support

6.4.4 Support regarding cost efficiency

6.5 Supplier related factors

6.5.1 Overview

6.5.2 Headquarter in Germany

6.5.3 Customer references

6.5.4 Certified employees

6.5.5 Market leadership

7 Conclusions

A Online survey

A.1 Screening

A.1.1 Frage S1

A.1.2 Frage S2

A.1.3 Frage S9

A.1.4 Frage S11

A.2 Derzeitige Ausstattung an EDV/IT-Lösungen

A.2.1 Frage G5

A.2.2 Frage G6/1a, Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 1 (E-Mail Kommunikation) geklickt

A.2.3 Frage G6/2a, Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 2 (Unified Messaging) geklickt

A.2.4 Frage G6/2b , Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 2 (Unified Messaging) geklickt

A.2.5 Frage G6/3a , Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 3 (Textbearbeitung, Tabellenkalkulation und Präsentationen) geklickt

A.2.6 Frage G6/4a , Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 4 (Projektmanagement) geklickt

A.2.7 Frage G6/5a , Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 5 (Teamzusammenarbeit) geklickt

A.2.8 Frage G6/6a , Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 6 (Kundenkontaktmanagement bzw. Kundenpflege - CRM) geklickt

A.2.9 Frage G6/7a , Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 7 (Betriebswirtschaftliche Belange) geklickt

A.2.10 Frage G6/8a, Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 8 (Personalwesen) geklickt

A.2.11 Frage G6/9a, Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 9 (Aussendienstunterstützung) geklickt

A.2.12 Frage G6/10a, Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 10 (Unterstützung des Einkaufsprozesses) geklickt

A.2.13 Frage G6/11a, Filter: Frage G5 Pos. 11 (Web Applications Development) geklickt

A.2.14 Frage G7

A.2.15 Frage G8

A.2.15.1 Antwortmöglichkeiten:

A.2.16 Frage G10

A.2.17 Frage G11, Filter: G10 Pos. 1-2

A.2.18 Frage G12, Filter: G10 Pos. 3-5

A.2.19 Frage G13

A.2.20 Frage G14, Filter: Frage G13 Pos. 3-4 geklickt (“kommt in Frage“/ “in nächster Zeit geplant“)

A.2.21 Frage G15 , Filter: Frage G13 Pos. 3-5 geklickt (“kommt in Frage“/ “in nächster Zeit geplant“/“wird bereits genutzt“)

A.2.22 Frage G16, Filter: Frage G15_1 Pos. 1-2 (“SaaS wird bereits genutzt“, “Nutzung ist geplant“)

A.2.23 Frage G21, Filter: Frage G15_3 Pos. 1 (“IaaS wird bereits genutzt“)

A.2.24 Frage G22, Filter: Frage G13 Pos. 3-5 geklickt (“kommt in Frage“/ “in nächster Zeit geplant“/ “wird bereits genutzt“)

A.2.25 Frage G23, Filter: Frage G13 Pos. 3-5 geklickt (“kommt in Frage“/ “in nächster Zeit geplant“/ “wird bereits genutzt“)

A.2.26 Frage G24, Filter: Frage G13 Pos. 3-5 geklickt (“kommt in Frage“ “in nächster Zeit geplant““wird bereits genutzt“)

A.2.27 Frage G25, Filter: Frage G13 Pos. 3-4 geklickt (“kommt in Frage“/“in nächster Zeit geplant“)

A.2.28 Frage G26, Filter: Frage G13 Pos. 1-4 geklickt (“noch nichts von Cloud gehört“/“kommt nicht in Frage“/“kommt in Frage“/“in nächster Zeit geplant“)

Objective & Topics

This master thesis aims to identify the most relevant cloud computing applications and the key success factors for their adoption within small- and medium-sized businesses. The research examines how these companies perceive, accept, and currently utilize cloud services, while providing insights into barriers and necessary strategic approaches for service providers.

• Cloud computing service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and their specific benefits for SMEs.
• Empirical analysis of the current cloud adoption status and future usage plans in various industry sectors.
• Identification of critical success factors categorized into security, cost, technology, support, and supplier-related aspects.
• Analysis of market trends and the role of cloud-based solutions in supporting core business processes.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the context, the objectives of the research, and the methodological approach used in the thesis.

2 Fundamentals: This section establishes the theoretical basis by defining software applications, cloud computing service models, success factors, and the characteristics of small- and medium-sized businesses.

3 State-of-the-art research: This chapter reviews existing studies on cloud computing adoption, specifically focusing on the insurance and logistics sectors.

4 Empirical survey: This section details the objective and methodology of the conducted online survey, including the sample composition across various industries.

5 Analysis of cloud computing applications for small- and medium-sized businesses: This chapter presents the empirical results regarding the acceptance and usage of various cloud computing models and specific business applications.

6 Analysis of success factors for cloud computing for small- and medium-sized businesses: This chapter evaluates the critical security, cost, technology, support, and supplier-related factors influencing the decision to adopt cloud services.

7 Conclusions: The final chapter summarizes the research findings and highlights the main challenges and opportunities for cloud adoption in the SME sector.

Keywords

Cloud Computing, Software as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, Small and Medium-sized Businesses, SMEs, IT Adoption, Success Factors, Empirical Investigation, Data Security, Cost Transparency, Business Strategy, IT Innovation, Cloud Strategy, Market Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this master thesis?

The thesis explores the adoption of cloud computing technologies among small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), specifically identifying which applications are most relevant and what factors determine the successful implementation of these services.

What are the primary thematic areas covered?

The work covers theoretical foundations of software and cloud models, state-of-the-art research in specific industries like insurance and logistics, and a comprehensive empirical analysis of SME requirements and barriers.

What is the primary research objective?

The primary goal is to identify relevant cloud solutions for SMEs and analyze key success factors that service providers need to address to successfully facilitate cloud adoption.

What scientific methodology was applied?

The research combines an extensive literature review with an empirical investigation, consisting of an online survey conducted with IT decision-makers from 613 companies.

What does the main part of the work address?

The main part encompasses a detailed analysis of cloud service usage (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS) and categorizes success factors into security, cost, technology, support, and supplier-related domains.

Which keywords characterize this work?

Key terms include Cloud Computing, SMEs, SaaS, Success Factors, IT Adoption, and Digital Transformation.

Why is "Software as a Service" (SaaS) the most relevant model for SMEs according to the research?

SaaS is preferred because it offers SMEs immediate access to business functionalities via the internet without the high initial capital investment, complex maintenance, or local infrastructure requirements typical of traditional models.

How significant is the "Data storage in Germany" factor?

The study reveals that data location is considered an essential factor by SMEs in Germany, driven by a preference for local partners and concerns regarding data security and regulatory compliance.

What role does "support" play in the adoption of cloud services?

Support is a critical success factor; SMEs prioritize a permanent contact person reachable via hotline or email, preferably offering support in the German language to assist through the planning, migration, and operational phases.

What does the survey conclude about the current information level of SMEs?

The research identifies a significant information gap; many SMEs lack sufficient knowledge about cloud best practices, which suggests that service providers should shift their focus towards consultancy to accelerate adoption decisions.