Beyond regulation, there may not be too many ties between the trucking industry and the federal government. But when it comes to eliminating waste, duplication and inefficiencies these very different segments may see eye to eye.
For the government, a big push toward adopting cloud-based applications and services can partially be attributed to its annual spending of more than $80 billion on IT-related purchases and efforts.
Karen Evans, former head of the Office of Management and Budget’s IT organization, believes using cloud computing could shave 15 to 20 percent off the federal IT technology budget. The caveat, Evans told Nextgov, is that government agencies must commit to reforming how they manage data and processes, not just the technology that houses that data.
Employing the Internet to deliver services and software, the cloud offers economies of scale not otherwise available to many organizations. With a subscription-based model, government agencies can purchase the level of service their budget can afford, Government Executive contributor Medhat Galal writes.
”It’s clear why cloud computing and shared services are becoming essential to the federal government’s plans to transform not only IT, but customer service overall,” Galal adds. “Agencies that compare what cloud providers offer against their needs will find that the cloud surpasses anything they can accomplish with their current IT infrastructure.”
Within the private sector, the trucking industry can also enjoy the benefits of the cloud. Enhanced communication, increased efficiencies and reduced costs are just some of the reasons for adopting a web-based service management platform.
Manufacturers, service locations and fleets gain a collaborative tool to make better and more timely service management decisions through easy access to information traditionally trapped in separate silos.
Fleets using such a cloud platform acquire the ability to capture and maintain inspection, maintenance and repair requirements in a single place. Truck manufacturers and service locations can utilize the platform to revolutionize customer relationships through a common and consistent web-based service initiation and write-up process.
While government officials have often been accused of having their collective heads in the cloud, they may be on to something. Driving in the direction of the cloud can also deliver a smoother ride for the trucking business.
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