Boosting team productivity with scalable cloud infrastructure
ByJulian Gette
Workast publisher

Workast publisher
In the US, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are only half as productive as large organizations. If that sounds counterintuitive to you, we get it; a smaller team and simpler workflow should be easier to manage. Yet SMEs tend to lack the efficiency and output that skyrocket the sales of big corporations, stifling business growth.
To stay competitive as an SME in today’s fast-paced business landscape, this has to change. One of the most powerful tools on your side? A scalable cloud infrastructure. Get to grips with what this technology is, its benefits, and how to implement cloud scalability in this guide.
To understand scalable cloud infrastructure, we need to break down the concept into two parts:
Cloud infrastructure: This is the fleet of hardware and software that businesses use to enable work via the cloud (remotely over the internet).
Scalability: A business’s scalability refers to its ability to grow and expand to suit increasing demands on workflows, production, and output.
Scalable cloud infrastructure refers to your network of cloud technology and its ability to change depending on business growth.
For both SMEs and large corporations, cloud scalability and a fleet of useful technology can supercharge productivity. Let’s take a look at the benefits:
A key benefit of cloud infrastructure is that your team can access your software remotely. Whether jumping into product development or reviewing workflows, tasks can be done from anywhere in the world, at any time, while maintaining harmonious collaboration.
The result? A system that doesn’t slow down for anyone, regardless of whether they’re in the office or not.
By utilizing scaling in cloud computing, you can maintain this remote productivity as your business grows. Cloud software is often upgradable, allowing more users to jump onto existing systems and keep your business’s wheels moving as you scale.
Unexpected fluctuations in traffic can send workflows into a spiral. When you see an uptick in website users or sales, maintain productivity and focus with a fleet of tools designed to handle growth.
This is often known as autoscaling. Autoscale cloud hosting, for instance, instantly adapts to sudden increases in your website traffic, expanding its resources to meet demand. This reduces website downtime while maintaining an excellent user experience.
With fluctuations already managed, your team can focus on their tasks without distraction, creating more efficient processes with less stress.
Cloud software makes it easier to keep your entire team on the same page.
Using our cloud-based Board feature, for example, you can outline workflows for your entire team, separating them by department, project, or client. Add tasks and include important information, like due dates and who’s working on each job, for easier project management.
For your team's productivity, this organisation is invaluable. It removes ambiguity and ensures accountability, showing everyone how their work fits into the bigger picture. With a clear structure in place, teams can prioritize tasks effectively and meet deadlines with ease.
Pair with Calendar Sync for flawless teamwork.
The remote nature of cloud infrastructure enables instant communication. Team members can comment on shared documents in Notes, send files in seconds, and update progress on tasks from the comfort of their computer.
In terms of productivity, this reduces the amount of time needed to liaise with other team members. A quick message or shared file is all that’s required to work together.
The same goes for communication with clients. Your team can update customers on project progress remotely, with the ability to make video calls, send documents, and share dashboards, all through cloud infrastructure.
Data is a powerful driver of productivity. Cloud platforms enable real-time analytics that help teams track sales, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and make informed decisions for the business.
Your sales team, for instance, can use data to track conversion rates and:
Spot seasonal fluctuations
Identify the impact of marketing strategies
Monitor the performance of your website
Better understand your target audience
This leads to faster, smarter decisions rooted in information that’s specific to your business. It also enables teams to pivot quickly, creating a more agile business model that’s optimized for efficiency and productivity, without needing to wait for end-of-month reports.
Keeping your business’s systems up to date can be a major drain on your team’s time.
With scalable cloud technology, these crucial updates are typically done automatically on the provider's end. This ensures your system is always up and running with the latest version, while reducing the need for manual labor on your side.
Less time spent on maintenance means more time for innovation and support, benefiting the productivity of every team in your organization.
The trickiest part of cloud infrastructure scaling is setting up your system. Once your technology is in place, though, your infrastructure will take care of itself while your team reaps the productivity boosting benefits.
To help you over this initial hurdle, we’ve put together some tips to bear in mind when implementing cloud technology:
Look for cloud providers that offer auto-scaling, auto-updates, and built-in monitoring tools. These features allow your system to run with less manual input, providing your team with an infrastructure that’s as agile as they are.
Solid cloud architecture is the backbone of scalability. Avoid building a system that will crumble as your business grows by designing it to scale from day one.
We recommend prioritizing microservice architecture and containerization that breaks your application into separate components, allowing them to work independently from each other.
Don’t like the jargon? Look for software providers that offer flexible, dynamic cloud technology that’s designed to scale.
Your scalable cloud infrastructure needs to offer excellent integration. Cloud-based tools that work together harmoniously can make system upgrades simpler while offering a wider variety of features to your team.
Workast, for instance, integrates directly with Slack, allowing teams to create tasks and manage projects without leaving their messaging app. It also connects with tools like Google Workspace and Bitbucket, helping centralize communication, scheduling, and task tracking in one place.
This instantly boosts team productivity and efficiency while ensuring everyone makes the most of the tools you have. When it’s time to scale, your business will be ready.
Scalable cloud infrastructure is becoming a must-have in the business world. Whether you’re a start-up to scale or an established business with a focus on efficiency, we hope this article has helped you understand how cloud technology can align your processes with your goals.
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