Why You Should Consider Moving Your Airline Software to the Cloud

Cloud technology is reshaping business in many industries around the world: healthcare, education, government services and even financial organisations are waking up to the opportunities for streamlined processes, increased efficiency and improved operational reliability that the cloud provides. And the airline industry is no exception. With so many disparate operations spread out over vast geographical areas, having a centralised system for controlling documentation, processes and schedules is vital in running an airline that operates safely, on budget and on time.Here’s a look at how moving your airline’s operations into the cloud can benefit your business:

The Cloud Isn’t ‘Just an IT Thing’

Cloud technology has been building momentum over the past few years, particularly in the enterprise world. But today’s cloud solutions have come a long way from the simple storage applications like Dropbox. It is now possible to host entire IT infrastructures in the cloud rather than maintain your own in-house, which allows users to log in to your system remotely from anywhere in the world. Far from being exclusively the realm of IT and technology, the cloud is proving to be one of the most important enablers of business efficiency available to us today.

How does the cloud help businesses achieve better operational and financial efficiency?

Cloud Airline Software has Many Benefits

It helps reduce total cost of ownership

As cloud technology matures, it’s becoming possible to migrate an increasing number of operations onto cloud platforms. This means that fewer IT resources are required on-site, which in turn means a significant reduction in equipment, maintenance and upgrade budgets. Specialised cloud airline software is tailored to the specific needs of airline companies.For example, flight operations documents and company manuals are easily adapted and sent to all your staff’s devices, meaning pilots and crew have on-demand access to documentation on the ground and in the air.

This means flight operations can make fewer demands on airline IT departments to introduce innovation with fewer implications for your overall IT strategy, making it possible to choose a system that best suits your requirements.

It keeps airlines flexible and scalable

Rather than requiring extensive physical infrastructure like in-house systems, airline cloud software takes your IT needs off-site. This doesn’t only mean you’re exposed to less on-site risk, it makes it easy to scale systems up or down at a moment’s notice, depending on the needs of your airline at any given time. Migrating your IT needs to the cloud also means you’re protected from unexpected spikes in demand crashing your servers, or spending unnecessary budget on infrastructure that isn’t used to its full potential.

It’s safer and more secure than in-house systems

Safety is a concern for any business (just look at the number of news stories about high-profile ransomware and data theft in recent months), but professionals in our industry have a more profound understanding of that fact. In spite of this, airlines often rely on legacy systems that pose a significant threat to the safety of both their own and their passengers’ data. What’s more, many airlines lack the resources internally to ensure continuation of service in the event of an outage or cyber-attack. Cloud providers specialise in providing safe and secure services to their customers, and as such they’re able to provide security and redundancy features that might be out of budget for some airlines.

IT BRINGS GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED TEAMS CLOSER TOGETHER

One of the most significant benefits of the cloud is that it allows team members to connect effortlessly across geographic borders. For enterprises like airlines whose operations span across the globe, keeping your team on the same page at all times isn’t an added benefit; it’s a crucial requirement for safe and efficient operations. Airline cloud software allows your team to share a single version of your documents that is updated in real-time, which reduces rework, prevents accidental duplication or deletion of key documents, and allows your team to work on the same page no matter how far away they are geographically. 

IT ALLOWS FOR EASIER INNOVATION AND HELPS CREATE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

The flexibility and scalability of cloud software makes it possible to implement new processes or systems with minimal disruption, which means it’s easy to experiment with innovative new ideas at little to no risk. Forward-thinking airlines should see this as an opportunity to rapidly evolve their service offerings to differentiate themselves from the competition and create a competitive advantage. Airline cloud software also automates many of the time-intensive manual tasks ordinarily dealt with by airline personnel, which frees your staff to focus on maintaining a safe and efficient flight operation.

Conclusion

Airline cloud software has the potential to redefine the way your airline operates, both in terms of the level of service you provide your customers, and your ability to remain compliant and secure from digital and physical threats. To that end, it’s important to partner with a technology provider that understands the complex world of airlines as well as the cloud technology landscape. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of a partnered airline document management solution, download our free guide here.