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Cloud technology is firmly entrenched in business processes. But the benefits of cloud working are beginning to make an impact in unexpected areas - such as the mobile devices we carry.

 

Although you’ll probably have heard of Chromebooks in consumer terms, Chromebooks are increasingly cropping up in the business world. And for a host of very good reasons. In this article, we take a look at how and why the move to the cloud is improving the enterprise laptop. Connectivity is now at the heart of all digital business, and therefore the use of cloud-based applications is much less of a risk than it was even just a few years ago. Connectivity levels have risen across the board in a very short period of time, and with Wi-Fi AX and the imminent arrival of 5G (offering significantly enhanced speed and connectivity), the number of business locations without high-quality wireless data connections is dwindling fast. Read more:

• Find out how to set up your Chromebook as a PoS device
• Laptop or tablet? Which works best for business?

In addition, the value of business data is increasingly recognised, and the benefits of managing enterprise data flow via the cloud is now widely accepted. Business users are increasingly familiar with cloud-based systems and processes as a result, further accelerating adoption. Chromebooks come of age Google’s Chrome OS has been specifically designed for mobile users, which means that it’s particularly low-demand in terms of storage. It’s also efficient, only sipping at battery power. This leads to extended battery life, as well as less bloatware around the device itself. Meanwhile, Google’s ongoing wooing of the business community has been highly successful, with G Suite going head to head with Microsoft's Office 365. Over 5 million businesses now use its platform, tempted by its compatibility, speed and ease of access. The result is that Google’s platform has grown up considerably, offering not only a broad suite of enterprise-ready apps and services, but integration with high-profile enterprise collaboration services such as Slack. Enterprise-level control Perhaps most importantly, G Suite offers enterprise-level controls as standard, such as a centralised admin policy, fully-compliant encryption standards and enterprise-grade Single Sign ON (SSO). This makes it an attractive package for many enterprises.

 

ownloading data to unsecured mobile devices and subsequently losing control of those devices (through theft or other everyday accidents) is no longer acceptable. While solutions such as full-disk encryption are available, they do represent another layer of administration and potentially a barrier to everyday office collaboration. Cloud-based systems, on the other hand, positively enable seamless internal sharing, while retaining security and invisibly managing matters such as backups, revision control and even disaster recovery. Of course, Chromebooks allow users to work offline too, so short breaks in connectivity are no barrier. Lighter, faster, better hardware Chromebook shipments are estimated to hit 10.1million units in 2019, up from 8.9 million in 2018 (according to Statista), and rising business demand is playing a key role in this 13.5% year on year increase. Chromebooks of the past were relatively clunky beasts, and in some cases incorporated many of the disadvantages of laptops with the disadvantages of tablets, making them a poor choice for most mobile workers. However, the technical capability of modern Chromebooks has improved exponentially and a model like the ASUS Chromebook C223 is a good example. It features a robust 10 hours of battery life - easily enough for a full day’s work - in a lightweight 11.6-inch chassis. Weighing in at under a kilo, and with plenty of wired and wireless connectivity, it’s easy to see why Chromebooks such as this are an attractive choice for professionals on the move. Style as well as substance Of course, business users have a wide range of requirements from their mobile technology, ranging from the ability to edit spreadsheets on the train to running seamless presentations in the boardroom. This is where innovative devices like the acclaimed ASUS Chromebook Flip really deliver. It converts easily between different form factors, offers premium design and performance, and has a look that has been widely copied but never bettered. In short, the days of mobile workers needing to carry heavy standalone ‘computers’ is rapidly coming to an end. Cloud-based working is fast becoming the norm and, considering the inbuilt business benefits of lower costs, improved collaboration, stronger security and better access control, it’s easy to see why. To find out more, browse the full ASUS Chromebook range here.