Motivation: Cloud computing represents a paradigm shift in IT, since it allows users to conveniently access computing resources as pay per use services. The number of cloud offerings, ranging from data storage and processing (e.g. Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud), to office and collaboration tools (e.g. Google Apps), to business software (e.g. Salesforce.com, Netsuite), is steadily growing. At the same time, cloud computing is converging with two other IT innovations, social media and mobile technologies, to transform user behavior while creating new collaboration platforms and business opportunities.
Project Objectives: Our research investigates cloud computing from a business perspective, with a focus on customer service. We consider customer service as particularly suited for cloud computing, since it is inherently distributed, relies on high-quality information and requires efficient interactions between customers, service providers and product manufacturers.
In our vision, the “Service Cloud” leverages cloud computing to support global service business in serving their customers throughout the entire life-cycle.
Our research project focuses on three main questions related to the “Service Cloud”:
- Technology scouting: Which innovative cloud solutions are emerging for the service business? How can they be classified?
- Cloud services and architecture: How can companies leverage cloud services for improving business processes and information flows internally and externally with customers / partners? What are the implications on business and IS architecture?
- Business scenarios and benefits: What are business scenarios and related benefits for using the “Service Cloud”?
Project information
Duration: 12 months (June 2012 – June 2013)
Team: Christine Legner, Thomas Boillat
Partner: proaxia consulting group