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The Role of Cloud Computing during Covid-19 Pandemic

2021-08-28

The covid-19 crisis has accelerated de adoption of cloud computing by the financial sector as part of its process of digitalization.

Most financial institutions are still in the early stages in the cloud adoption process, however, the covid-19 has been an accelerant of all digitalization strategies where the cloud appears as a key enabler.

Cloud computing has played a major role in virus research, drug research and development, and information dissemination.

New technologies present opportunities

In reality, though, few providers have reserved enough capacity to make the adjustment. Those that can demonstrate their strength and adaptability can do so.

By taking advantage of these and other opportunities, cloud providers can have a real impact on how much cloud-based digital work becomes the norm rather than the exception.

AI against the Covid-19

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used as a tool to support the fight against the viral pandemic that has affected the entire world since the beginning of 2020.

China, the first epicenter of this disease and renowned for its technological advance in this field, has tried to use this to its real advantage. Its uses seem to have included support for measures restricting the movement of populations, forecasting the evolution of disease outbreaks, and research for the development of a vaccine or treatment. With regard to the latter aspect, AI has been used to speed up genome sequencing, make faster diagnoses, carry out scanner analyses or, more occasionally, handle maintenance and delivery robots.

Digital technology, including information technology and AI, are therefore proving to be important tools to help build a coordinated response to this pandemic. The multiple uses also illustrate the limits of what can currently be achieved by this very technology, which we cannot expect to compensate for structural difficulties such as those experienced by many health care institutions around the world.

Cloud computing also helps the manufacturers

Cloud computing enables manufacturers to access production data and controls, remotely and in real-time. By continuously uploading data to the cloud, manufacturers can obtain a comprehensive view of their operations, monitoring where products are, controlling what product lines are doing, and analyzing gathered data, without the need to be physically present at the site of production.

The advantages of cloud computing may have become more appealing during the COVID-19 pandemic, as working from home becomes increasingly common and manufacturers turn to remote access strategies as a means to reduce the number of employees that are required to be physically present at a manufacturing location. Remote access to both individual machines and the larger enterprise management system can allow at least some of the workforce to avoid the plant floor, while also enabling remote troubleshooting and maintenance from OEMs.