Exploring of Potential of Cloud Computing for Small and Medium Enterprises

Abstract

Business activities such as human resources management, payroll, finance, and accounting are crucial for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, adopting technologies such as cloud computing is expected to improve SMEs’ efficiency. The migration from current business practices to cloud computing amongst SME entrepreneurs remains a challenge. Therefore, this study presents a short review of cloud computing concepts, the characteristics, types of cloud computing service models, and also cloud computing deployment models. This study highlights the benefits and challenges faced by SMEs entrepreneurs in adopting cloud computing. Also, this study explores the existing cloud computing services provided for SMEs. The present study aims to provide a better understanding of cloud computing’s potential to be applied in helping SMEs manage their business activities.

The use of Software as a Service to improve the Dynamic Capabilities of South African Small and Medium Enterprises

“…In South Africa, SMEs are found in places such as villages, towns, and cities (Bvuma and Marnewick (2020). As previously indicated by (Maduku et al, 2016;Maziriri, 2018;Ngibe & Lekhanya, 2019;Kalidas et al, 2020;Murithi, 2021;Matekenya & Moyo, 2022) SMEs are important in South Africa as they are responsible for creating new job opportunities, reducing poverty and contributing to the GDP. However, SMEs in South Africa are faced with many challenges (Bvuma & Marnewick, 2020;Matekenya & Moyo, 2022;van Staden, 2022).…”

“…The Coronavirus disease , which began in November 2019 has caused untold human suffering across South Africa (Kalidas et al, 2020) and left an indelible impact on the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector (Kalidas et al, 2020;Kamarudin et al, 2022;Pratama et al, 2021). According to Kamarudin et al (2022), COVID-19 is a pandemic that is not limited to any part of the world.…”

“…According to Kademeteme and Twinomurinzi, (2019), the National Business Act (102) of 1996 defines SMEs as organizations with one (1) to two hundred and fifty (250) workers (Maziriri, 2018), with an annual turnover (ATOV) of R2 million (Maduku et al, 2016;Ngibe & Lekhanya, 2019;Matekenya & Moyo, 2022) and gross assets (GA) of less than (<) R10 million (Maziriri, 2018;Masocha, 2019;Bvuma & Marnewick, 2020). According to (Ndiaye et al, 2018;Kalidas et al, 2020) SMEs are important in the global economy worldwide, in both developed and developing countries. As highlighted by (Matekenya & Moyo, 2022), in South Africa, SMEs are essential because they create job opportunities, reduce poverty (Maduku et al, 2016) and they also contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Ngibe & Lekhanya, 2019;Saah, 2021).…”

“…However, despite the role and importance of SMEs in the South African economy (Saah, 2021). The COVID-19 Coronavirus caused a global economic slowdown and SMEs were most affected because they do not have resources to survive the crisis (Kalidas et al, 2020;Kamarudin et al, 2022 ) Due to movement and travel restrictions implemented to reduce the spread of the virus, SMEs in South Africa faced a tremendous loss (Kalidas et al, 2020). As a result, SMEs resort to the use of new innovative technologies (IT) such as Software as a Service (SaaS) to conduct business (Mokwena & Hlebela, 2018;Loukis et al, 2019;Khayer et al, 2020).…”

Cloud data security and various cryptographic algorithms

“…CC provides clients with virtualized resources using various technologies, such as web services, virtualization, applications, and operating systems [1]. The main advantages of CC can be summarized as cost reduction, increased productivity, stability, scalability easy management, and availability [4], [5].…”