[ Technical Textiles - CLOUD COMPUTING ELIMINATES FIXED IT EXPENSES.]

By eliminating the need for on-premise computer servers and individual software programs installed on desktop machines, cloud-computing transforms a company’s information technology from a fixed cost to a variable expense, like an electric utility. And, like utilities, cloudcomputing services provide “always on” reliability, eliminating the risk of downtime found with on-premise computer systems. Cloud computing enables your company to buy and use powerful PLM software for your apparel business on a “pay as you go” basis at a fraction of the cost of conventional, on-site software licenses. The affordability of cloud-based services for running business-critical IT applications has boosted the adoption of cloud computing for business in recent years. According to financial management software company Intuit, 37% of all U.S. small businesses currently run cloud-based IT services, and this number is expected to increase to 78% by 2020.

CLOUD COMPUTING, A MAJOR TREND TRANSFORMING THE WAY COMPANIES MEET THEIR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) NEEDS, OFFERS SIGNIFICANT NEW POTENTIAL FOR INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY AND TIME-TO-MARKET FOR APPAREL COMPANIES USING CLOUD-BASED PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT (PLM) SYSTEMS.