Title: Cloud computing for SMEs, servitisation through contracts

Authors: Sarfaraz Ghulam Muhammad

Addresses: SRH Hochschule Berlin, Ernst Reuter Platz 10, 10587 Berlin, Germany; Universidad de Granada, Paseo de Cartuja, 7, 18011 Granada, Spain

Abstract: Cloud computing is a web-based technology available on the internet. In recent years, the internet has enabled several technologies including internet of things (IoT) and cloud applications. Cloud computing is one of those technologies that applies the concept of business servitisation, whereby delivered services are derived from physical infrastructures owned by service providers. Cloud computing has several uses in businesses operating at different scale. This paper discusses the application of the cloud in small businesses with relatively small IT setups and infrastructures and their access to state-of-the-art services. It focuses on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and how their requirements for various services and applications are addressed by applications hosted on the cloud. Moreover, this paper addresses the role of cloud service and the concept of servitisation in cloud computing and highlights the role of governance and contracts as part of the process of service delivery.

Keywords: cloud computing; servitisation; SMEs; cloud service provision; IT governance; cloud governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2020.110912

International Journal of Business Environment, 2020 Vol.11 No.3, pp.239 - 253

Received: 06 Apr 2019
Accepted: 21 Nov 2019
Published online: 01 Nov 2020 *

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