The Cloud is Not Ready for Prime Time

I've discussed "cloud computing" before in the blog and with many Synchro32 customers and perspective customers.  I remain firm in my footing that the "cloud" just is not ready for prime time.  Yes, I agree, one day the cloud will be where the data is stored for virtually everything, but not today, nor next week, and certainly not next year.

Very recently, Amazon experienced a major outage of their "cloud" service.  This event started on the Thursday before the Good Friday / Easter weekend.  As the "cloud" became a lightning storm, I imagined how metalcasters would respond to not being able to enter orders, process production, and ship - the day before the long holiday weekend.  Based on my twelve years experience in the "bowels of the foundry", I know that the days leading up to a long weekend are crunch time for metalcasters - getting shipments out the door and on the road.  If your "cloud" is down, then effectively you can not process and you can't ship. 

Some might say that you could ship without generating all of the paperwork documentation, EDI transactions, barcodes, RFID's, and customs forms - but in reality, many customers reject shipments without the proper paperwork and barcodes.  The items are returned and there is a "fine" issued by the customer for non-conformance.  The return shipment is billed to the metalcaster, as well as the "non-conformance" and then the metalcaster has to reship it all, on their dime.

Nope, now more than ever, with the economy on the rebound and metalcasters protecting the bottom line through cost control, this is not the time or place to get into the clouds.  If the worlds leading provider of cloud computing resources can't maintain 100% up-time at the six sigma level, then the cloud is not ready for prime time.  

Until next time, see you on down the road.

BTW - have you thought about attending GIFA?  If not, you really need to think globally and attend.