-by Jeff @ ControlVM.com, Apr 2020 | Chinese Version: https://malaysia-vps.com/疫情危机的反思-您的业务开始云了吗/

Ever since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), I had learned from friends that many companies were unable to work remotely or work from home effectively. The main reason is that their company still uses the traditional business model, which is to keep all the company’s information and systems in the company’s server. Once the employees left the company premises, they can’t read the company emails, accountant can’t process the salary payout, the sales personnel can’t access the customer’s information, and the employees can’t answer the company’s phone calls, etc. Although implementing VPN is one of the options, some would say that they can’t access to the company VPN or it is unstable at all to handle the company’s job remotely.

In fact, many companies have not or yet to prepare themselves to deal with such situations. Whether it is now or after the outbreak has improved, the transformation to Industry 4.0 is crucial at this stage to ensure that the company’s business continues to operate effectively from anywhere.

Let’s start with the most basic (at this stage I will exclude AI and IoT), the following solutions can be used for your reference:

1) Transfer the company’s telephone system to Cloud PBX
Whether you are at home or overseas, you still can answer the company’s calls. Employees can continue to communicate for free within the company phone system.

2) Transfer company email to Email Hosting service
Read your company email anytime, anywhere. The hosting service is actually more practical and zero management compare to the server in the company.

3) Use Cloud Storage – collaboration mode
File sharing, live chat, calendar sharing, etc. in an independent or dedicated environment. Employees can share files in a dedicated environment. Public cloud storage like dropbox, google drive is not preferred and should be avoided.

4) Transfer the traditional marketing system to Cloud Warehouse & Invoicing System
Online sales, invoicing, and warehouse management. Let sales staff place orders remotely, generate invoice, and check exiting stock level. The management can monitor business progress remotely by reading real-time data.

In short, migrate existing company server to Cloud Server allowing all employees continue to serve the company by remotely or work from home. Transformation is not to sacrifice or lay off your IT staff, but to let them maintain and safeguard the security of the servers, systems and your valuable. Transformation can help your company to save more in capital expenditure (capex) or operating expenditure (opex)

I hope above information able give you some big idea on how to initiate first step towards Industry 4.0.
Any comments or feedback are most welcome. If you like my write-up, you may share or forward it to your friends.

– by Jeff @ ControlVM.com, Apr 2020 | 英文版本： https://malaysia-vps.com/reaction-to-the-pandemic-crisis-have-your-business-transform-to-cloud/

自从行管令开始实行，不断从身边的友人了解到很多企业其实无法有效的远程或居家工作。原因是他们的公司还运用着传统的营运模式，既是把所有公司的资料，系统都保留在公司的服务器（server）里。离开公司后他们就无法读取公司电邮，会计无法处理工资，销售部不能读取客户的帐单，员工无法接听公司电话。。。等等问题。VPN虽然是其中一个选项，但有的说公司VPN根本登录不到或不稳定，根本无法远程处理公司职务。

其实很多企业都没有或还没有做好应对这类情况的发生。不管现在还是疫情好转后。推动工业4.0，现阶段势在必行，以确保公司业务继续有效的运行。

以最基本的开始（我就先不把AI 和 IoT 加入），以下方案可以供你们参考：

1) 把公司的电话系统转至 Cloud PBX 或 云PBX
无论你在家或海外都能接听公司的电话。员工可以继续以内部分线免费沟通。

2) 把公司电邮转至电邮托管服务 或 Email Hosting
在任何时候，任何地方读取您的公司电邮。托管服务其实比公司里的服务器更加实际和零管理。

3) 采用Cloud Storage 或 云储存 – 协调作业模式(collaboration)
独立或专用环境的文件共享，分享，live chat, 日历共享等等。员工可以在专用环境下分享文件。大众式共享如dropbox, google drive不是首选，应加以避免。

4) 把传统的行销系统转至 Cloud Warehouse & Invoicing System
线上销售，发货单，发票及货舱管理。 让销售人员远程下单，开发票，查询内部现有的货量。 老板可以远程监督业务进展和实时数据。

简单来说，把现有的公司服务器转至 Cloud Server 或 云服务器, 让所有员工都可以继续以远程或居家工作的方式继续为公司服务。 公司转型不是把您的IT人员牺牲掉或裁退 ，而是让他们为你维护和把守服务器，系统与资料的安全。

转型在资本支出 (capex) 或运营支出 (opex), 都可以为你的公司省下不少。希望以上资讯可以给您一点启发，如何开始迈向工业4.0的第一步。

有任何意见或见解，可以pm我。
喜欢的话也不妨和身边的人分享，转发。