BasicGov / BLOG

Mike, Lucian and I attended a BCTIA (British Columbia Technology Industry Association) event in Vancouver yesterday with 200 or so other tech enthusiasts to hear from Gartner Fellow and VP Research David Mitchell Smith about cloud computing.

Our BasicGov group sat at a table with Amos Michelson with Kardium Inc. (panel member of the upcoming Dragon Den style Xcelerate forum, Ralph Turfus, Colum Caldwell with Optimal Geomatics, Stephen Nicholson with Software Productivity Center, and Steve Thomson with Thomson & Associates.

David started his presentation saying that the biggest challenge with cloud computing is the many different definitions.

Gartner has defined cloud computing as a “style of computing” which enables flexible and elastic capabilities provided as a service using existing Internet technologies. Gartner gets asked these questions most often: what is cloud computing; which cloud service will emerge; and how to leverage cloud computing.

Cloud computing presentation focussed on cloud’s main benefits:

• Cost – saving and pay as you go model
• Capabilities – provide new solutions that were not technically or economically feasible with previous technology

Gartner’s view is that a hybrid model of cloud and on-premise will dominate the next 10 years but our view is that this is for the larger organizations with more compliance issues such as in the financial industry and in government cloud will dominate. When asked which industries are ahead in the adoption of cloud IT today, David referenced government, education, pharmaceutical, and technology development testing. The biggest challenges to adoption of cloud computing are “attitudes” and it will require time and cultural changes in many industries to leap frog into this technology.

David also talked about how to start using cloud technology today:

• Assess savings
• Select an area of your business to test
• Start and migrate to cloud
• Use it and evaluate

If you’d like a copy of the presentation email me susan.kirk@basicgov.com.

The Year of the Cloud and An Overnight Success that Took Three Years

2009 will probably go down as the year when cloud computing became part of everyday jargon. It was the year when sedate business leaders spoke knowingly of the “utility model” computing. It was the year when the United States CIO revealed cloud computing as the enabling technology for better, more efficient, more open government. It was the year when the City of Los Angeles moved key parts of its day-to-day operations onto “The Cloud”.

And 2009 was the year when Larry Ellison of Oracle brought us down to earth by pointing out that “The Cloud” is just computers – chips and hardware and software – connected to a network.

But what a great year for IT and local government! 2009 was the year that city and county managers discovered they could run community development without spending a fortune on enterprise software. 2009 was the year that setting up servers for municipal IT made as much sense as using “cash for clunkers” to buy a Hummer. And 2009 was the year when city managers could reasonably expect that new software would be running weeks not years.

But, while cloud computing was a buzzword of 2009, we had started work on a cloud-based solution way back in 2006. Long before the “utility computing model” we took our experience delivering enterprise solutions for larger cities and built a cloud-based solution for cost conscious local governments.

But 2009 was the first year that many heard from us because 2009 was the first year we actively marketed BasicGov to local governments. Now, three years after we launched into the cloud, BasicGov has four modules: Planning, Permits and Inspections, Code Enforcement and Citizen Portal. And three years after we decided there had to be a better way to streamline local government, 31 cities and counties use BasicGov to serve thousands of citizens.

Three years is hardly overnight but BasicGov is tried, tested, installed and used everyday by cities across the country. Thanks to BasicGov, “The Cloud” is already home to city managers, building inspectors, planners, code enforcement officers and municipal staff. So, if you think cloud computing is the latest trend, check with your local city hall – it might just be part of their everyday business!

Happy New Year,

David Roberts, BasicGov President & CEO