Cloud Computing one of the success factors for Industry 4.0

Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,3, University of Applied Sciences Essen, course: Strategic Management, language: English, abstract: The aim of this term paper is to outline the opportunities and risks connected with the introduction of cloud systems. In addition to the strategic aspect the term paper will evaluate the economic aspect of cloud strategies by examining how to adapt the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) method to suit cloud services.

The first chapters of this paper will present the underlying relationships between Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Production and the underlying technology stack behind, followed by an overview of the cloud solutions available as of today. This paper then evaluates the strategic potential of cloud strategies before finally providing a valuation model to deal with the challenge of ascertaining the economic potential of cloud solutions.

The first objective of the term paper work is to evaluate the potential of a cloud strategy based on SWOT analysis. The second key question is how to adapt and extend information technology typical commercial valuation models to a cloud strategy based business case.