More security, additional functionalities and maximum flexibility - this is what industrial companies expect from software from the cloud. According to the study, 81% of participants agree with the statement that software from the cloud will become the new standard. These are the findings of the current study "Spotlight Future 2024", which was conducted on behalf of Aras. It surveyed 835 managers in the USA, Europe and Japan.

"A rethink has taken place in the boardroom. Gone are the days when in-house IT with large server rooms was celebrated as a flagship and an expression of entrepreneurial foresight. Now it's all about: the future lies in the cloud," says Jens Rollenmüller, Regional Vice President at Aras. The fact that 81 of the companies surveyed are convinced that software from the cloud will become the new standard reflects the changed framework conditions in the industry.

Most important aspect: Automatic updates

"Increasing competition is forcing companies to react more quickly to market changes and focus on their core competencies. Having your own data center is usually more of a hindrance in such pressure situations and often acts as a brake pad," continues Rollenmüller.

The most important aspect for companies is automatic updates - including maintenance, according to Aras. "Every second company cites the updates carried out externally as the relevant point. These complex and often time-critical activities are outsourced," says Rollenmüller. However, easy access to new functions (41 percent) and increased flexibility (40 percent) are also important for industrial companies. This is followed by points such as high security standards (39%), a greater scope of services (37%) and lower costs (35%).

A striking international comparison: in the DACH region and France, the approval rate for the cloud is above average at 91%. In the UK, the figure is 88% and in the USA 82%. The downward outlier is Japan, where only 60% of the companies surveyed currently expect cloud software to become the new standard.

Greater flexibility in the industry

By moving to the cloud, the industry is gaining flexibility and design options: "Cloud applications are better suited in terms of their system architecture, including for providing interfaces or integrating innovations such as AI." These system-related advantages are in demand: 93 percent of PLM users state that flexibly adaptable product lifecycle management is important or even very important to them. "Cloud technology is a real game changer, especially for applications that rely on data exchange or enable it in the first place. With modern PLM, companies can react dynamically to customer requests, integrate technological innovations into production more quickly or comply with stricter regulatory requirements," says Aras expert Rollenmüller.

The study is available for free download here.