Cloud-based solutions allow ... firms to quickly and effectively identify, experiment with, and deploy external technical solutions without compromising operational efficiency (Aral et al., 2010)
Today most organisational operations, including supply chains, are powered by IT. Flexible technologies are becoming increasingly important and the topic of 'cloud computing' is generating a lot of interest (Schramm et al., 2011). Cloud-based computing allows companies to lease their digital assets while computers, data centres, applications and databases are located somewhere 'in the cloud', not on a company's premises. Cloud offerings can be rented, thus allowing the company to shift IT from a capital expense to an operating expense. Vendors are generally responsible for maintenance, administration, capacity planning, troubleshooting and backups (McAfee, 2011).
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Automated buying usually accelerates purchase cycle time, increases inventory control and improves contract compliance (Lysons and Farrington, 2006).
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ECommerce offers a wide range of benefits to customers and to businesses, including cost and time savings (Laudon and Laudon, 2007).
ESourcing automates contract lifecycle management (CIPS: Electronic Commerce and e-Business).