At your service

How cloud computing is shaping services - even your jeans

While hiring software and other online services is nothing new, Dutch company Mud Jeans is bringing the Everything as a Service (XaaS) concept into the real world. They claim each pair of jeans is owned by the purchaser, but Mud owns the cotton the jeans are made of. They'll also fix your jeans and want them back when you're done. They then recycle them into torn jeans or a new pair. Welcome to the new frontier in XaaS.

How businesses can benefit

There are many online services we now pay for without having to own, such as cloud-based software, where the service is hosted remotely instead of on-site. The user is not responsible for ownership or maintenance; they simply pay a fee to use it.

Companies like GoToAssist offer worldwide IT support, meaning businesses no longer need in-house IT staff. The US-based remote support tool allows subscribers access to 24-hour software support and GoToAssist staff can remotely access subscribers' computers to fix problems, even when no one is at the machine. This allows SME's in particular to cut labour, premises and IT costs, while giving them greater flexibility.

As the XaaS frontier expands, other markets are also being developed, including Delivery as a Service, in which companies like Pizza Hut use Uber Rush instead of in-house staff to deliver their pizzas.

This is a rapidly growing sector, with cloud software revenues predicted to reach US$106 billion by 2016 according to Cisco's Global Cloud Index. That's a 21% rise on this year. One thing is certain, XaaS is part of the future of business.

To find out how Vodafone can help you become a Ready Business, visit vodafone.co.nz/readybusiness