Scope of Cloud Computing in Business: A Compendious and Methodical Analysis of Trends in Publications and Patents

Abstract

Cloud Computing was a disruptive technology that reshaped the entire global industry, decentralizing the operational exchange and use of data and information. More companies are transitioning to a cloud-based infrastructure and are shifting some basic as well as advanced functionalities to it due to its salient features such as security, availability, scalability and popularity. Nevertheless, there is uncertainty attached to its limitations considering the possible saturation of the ceiling of growth and subsequent maturity of the technology’s potential. Therefore, it is essential to grasp the scope of the technology to be ready for the prospective trends and changes, as well as to channel its full incremental potential. For this, an elucidated statistical analysis of the technology is conducted, including the assessment of the trends of publications and patents signifying the evolution of the technology, its projected time of maturity, and finally, a befitting evidential roadmap for its future. This original work aims to add value by analyzing the numerical information concerning the growth of the technology over the years since its inception, and subsequently construct a detailed plan to adapt business objectives to the possible tapering of the growth curve of Cloud and build a suggestive and tentative contingency plan for the stage of technological maturity. Our finding indicates that Cloud technology may reach its maturity sooner than expected and an investment today might give the companies a competitive edge early on in the era of technological advancements and uncertainty.