Questions
- I use complex spreadsheets to manage my life cycle budgets, what are the advantages of using kykloud over my current system?
- kykloud is a SaaS product- what does this mean and how does it differ to traditional IT software?
- We have already invested in a bespoke software solution, what would be the advantages of changing to kykloud?
- What type of organisations would typically use kykloud?
- Who within an organisation would typically use kykloud?
- How does kykloud work with my existing management software?
- How easy is it to import existing data in to kykloud?
- My budgets are being ever squeezed, what cost justifications can I give for investing in kykloud?
- Is my data safe with kykloud?
- Who can access my data?
- Is there any limit on the number of users I can have on the system?
- Can I export my data?
- What is lifecycle costing?
Answers
I use complex spreadsheets to manage my life cycle budgets, what are the advantages of using kykloud over my current system?
Spreadsheets have a place and are great for providing general administrative support to a business. They are a great tool for most day to day businesses calculations. They are terrible for collaborative working and consolidating information when held in many spreadsheets used by multiple people in different locations. When tasked with complex financial calculations or long term forecasting in addition to the collaborative issues is when you see real and proven risk entering your business and processes. kykloud removes this risk and ensures that complex data is managed safely and accurately across multiple users and sites. Read our blog ‘no more spreadsheets’
kykloud is a SaaS product- what does this mean and how does it differ to traditional IT software?
Software as a service is software that is hosted centrally in the cloud which is accessed by users via a web browser over the Internet.
It has become common place for most business to use SaaS software as part of their enterprise solutions, including accounting, collaboration, customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), invoicing, email, human resource management (HRM) and content management.
Unlike traditional software, users needn’t sign up to expensive user licence agreements but instead subscribe to the software for a monthly or annual fee. They can then access the software from any location provided they have web access. This allows data to be updated in the field and presented in real time regardless of the number of users or locations.
It is increasingly being recognised as the safest, most cost effective option, so much so that the leading traditional enterprise companies who have built their business on selling subscriptions to their software have incorporated SaaS in to their business strategies.
We have already invested in a bespoke software solution, what would be the advantages of changing to kykloud?
If you have invested in an in-house solution the chances are that it only solves part of your whole life costing, condition assessment and reporting needs – kykloud can help link these systems together. Kykloud is a single repository describing your infrastructure and built assets, we provide live feedback on condition with in field condition assessment. Kykloud can therefore take the data from existing systems, and act as the glue holding this data together when creating portfolio level visibility and reporting.
Kykloud also provides a unique link to design and construction data as part of BIM; we have developed are leading technology to interface with BIM so that what happens in kykloud is very part of BIM in the lifecycle phase.
What type of organisations would typically use kykloud?
Any organisation which has the need to manage large portfolios of build assets would benefit greatly from using kykloud.
Typical users would include;
- Facilities and estates managers
- Property managers
- Owner occupier in-house property teams
- Central government and local authority procurement and capital works departments
- PFI investors, operators and contractors
- Retail property and estates managers
- Social housing portfolio and estate managers
- Private landlords
- FM, surveying and real estate consultancies
Who within an organisation would typically use kykloud?
Anyone who needs to know how to save money on their repair and maintenance budgets would benefit from using kykloud. The software provides users with a detailed, accurate assessment of the level of expenditure needed to maintain their portfolios.
How does kykloud work with my existing management software?
We solve a specific problem but we do this through collaboration and integration with existing systems. Kykloud is a cloud based solution, which means that any customer can integrate existing software using our API. This means finance, Computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS), Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems already in use can be utilised to automate some links between business data. Updating actual spends from finance systems, synchronising work items in the CMMS with the kykloud annual spend forecasts.
How easy is it to import existing data in to kykloud?
kykloud understand that some businesses have their infrastructure and estate data in multiple locations and in multiple formats. We have developed a method of easily consolidating the information which describes your built assets into a single source for import. This standards based approach enables us to import both asset information and life cycle cost budget and forecast information in one go.
You can also import data directly into our software from BIM software using the IFC data format. We are an Autodesk partner.
My budgets are being ever squeezed, what cost justifications can I give for investing in kykloud?
Kykloud is a cost effective software solution which does not require large upfront capital expenditure unlike traditional software packages. The monthly cost can be significantly outweighed by the typical cost savings it brings. Having simple real time access to your complex data allows you to easily identify areas where savings can be made and provides you with an accurate long term view of your assets, allowing you to finance projects accordingly. See our kykloud in action page for real examples of cost savings.
What’s more you can include kykloud as part of the overall project cost, so you benefit whilst someone else meets the cost.
Is my data safe with kykloud?
Yes. Your data is very safe. We are experts in software development with decades of combined experience in safely and securely delivering enterprise class software via the internet. Our products use the latest in database technology which is always backed up to offsite locations for your added protection.
Our Head of Information Security David Cairns (MBCS CITP) is an international known data security advisor with several overseas clients and is a principal ISMS ISO 27001 auditor (International Register of Certificated Auditors). He is an expert in business process development and information security and has completed projects for international, national and local government including EU governments, UK Ministry of Defence, UK Ministry of Justice, UK Highways Agency as well as leading finance and engineering businesses.
Our software is very secure, with access control written in accordance with CESG guidelines, but we recognise that in addition to robust software security our organisation, our staff and processes are equally as important in ensuring the security of customer data.
kykloud partners world class (Tier 3-4) datacentre hosting providers which means:
- 24/7 on-site security
- heat, fire and flood protection
- Onsite battery and generator backup power
- Data centre certification to ISO 27001 compliance
In addition, the hosting architecture is provided with ‘N+1’ resilience throughout which means that if a server fails we have another one waiting; if the power fails the generator kicks in, and if we lose a network connection to the web there is another feed waiting; in other words there is no single point of failure.
kykloud data is backed up to secure storage vaults in ISO27001 accredited data centres. For added peace of mind backup data is replicated between geographically diverse data centre facilities.
Who can access my data?
Only defined users can access your data and all information related to user access to data is encrypted, which guarantees that only the people you authorize can access your data.
Is there any limit on the number of users I can have on the system?
NO this is the beauty of the SaaS model. You pay only for the level of users that your business requires and can increase or decrease this amount effortlessly, without the need to invest in technical expertise. This allows for variations in the size of projects, fluctuation in workforce etc.
Can I export my data?
YES you can export your data -we have made this process very simple so that the user can do it themselves if they wish.
What is lifecycle costing?
In the past, comparisons of asset alternatives, whether at the concept or detailed design level, have been based mainly on initial capital costs. However, with growing pressure to achieve better outcomes from assets, ongoing operating and maintenance costs must be considered as they consume most resources over the asset’s service life.
Life Cycle Costing is a process to determine the sum of all the costs associated with an asset or part thereof, including acquisition, installation, operation, maintenance, refurbishment and disposal costs. It is therefore pivotal to the asset management process at the planning phase to set budgets and re-forecast expenditure on an on-going basis.
Life Cycle Management is the process of managing lifecycle budgets, setting expenditure forecast on a regular basis and then monitoring expenditure against budgets.
Life Cycle Costing incorporates both Life Cycle Cost Planning which occurs during development or manufacture and implementation of that plan by Life Cycle Cost Management as the asset is used or occupied.
Life Cycle Costing forms an input to evaluation processes such as Value Management, Economic Appraisal and Financial Appraisal.