Clearer cloud solutions for business growth are helping the technology shed its reputation as a mere efficiency tool.

In the latest survey of American and European IT leaders conducted by CA Technologies, analysts found that cloud solutions were not only meeting, but often exceeding customer expectations as time went on.

As market analysts survey which applications will have the largest office impact moving forward, consensus seems to be that applying cloud solutions for business analytics could promote powerful progress.

Drawn in by the allure of multipoint access, easy upgrades and improved scalability, manufacturing firms are increasingly adopting cloud ERP software, business intelligence software, marketing tools and more. At the same time, substantial room for further adoption remains as manufacturers seek to improve their global operations.

Rather than ignoring today's cloud solutions for business, IT departments may need to be putting more effort into helping their organizations embrace them.

Cloud skeptics remain as widespread and vocal as ever, but, according to some experts, they could be going the same way as those who doubted Copernicus back in the day. While the recent arrival of the cloud paired with the enthusiasm of those touting cloud solutions for business can make it seem like a fad, these applications fill a niche that legacy, on-premise software cannot.

Consumer-based cloud applications have made most people familiar with the benefits of the environment and helped non-technical employees become confident in their ability to use Software-as-a-Service utilities. This familiarity often translates into the decision to adopt cloud solutions for business whenever a new challenge arises - in many cases without consulting IT advisors.

As with any big idea, the discussion surrounding cloud solutions for business is often subject to sudden trends and confusing rhetoric from self-proclaimed experts. With all the "knowledge" floating around, it can be easy to lose track of what cloud tools actually do and how the cloud actually works.

Financial advisors may need to embrace cloud accounting tools to stay competitive among younger small business owners. In a recent survey of small business owners by Australian information services firm CCH, two-thirds said they would consider transferring some of the services provided by their accountant to cloud financial software.

Advocates abound for cloud ERP software over on-premise solutions, noting that the elimination of server hardware and associated maintenance responsibilities makes the cloud substantially cheaper. On the other side, on-premise enthusiasts suggest that the subscription model of all cloud solutions for business means that the long-term cost is actually higher. So how can businesses determine whether to go with a cloud ERP software provider or stick to an on-premise system?

According to Gartner, the number of mobile CRM apps available will increase 500 percent by 2014. Cloud CRM solutions are expected to enjoy a parallel rise in popularity as well as they fuel mobility habits with anytime, anywhere access capabilities. can be expected to improve their mobile offerings and grow as a result.

The spreadsheet is one of the most familiar and trusted business computing tools, but those endless rows and columns of data can present challenges to organizations trying to maintain a clear understanding of everything going on across different departments. Today's cloud accounting and business analytics software tools make it easier to synchronize and integrate data from different sources while maintaining the user friendliness of traditional spreadsheet tools.

Many companies adopt cloud solutions for business because they're ready to get rid of some of the paperwork in their operations, but decision makers may not want to throw out all their fountain pens until they've nailed down a good contract. With an increasing number of cloud options available, companies need to be prudent in their selection of applications such as cloud CRM solutions and business budgeting software.

Adopting mobile tools is not just about adding a smartphone-friendly gloss to existing business processes, it means using solutions that offer full mobile access and multi-tenant support for a distributed workforce. For customer relationship management (CRM) in particular, cloud CRM software tools are essential to enabling this mobile-friendly future.

Moving to cloud applications can radically improve business results, but achieving this kind of positive effect may require changes that go beyond simply purchasing new cloud CRM software.