Cloud Computing Adoption in Small and Medium- Sized Enterprises (SMEs) of Asia and Africa

Abstract

Cloud computing is a rapidly emerging technology over the last few years that has abolished the burden of purchasing heavy hardware and licensed software. Cloud computing has been advantageous to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), but still numerous SMEs have not adopted cloud computing to delve into its appealing benefits. Asia and Africa vary notably regarding their innovative capability. Asia has been competent to advance and sustain world leadership in technological innovations whereas Africa has not developed significantly in these terms. A seldom comparative study has been implemented on the reasons for the innovation gap between these two continents. This article examines and compares the cloud computing adoption from a Geo-regional framework; Asia and Africa. A comparative study is used to organize the findings from China in Asia, and Nigeria in Africa. The article identifies the probable benefits, usage of cloud computing and level of cloud computing adoption amid SMEs in Nigeria and China. The paper explores the margin that subsists amongst the level of cloud computing adoption in SMEs of these two countries and specifies challenges particular to each country intercepting the complete cloud computing adoption and proposes solutions for Nigerian SMEs to beat these challenges. Furthermore, the article contributes proof-supported intrusion for cloud service providers, the government and the capitalism to enhance the cloud computing adoption amid SMEs to eventually determine the enterprises for the probable financial advantage.