SuccessFactors, an online supplier of software for human resources management, aims to become the first major so-called cloud-computing services specialist to run its own data centre operation on the mainland.
The California-based software company applied to mainland authorities several months ago for permission to establish a data centre business in Shanghai that will support its growing number of domestic customers.
Cloud users may access such a server using a wide range of devices including computers, netbooks, tablet computers or smart phones. Applications are managed by the cloud server, and data is stored remotely in the 'cloud' configuration - which means at a site on the internet.
'We want to become a China-based provider of human resources management software and best practices,' said Murray Sargant (pictured), a vice-president at SuccessFactors and general manager of its operations in the Asia-Pacific and Japan.
'We're currently working with the Chinese government and producing all the needed information to ensure we that get the licence,' he said.
Founded in May 2001, SuccessFactors provides a range of software that companies subscribe to and receive over the internet on demand. The company currently runs eight data centres, most of them located in the United States.
A data centre is a secure and temperature-controlled facility linked to the internet that is built and equipped to host large-capacity server computers running software and data-storage systems.
