A move to the cloud may be coming in a big wave for the automotive industry, according to one analyst. Cloud computing will change the industry, just as it has for many others already.

Three main areas in the automotive industry are poised for a cloud liftoff, namely: partnerships and integration, manufacturer to dealer to customer chain, and automotive infotainment.

In the case of automotive infotainment, the cloud has already made an impact. From online maps to music managers, cloud tools are finding their ways into cars in a big way. Microsoft, Android, QNX, and Genivi have already envisioned cloud-connected infotainment devices.

On the backend, companies involved in mergers and acquisitions will eventually find it easier to combine their efforts while managing their businesses from the cloud. Large-scale migrations of servers hosting business management software may be a thing of the past.

Companies like OpenText have recognized the technological shift coming in the automotive industry and are offering on-demand services such cloud-based design and simulation.

The automotive industry must be able to keep up with the face pace of modern business, and that means finding a way to keep the flow of information from manufacturer to dealer to customer open and and moving quickly. To that end, automotive companies can also save money in the process by outsourcing the infrastructure involved in delivering these services, allowing them to focus on building and distributing vehicles rather than managing technology.