Embracing cloud computing solutions is becoming increasingly critical for organizations looking to drive their business forward over the coming years.
Over the past decade, cloud computing adoption has seen explosive growth – at both consumer and enterprise levels. Legacy software providers such as Microsoft, Oracle and Adobe have all made big efforts to encourage users of their on-premises software offerings to upgrade to their cloud equivalents, which are usually offered on a subscription pay-as-you-go basis.
At the same time, we have seen an abundance of cloud-native providers – such as Zendesk, Workday and ServiceNow – emerge with Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings that are (and have always been) only available in the cloud. And it’s not only Software as a Service that has emerged, of course, but Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Backup as a Service (BaaS) and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) as well.
Over the course of the last ten years or so, cloud computing has evolved from being something that service providers told companies they should be adopting, to the very lifeblood that runs through most modern enterprises. As such, organizations have become increasingly accustomed to the pay-as-you-go cloud billing model, and now look upon IT purchases as a day-to-day expense, rather than a one-off investment that they will be stuck with for the foreseeable future.
Cloud Computing Future Trends
So, what does this all mean for organizations and their CIOs and CTOs in the future? Where is cloud computing going? For one thing, it’s clear that cloud computing has moved beyond being simply another option on the table and has transformed into a way of doing business. Enterprises will be able to increasingly consume IT without the constraints of having to build and maintain its underlying infrastructure.
As such, it’s imperative that CIOs and CTOs view cloud computing as a critical element of their organization’s competitiveness, and that they explore which of their services, operations and offerings would be better served by moving them to the cloud.
Achieving a New Customer Experience Dimension
The next frontier for cloud computing will be the creation of a new level of customer experience. Companies will apply intelligent technologies in conjunction with the cloud to upgrade their experience management for customers. With B2B and B2C companies built on the quality of the experience that customers have with their brand, experience management not only provides immediate feedback about how people perceive a company’s brand and products, it also impacts employee and customer satisfaction.
Combined with Internet of Things (IoT), analytics, machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing can not only change the way organizations operate, but it can also innovate the way customers interact with companies and vice versa. For example, with cloud computing, companies can collect and process large quantities of data in real-time. They can train and execute algorithms at the large scale necessary for AI. Overall, they have the ability to analyze different types and dimensions of data, including operational data and customer experience data. The deeper understanding of the company’s operations and customers can be used to build new products and services or create a better experience for customers and partners.
The cloud plays a critical role in achieving the transformative potential of combining experience data with operational data to help organizations create breakthrough customer experiences and results.
Continuous Innovation as a Service
One of the most difficult challenges for organizations is that innovation is perpetual. Innovation does not have a clear-cut end; it is a continuous endeavor. But that does not mean innovation and transformation cannot be measured. On the contrary, digital business transformation can be measured at every step of the way. One of the most important key performance indicators for digital business transformation is speed.
In this next phase of cloud computing, we are already seeing the rise of digital business services that go beyond support and maintenance and help companies to accelerate their business transformation. Companies are moving towards a circular innovation process, an innovation environment that provides the tools and services for continuous business innovation facilitated by the cloud. Innovation is becoming part of a company’s corporate culture.
In a world that can change in the speed of a tweet, it is not enough to tackle current market changes with innovation. Companies need to prepare for the future and transform themselves into an intelligent enterprise that can thrive on change. Remaining one step ahead of the competition is a key characteristic of an intelligent enterprise. Early adopters of the next generation of cloud technology and services will be today’s and tomorrow’s winners.
The Litcom approach
Moving to the cloud can be an ideal proposition for small, medium and large sized organizations. At Litcom, we conduct a thorough assessment of your IT environment to determine how much of it can be moved to the cloud and what, if anything, is better suited to remain in-house.
Litcom has professionals who are experienced in developing and aligning business and IT strategy. We can help your business understand the benefits offered by cloud computing and help you determine where the focus should be for your first project. Litcom professionals have real world experience integrating virtualized and cloud-based solutions. Contact us today for your free consultation: [email protected].
