Cloud is the new business model for innovation
We all know that in the last few years so many organizations are reimagining their businesses and choosing to migrate their systems and applications to the cloud. But this trend is more about a new business model approach than a mere technological choice.
Not by chance, since the beginning, the goal of cloud computing has been to allow users to take benefit from this technology, without the need for deep knowledge about or expertise with it. The cloud aims to cut costs and especially helps the users focus on their core business instead of being impeded by IT obstacles.
A recent Accenture report (2021, Unleashing Competitiveness on the Cloud Continuum), based on a survey of about 4,000 global business and IT leaders, shows how 5% of respondents saw up to 10% in cost savings, on average, from moving to the cloud. Besides, a small subset of these companies is seeing substantial gains from their continued cloud engagement. For example, they’re benefitting even during this difficult global pandemic because they recognize the cloud as a launchpad for innovating and new ways of operating.
In fact, many of them are discovering new opportunities and chances for meeting the ever-changing needs of the business, using the cloud not just as a single, static tool, but as a future operating model which also impacts on: the way they interact with customers, partners and employees; the way they do business; the way they use their IT systems within the organization.
These “cloud-based” companies can take their economic gains in two ways: first, they choose the right types of cloud and cloud-based services. Second, they implement advanced practices to leverage those technologies. This is a key aspect considering the choose they make will condition their results for the next three or five years.
But if that’s true, how to choose the right “cloud model” for your whole organization? This is a dynamic process which involves each business level, and where business strategic planning & consulting is essential. Anyway, below are some useful tips:
- Understand where you want to go: it’s important to develop a strategy that gets a clear vision of your core values and future aspirations, but also a clear identification of strengths and weaknesses;
- Establish cloud practices: fundamental to couple technology adoption with practices that bring discipline and help you change your non-technology areas at the pace of computational improvements;
- Accelerate innovation: prioritize your investments in “experience”, visible and accessible to both employees and customers;
- Keep committing to strategy: leaders need to establish business objectives, appropriate levels of risk-taking, and evangelize a culture for agility and growth. This is why the call to action needs to come from the top and with as much clarity and focus as possible.
Well, achieving similar gains requires to understand the power of the cloud and what it can do for your organization first. What’s more, your leadership must adopt and infuse a cloud-first culture throughout the organization.
It can definitely not be easy to bring this new business model into your organization, but you just take it step by step, moving your applications to the cloud first, and then in other business areas. If you encourage innovation and risk-taking in your team, everyone will benefit.