How cloud transformation brings about new business experiences

The cloud is revolutionising business and brings about new opportunities for innovation, collaboration and IT cost reduction. The value it enables is estimated be at more than $1-trillion for Fortune 500 companies, and global cloud revenue is expected to rise from $408-billion in 2021 to $474-billion in 2022.

As a disruptive technology, the cloud offers superior performance and multi-channel user experience (UX). Mobile-first applications, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and data-driven innovation are bringing about new business experiences the world over. With innovative cloud solutions, businesses are moving away from an office monoculture to a cloud-optimised collaborative ecosystem. By removing data silos, large multinationals are becoming more agile by using cutting-edge technologies to speed up the innovation cycle and improve operational processes.

The streamlined administration of IT systems allows for a reduction in costs and optimised workflow management. For Industry 4.0, the cloud offers better performance with IoT-enabled devices. Production can be optimised, manufacturing processes can be monitored and any issues are quickly diagnosed through automated parameter tracking.

By using cross-channel data, enterprises are able to offer differentiated digital experiences. Personalisation based on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) gives businesses the competitive edge. Outdated technologies with rigid infrastructure are being replaced by virtual machines that are easily scalable. Pay-per-use payment models, such as those offered by SEACOM Business, make it more affordable for enterprises to integrate the cloud.

The cloud is transforming business

The shift to digital channels requires efficient scalability, and our cloud services make it easy for organisations to respond to surges in demand. Customer usage can vary at different times of the year and can lead to system crashes. With the cloud, companies can have the peace of mind that their servers will be able to deal with increased data traffic, particularly at peak times. Sophisticated analytics support real-time transparency and are easily managed by a centralised remote console.

Big data gathered on the cloud has brought about new business experiences for company leaders. The cloud offers key insights into human resources that can be harnessed to improve employee retention. Using machine learning software, the cloud helps human resources departments to see where resources are being effectively used and helps to reduce attrition by identifying trends in employee satisfaction and engagement. With greater visibility, business leaders can make more informed decisions.

Innovation and profitability with the cloud

The cloud speeds up the innovation cycle for large enterprises, with new product and service offerings now capable of being delivered in less than six months. Data-driven responses to market trends have allowed big corporations to reduce the time needed for research and development (R&D). Once new offerings are ready for launch, automated infrastructure for deployment has shortened the time it takes for fresh services and products to reach the market.

Cloud-based analytics allows for demand forecasting and gives large organisations new levels of agility, which in turn translates into greater profitability. Research has shown that global earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is between $10-billion and $15-billion for companies that rejuvenate their IT systems with the cloud.

New cloud-based technologies help to standardise processes for global operations. With off-the-shelf cloud solutions, such as those offered by SEACOM Business, companies needn’t waste their time and resources investing in the development of their own tech. Instead, cloud-services can be quickly and easily deployed, allowing enterprises to focus on other priorities.

Cloud transformation success stories

Cloud computing can be attributed to the success of a number of global companies. Netflix, once a chain of video stores renting and selling DVDs, has become a household name thanks to its migration to the cloud. The New York Times reduced its cost by 70% when it moved to the cloud, offering digital subscriptions as an alternative to paper-based home delivery services.

Pearson, a British-owned global educational content publisher, has leveraged cloud technologies to redirect its resources to focus on new educational projects. Pokémon Go, an augmented reality game, experienced unprecedented success by using subscription-based cloud technologies, showing that companies need not develop their own cloud infrastructure in order to be profitable.

Factors to consider with cloud migration

While the benefits of cloud transformation are easy to see, some sceptics still worry about security, compliance and configuration issues. While it is important to acknowledge these concerns, when enterprises select a reliable supplier such as SEACOM Business, these issues tend to dissolve.

By partnering with leading cybersecurity providers, SEACOM Business offers the most advanced security alongside its cloud services. While there may be some technical issues to overcome with the integration of legacy systems, our cloud architects support enterprises every step of the way in the migration to the cloud.

Cloud solutions can involve vendor lock-ins with rigid technologies, so enterprises need to be aware that not all cloud services are the same. With SEACOM Business, customers stay in control, with flexible contracts and industry-leading service-level agreements (SLAs).

A business case for cloud transformation

The roadmap for cloud migration needs to align with an organisation’s business goals and the needs of its stakeholders. Cloud strategies are most successful when aligned with the overall business strategy. The return on investment (ROI) for a digital strategy is not guaranteed, but cloud migration has shown itself to be worthwhile.

Analytics-driven transformations that leverage the cloud have allowed large-scale operations to become more responsive to changing market conditions. Once a business case for cloud transformation has been established, companies should consider choosing a cloud service provider that offers enterprise-grade solutions that are tailored to their needs. For more information or to get a quote for our various cloud services, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.

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