The cloud has transcended its role from a mere location for data storage and computing capacity to become the lifeblood of modern enterprises. Today, it is the engine that drives innovation and agility. According to Gartner, 95% of new digital workloads will be hosted on cloud-native platforms by 2025, which will revolutionize every facet of business operation.
However, this rapid adoption isn't surprising given the substantial benefits various industries have reaped from the cloud. Take, for instance, the retail and consumer packaged goods sector, which has seen an impressive 47% return on investment (ROI) from cloud migration, modernization and cloud-native applications.
Similarly, manufacturers have harnessed the power of the cloud to achieve a 39% reduction in downtime, 22% acceleration in speed to market and 34% boost in customer satisfaction, among other enhancements in process, quality and innovation outcomes.
The message is clear: Cloud adoption, once the exclusive domain of IT departments, has morphed into a crucial business mandate. However, this shift towards a cloud-centric paradigm isn't without its challenges. It brings with it escalating levels of complexity and risk. As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, with new functionalities and configurations being introduced regularly, the rules of engagement are in a state of constant flux.
In such a dynamic environment, business leaders must adopt a strategic approach to their cloud journeys. They must be prepared to continually adapt, unlearn old rules and master the new. The game is changing every day, and the ability to learn and relearn is the key to staying ahead.
Building multicloud momentum and driving value
Today, nearly 90% of companies have already embraced their multicloud destiny. An extensive analysis of cloud cost optimization strategies and value-driven business use cases predicts that Fortune 500 companies have the potential to capture over $1 trillion in earnings by 2030. The metrics speak for themselves.
The greatest potential for complete enterprise reinvention emerges when cloud technology is utilized to transform the most vital and distinct aspects of your business. Every successful company possesses a combination of capabilities —its secret sauce —that sets it apart from competitors and creates value for customers. And this is where a multicloud adoption strategy shines the brightest.
Consider the case of a leading American beverage company that has embraced a multicloud architecture using the Google Cloud Platform for SAP and Microsoft Azure for non-SAP workloads. And the results speak for themselves —a scalable operating model for a 40% reduction in the operating costs of its IT architecture.
In another instance, a leading Sweden-based fintech company was able to deploy a multicloud container platform for their next-generation applications and achieve high IO requirements critical for their business. Their deployment allowed them to not only drive high-speed blockchain transaction rates while remaining cost-effective but also enhance the security of their systems and improve environmental sustainability with a reduced carbon footprint.
With bespoke multicloud solutions, any company can achieve similar results and objectives that are unique to their industry and business goals. They can also harness universal advantages such as scaling resources and capabilities to mitigate downtimes and ensure business resilience and continuity.
Seizing opportunities and driving success
Global supply chains and operational channels today are more complex than ever. As might be expected, such mission-critical aspects of a business are often the most difficult to get cloud-ready. Unlocking the true potential of a multicloud environment requires overcoming these barriers. That is where business leaders can position themselves as drivers of value by:
- Developing a comprehensive multicloud adoption strategy that aligns with organizational goals through key performance indicators and continuous improvement programs. For instance, fact-based, data-driven approaches such as Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen and process mapping can identify areas of improvement and drive meaningful changes.
- Implementing robust governance and risk management practices to ensure visibility, control and compliance across multicloud environments through a centralized management platform. According to Gartner, organizations adopting a cybersecurity mesh —a conceptual approach to securing digital assets across on-premises data centers and multi-cloud environments —will reduce the financial impact of individual security incidents by an average of 90% by 2024.
- Focusing on cost optimization and resource utilization by leveraging tools and technologies to monitor and optimize resource usage. For instance, implementing practices such as workload right-sizing, cost allocation and automated scaling can help companies reduce expenses and maximize the value of their multicloud investments.
- Fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration within the organization. For instance, promoting cross-functional teams, open communication and best practices sharing can drive continuous improvement in a multi-cloud strategy. However, innovations can be messy, as they disrupt the status quo and are often difficult to implement. Collaboration, on the other hand, must be balanced with individual accountability.
Becoming a catalyst for business transformation
First-mover companies have already tasted the low-hanging fruit and benefits of the cloud. However, many companies still struggle to align IT and business strategies due to a focus on efficiency rather than effectiveness, resulting in an overemphasis on standardization and centralization. This misalignment often results in the optimization of individual steps in a process rather than the end-to-end process, leading to sub-optimal outcomes. Given this misalignment, there remains significant value that is yet to be accrued. This includes tackling the more intricate business-critical issues that entail higher risks and complexities while demanding more refined expertise.
This is where a strong solutions partner with a proven track record and deep-rooted industry expertise in delivering comprehensive multicloud solutions is not just a nice-to-have —it's a strategic imperative. With the right partner, the risks associated with cyber threats are significantly minimized, support is just a call away and your business processes are rendered more robust and resilient than ever.
Recognizing the shift towards multicloud adoption isn't just about embracing a technological advantage. It's a strategic pivot in business paradigms that can empower organizations to fuel innovation, agility and cost optimization. But this isn't a simple task. Leaders and decision-makers are the ones who need to steer the ship, pushing their multicloud strategies to supercharge progress for the business. They need to act as their organization’s compass, nurturing the necessary change environment that maximizes the benefits of multicloud for their business.
Enter multicloud strategy. This is one of the assured routes for them to unlock greater competitive advantage and business innovation while also equipping their teams with the tools that foster a culture centered around collaboration and continuous innovation. So, no matter what your organization's specific goals may be, the journey to multicloud will require a pioneer to lead the way forward.
