How to unleash competitiveness on the Cloud Continuum

Organizations are reimagining their futures with cloud in extraordinary circumstances

We are living in a fast-moving world with ever-changing circumstances. Change is the new normal.

In line with that, some companies are changing their view on cloud. They don’t see cloud as a single, static destination but as a future operating model that will change how they interact with customers, partners, and employees. It will also change how they make and market their products and services and build and operate their IT systems.

In other words, they recognize the cloud as a continuum of evolving technologies and services. And this is a continuum that requires commitment to continuous reinvention.

Accenture’s latest research on the Future of Cloud shows that particularly for the Communications, Media and Technology (CMT) industry in Europe, a majority of recipients experienced an average cost-savings of 11% from moving to the cloud.

We believe that looking at cloud migration simply as a cheaper, more efficient data center is the wrong perspective because there’s so much more to it.

Cloud Continuum – Harness the full cloud potential

Some of the CMT companies we surveyed had changed their perspective, and this should be acknowledged.

A small subset said cloud is not just a single, static destination for storing and retrieving data. Instead, cloud represents a future operating model that will transform how the companies do business. In short, they recognize the cloud as a continuum of evolving technologies and services. These companies are called “Continuum Competitors.”

When you view the cloud as a continuum, the service can be public, private, hybrid, co-located or multi-cloud: They are all included and dynamically supported by smart devices and sensors, 5G or Wifi 6 and software-defined networks.

Figure 1: We call those companies that see the cloud as a continuum “Continuum Competitors”

Continuum Competitors seek and achieve better outcomes

Our research shows three areas where Continuum Competitors perform better.

1. First, 55% of CMT Cloud Competitors in use the cloud to innovate how knowledge work is performed and are three times more likely to see outcomes such as AI-augmented knowledge work.
2. When it comes to investments into organizational transformation, the study shows that 86% of the CMT Cloud Competitors in Europe used cloud to enhance collaboration among employees and made their work more interesting and analytical by reducing rote tasks and maintenance work. This is the second area in which Cloud Competitors perform better.
3. Finally, CMT Continuum Competitors in Europe are also achieving 2.4x times higher cost reduction than migration only players.

Four (4) impactful approaches to become a Continuum Competitor

In one of the most exciting findings, our research showed that, in many cases, organizations do not need to be digital natives to move quickly and effectively in this space. Here are four impactful approaches we found.

1. Know where you want the Continuum to take you

For organizations to achieve the full potential of their enterprise in the cloud, it is essential to develop a strategy that gets key points right. This includes:

• A vision that clearly states the core values and future aspirations
• An identification of competitive vulnerabilities
• A clear classification of capabilities, today and in the future, leveraging the full extent of the Continuum

2. Establish cloud practices to support and augment your technologies

To expand successfully on the Cloud Continuum, organizations must embrace six important practices. They are shown in the figure below.

Figure 2: From-To Continuum Practices

3. Accelerate innovation to deliver exceptional experiences

The third approach our research showed is that most Continuum Competitors prioritize their investments in one important area: Experience. And they make their investments visible and accessible, to both employees and customers—the crux of competitive differentiation.

Using advanced, cloud-based technologies, companies can get ahead of and shape the transformation of customer service and employee experience in a post-pandemic world.

4. Provide continuous strategic commitment

Today’s cloud offers the chance to move from a scarcity mentality – where simply cutting costs is the goal – to a mindset of abundance where experimentation, innovation and growth can prosper.

Everyone across the organization needs to be aware of the cloud potential and best practices. The C-suite and leadership need to establish business objectives, appropriate levels of risk-taking and missionize for agility and growth. The call-to-action must come from the top.

Wrap-Up: How do you become a continuum competitor?

• Deeply understand what the cloud continuum can do for your organization
• Establish critical practices to support and augment your technologies
• Innovate and deliver exceptional experiences
• Recognize that the cloud continuum requires strategic (and continuous) commitment from leadership

For more information on the Cloud Continuum, please visit this Link.