The reduced costs and business performance benefits associated with moving applications and processes to the cloud are far too compelling for companies to ignore. More important than cost reductions however is that becoming totally cloud-centric gets companies onto the Digital Transformation Freeway that facilitates far greater speed in every aspect of business operations.
The question is no longer whether companies should move core systems to the cloud, but instead when to move, what to move and how they should move. As for the first question, “sooner rather than later” is the consensus. The well proven value of the cloud means it should be a “here-and-now” priority, rather than part of a vaguely defined or futuristic technology vision.
Moving Faster
In a changing digital environment, time to market is a primary factor and is often measured in days and sometimes even hours. Every aspect of your business simply has to move faster. Companies need to increase the speed they comply with regulations, distribute marketing materials, update Ts&Cs or release new products. Multiple aging systems, insufficiently skilled staff, lack of a sound multi-channel strategy and other roadblocks can all lead to a sluggish reaction to market demands, making the organization ill prepared to meet or beat competitors, delight customers, or shrink costs.
While digital disruptions are occurring across every industry, one thing has become clear: customers want to hear from their providers in the way they choose, when they choose and on any device they prefer to use. This level of flexibility is not generally available in medium to large companies that use on-premises systems, especially when customer communications are siloed in different departments, often using different desktop publishing tools or other systems that may or may not talk to each other. Or when different departments handle different channels: one for print communications, another for web, and others for social, mobile, and marketing. The likelihood of consistent messaging and an aligned customer experience is literally impossible.
The Cost Savings from Transformation
Over the past five years most businesses have made some level of investment in becoming cloud-centric. From the emergence of new technologies and channels like smart phones and social media to the unprecedented demands for speed and responsiveness of Millennials born in a digital world, the way companies communicate with customers has changed forever and businesses that are slow to adapt to these new customer expectations will experience significant customer churn. Once you transform your core systems to the cloud you will realize broad benefits including:
- Respond cost-effectively to customer demands from an increasingly sophisticated and mobile base
- Reduce or possibly remove software maintenance costs, one of the largest IT overheads
- Lower communication delivery costs through multi-channel delivery and consolidation of paper, postage, and local fulfillment
- Increase customer engagement through highly personalised communications
- Exploit cloud integration services to experience a level of operational capability that makes on-premises systems look prehistoric
The AIRDOCS approach to Digital Transformation ensures our customers selectively migrate off legacy systems and processes, enabling one team to provide both support and development. This measured approach helps lower risks and gives business users the opportunity to rationalize existing processes before moving to the cloud. A flexible approach is essential to eliminating legacy content and systems while delivering on key initiatives to change what and how you communicate to ensure high levels of customer engagement.
My personal website at http://www.gregtwemlow.com/ has further articles and resources like my Minimum Viable Canvas and my Disruption Canvas.
About the author:
For my work as a coach, I draw on 30 years in business, working with large corporates and pure startups, in Australia and all over the world including Asia. I've created companies, helped startups grow and I've helped people make the crucial decisions about their career direction.
Greg Twemlow is also the founder and director of SEVENmile Venture Lab, a for-purpose enterprise supporting the entrepreneurial community on Sydney’s northern beaches.
About the author:
For my work as a coach, I draw on 30 years in business, working with large corporates and pure startups, in Australia and all over the world including Asia. I've created companies, helped startups grow and I've helped people make the crucial decisions about their career direction.