AUGUST 2018CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM8Taking the Cloud from Concept to RealityTHADDEUS ARROYO, CEO, AT&T BUSINESSn today's technology-fueled society, digital transformation is central to competitiveness for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Companies are moving to a cloud-centric model where compute is now ubiquitously delivered over ever-present networks. And any business that isn't expanding its digital capabilities risks falling behind. More than ever before, businesses have new opportunities to innovate in unique ways.The number of connected devices and the need for real-time communication between devices is intensifying. In turn, businesses need access to information and data anywhere, any time. In addition, companies now have access to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities that take the context from our connected world to make smarter, data-driven decisions. This transformation brings new opportunities and considerations as businesses realize the financial impact of the cloud. This is clearly evidenced in the growing demand for these services. IDC estimates that worldwide whole cloud revenues will reach $564 billion in 2021, more than double those of 2016. This drastic migration is fueled by several factors, including digital transformation, innovation potential and workload cost optimization. Digital Transformation What came first--did cloud set the stage for the digital era or did digital evolution force cloud adoption? It's hard to say, but we know that cloud adoption continues to accelerate, with no sign of slowing down. Smart "things" are a main driver toward cloud adoption. Imagine walking into a retailer and the associate already knows your buying preferences and clothing size and instantly becomes a personal stylist. Then, after shopping, the checkout is augmented with a digital service thread that carries into the next interaction regardless of channel. Personalized experiences like this would not be possible without cloud-based technologies.Innovation Easily consumable cloud services act as a petri-dish for innovation. They provide businesses with the ability to rapidly deploy new technologies and meet customer demand. What once took months, can be done in weeks. One innovation leads to another, creating a waterfall of new opportunities.Optimization Enterprises are also looking to the cloud for cost optimization and business agility. According to IDC, 41.5 percent of companies cite improved staff productivity as a reason to move to the cloud. It's simple to see why. It provides the flexibility to quickly deploy new services and tools, which businesses can scale up and down IIN MY VIEW
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