Cloud transformation: what it is, why it’s inevitable and how to get started

The cloud is more than just data storage – it’s how your company connects systems, builds new platforms and applications, accesses information and efficiently processes and scales data flows, just to name a few capabilities.

With almost every company moving to the cloud sooner or later, building the foundation for your digital future today is only becoming increasingly important to the success of your business. Most companies understand the need for cloud technology, however, the process of determining how to operationalize the right strategy and tactical activities to be executed to realize true business transformation can be complex.

Businesses can undergo a simple shift to the cloud and gain basic benefits such as speed, access and security. But when companies undergo a cloud transformation, they receive even greater value. For example: an improved client experience with a capacity to meet customers’ growing expectations; a better employee experience, coinciding with the expectations and changing skillsets of the modern workforce; the opportunity to innovate on a larger scale; and the ability to adapt to our ever-changing world.

The matter of whether you can actually capitalize on these benefits of the cloud is the crux of true transformation.

The intricacies of cloud transformation

As Steve Jobs used to say, you start with the end user experience and work backwards.

Simply put, the cloud is a conduit. It’s a means to an end.

What are you looking to achieve through a cloud transformation? To better understand how the cloud can enable your company’s digital transformation, this question must be answered first.

Additional considerations must be taken into account before undergoing a cloud transformation. Begin by asking key questions regarding your company’s path towards your desired future state:

• Why are you engaging in a cloud transformation? Understanding your why will set the tone for your cloud transformation. Ensuring alignment of your main objectives to your company’s guiding principles and core goals will ultimately help you better serve your customers and your employees. If your company can’t clearly articulate its vision to stakeholders, you won’t get their buy-in to come on the journey with you.
• What do you need from a technology, people and processes standpoint to achieve the cloud transformation? Understanding what is going on within your company and what is driving the need for cloud transformation is key when beginning your journey. By gathering stakeholder input, understanding project plans and costs and aligning priorities, you can create a clear path towards executing your cloud transformation.
• Who will be impacted by the cloud transformation? Understanding who is affected by the changes and identifying the resources needed will help you determine if you have the right people in the right places. However, in order to drive long-term success and a culture of agility and innovation, strong leadership engagement and a people-first approach are most important when adopting large cloud transformation changes. Selecting the right cloud vendor & partner will be crucial to supporting your company’s success.
• When is the best time to begin, go-live and optimize this cloud transformation? It’s important to consider when the best timing is for your company to go through a cloud transformation and how it aligns with other organizational priorities. The time is now – but it’s also important to understand if there are other dependencies.

When it comes to cloud transformation, you’re not just transforming your technology, but also your processes, your organization, your culture and your governance model as a whole. Because the value in moving to the cloud isn’t the physical movement, it’s the ability to save time, achieve faster, more accurate insights and to store your data in a much more fluid, organized manner.

Holistic business transformation is everything. Without it, a move to the cloud could just be a costly transition that often provides little return on your investment.

Are you ready to begin your cloud transformation journey?

As a company, are you ready to embark on a holistic journey that drives legitimate value to your employees and customers? Or are you just looking for a quick fix, swapping out pipes in a way that proves to be a glorified data relocation? Are you ready to transform your business on your journey to the cloud, or are you going to be left in the dust?

If you aren’t ready to examine your business processes and operations, your skill sets, your culture and organization as a whole – if you aren’t ready to think about doing everything differently – then you aren’t ready for a cloud transformation. And if you aren’t ready yet, that’s fine. But technology is rapidly moving forward and those who embrace the change will be the first to capture their benefits, propelling themselves ahead of competitors.

Maybe your business has a defined strategy and feels “ready to go.” Maybe you’re just getting started or maybe you’re halfway through and can’t seem to capture the value of cloud transformation. No matter where you are in your journey, Baker Tilly can help you ensure you’re getting the most out of the cloud.

If you’re ready to truly take on cloud transformation, we can help take the ambiguity out of the process. We answer your questions about cloud transformation and make sure that your company is heading down a path that will ultimately be beneficial, valuable and successful. Through our cloud ideation labs, we help you turn confusing questions into actionable steps for applying transformational cloud technology. Our technical, strategy and transformation experts create a winning game plan using the following three-step process.

For more information on how Baker Tilly’s cloud ideation lab can answer your questions, or for help getting started with your cloud transformation, contact our team today.