The Cloud - more than a technology

The cloud is quite hyped these days – and rightfully so. The cloud brings quite a bit of productivity and cost savings to organizations as well as a plethora of options for new technology and platforms.

What many organizations (and people) don’t understand is that the cloud is more than a technology platform. Not only can you build better technologies and processes using the cloud, but you can build much better customer experiences.

Imagine having access to a large number of platforms that your organization can implement immediately (or within a short amount of time) and begin to deliver a product or service differently. Imagine how powerful it would be for an organization to be able to quickly pivot and change the customer experience within a few days, weeks or months.

For organizations strapped for resources, the cloud is an ideal platform. For the most part, moving to a cloud-based service or product is inexpensive, well supported and fast to get to a ‘go live’ date.

For smaller organizations, the ability to deliver an experience similar to – or better than – one delivered by a much larger organization is a game changer. The cloud provides this capability quickly and cost effectively. Using the cloud gives smaller organizations with very finite resources a way to level the playing field with their competitors.

The cloud is hyped, but it generally delivers on that hype. It’s more than a platform and more than a technology, it can be a game changer.

Has your organization been able to use the cloud to change your business? If so, how?

This post was written as part of the IBM for Midsize Business program, which provides midsize businesses with the tools, expertise and solutions they need to become engines of a smarter planet. I’ve been compensated to contribute to this program, but the opinions expressed in this post are my own and don’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.