All types of companies are embracing cloud transformation as a way to keep up with modern business practices. Cloud services enable businesses to deliver services and engage with customers more efficiently. With all the benefits, adopting a solid enterprise cloud transformation plan is a top priority for companies. 

Cloud transformation is more than migrating your data and applications to the cloud. Done right, it enables all parts of your business to work better. Cloud transformation can future-proof your business, reduce communication friction, drive innovation, and reduce costs. The more smoothly your business runs, the more everyone benefits. MSH has the experience and understanding to help guide you. 

10,000-Foot View Of Cloud Transformation 

What is enterprise cloud transformation? A clear understanding of cloud transformation can help you visualize all its benefits for your business. It also helps ensure you adopt the right strategies and partners to bring your vision to life.  

In its simplest form, cloud transformation means moving all business functions to the cloud. Data, software applications, and tools fall under this category. That is the beginning of the cloud journey. However, the actual benefits of cloud transformation are so much more. By embracing enterprise cloud transformation, businesses can easily incorporate new technologies to respond quickly to threats and take advantage of new opportunities.

Key Benefits To Your Organization

Future-proofing Your Business 

A significant benefit of a solid cloud strategy is the ability to adapt and change quickly and easily. Businesses with reliable cloud-based infrastructure are better positioned to embrace new technology as it emerges. Flexibility is a vital aspect of an Agile business model. Your business will also be able to reach more clients if you can adapt to their changing needs quickly and smoothly. MSH understands how important digital transformation is to the future of your company. 

Driving more innovation 

Research shows that collaboration increases productivity and drives innovation. Cloud-based technologies are the best option for supporting modern collaborative tools. In its report, The Collaborative Economy, Deloitte discusses the importance of video conferencing and real-time document management in collaborative environments. And the benefits of cloud-supported collaboration are recognized not only by management but also by employees. The same report notes that people feel more productive, and their work reflects greater innovation through collaboration. 

Meeting the Demands of a Remote Workforce

The Covid-19 pandemic forced companies across the globe to transform from on-prem offices to virtual environments practically overnight. For most, it was a mad scramble to implement the tools and processes to allow the business to continue. Video calls replaced conference rooms, and messaging applications replaced cubicle visits. According to research from Cloud Industry Forum (CIF), a cloud computing organization based in the United Kingdom, a business's ability to succeed during lockdowns was directly related to its level of cloud readiness. Research indicates that at least some level of remote working will persist for some time, even as some companies move back to in-person office environments. In terms of flexibility and agility, remote and hybrid workforces have just proven to be more effective. 

Reducing Communication Friction 

Cloud-based technologies are more than just a means of supporting remote workers. With a cloud-based infrastructure, teamwork is no longer limited by geographical or time boundaries. Instead, team members can access their data and tools anywhere and anytime. In the past, physical boundaries limited communication. Meetings were once limited to who could fit into a conference room. As a result of digital transformation, brick-and-mortar conference rooms have been replaced by virtual ones, making it possible to invite everyone. Recording and sharing meetings, and even brainstorming sessions, has further streamlined communication across teams. 

More Agile Business with Improved Reaction Time to New Challenges

When properly implemented, enterprise cloud transformation allows businesses to adjust quickly to challenges and place themselves in a prime position to take advantage of new technologies. Further, a fully implemented cloud enterprise environment enables efficient and painless scaling of the entire system. As a result, businesses can effortlessly adapt to whatever opportunities come their way when scaling. Scaling efficiently makes it possible to increase revenue while reducing overhead costs dramatically.  

Security Benefits

When data is stored and maintained in-house, the risk of critical data loss is high. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the business itself to secure and maintain the data. Ransomware and data breaches are increasing these days exponentially. Migrating your data to the cloud helps to mitigate these dangers. By creating multiple data backups in a secure environment, cloud hosting can reduce this risk for companies. Cloud environments implement multiple levels of security from the network level up. Enterprise cloud environments provide the tools and the means to keep your data secure. However, it is still up to the company to ensure these security and compliance measures are in place. Making sure you have the right team to design your cloud system is vital to ensuring your data remains secure and safe. 

Best Practices When Considering Your Transformation Strategy 

Learn Before You Act 

Approaching your cloud transformation strategy from an informed perspective is vital to a successful outcome. A solid understanding of your company's operations is the first and most crucial step to digital transformation. Every business is different and unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to technology. By understanding your business's needs, you can find the cloud transformation that will allow it to thrive. Building a roadmap of what you have will enable you to identify the right vendors and technology partners to meet your specific business needs. Learn more about the many solutions MSH offers for every business need. 

Don't Rush -- Plan for the Outcome You Desire

There is a tendency to focus on the obvious areas where businesses can apply cloud technologies – office applications, data storage, and administration tools. As a result, this conventional method of reducing costs and migrating to the cloud is incrementally successful. Using the cloud to improve your organization's most critical business streams can have a greater impact, IBM says in its "Mastering Hybrid Cloud" report. The issue is that this approach requires significant planning and specialized skills to be successful. Having the right partner is vital. Whether your business is just starting out, or is continuing its journey to the cloud, MSH has the expertise and the team to assist you. 

Transform Incrementally

Though cloud transformation is a financially wise choice over the long term, businesses must be prepared to face some upfront costs. Cloud migration costs are one of the most common pain points for companies. One way to spread these costs to a more manageable level is to take an incremental approach.  

By breaking your project down into smaller sections you can prioritize and implement your cloud services based on their importance. That way, you don't have to spend as much money upfront. In addition, working on it in smaller steps provides a greater opportunity to adjust and adapt to any issues that might come up.

How To Take Action And Implement Cloud Transformation Across Your Enterprise 

Determine success criteria: What does success look like? Lower overhead costs? Greater productivity? Is it having the ability to take advantage of new technologies and become more relevant in your field? Choosing these key points will give you a solid benchmark against which to measure your project's progress. Furthermore, setting concrete goals will guide your planning from the very beginning, helping to ensure your success. MSH can help show you what is possible. 

Understand Your Objectives: This extends the "learn before you act" strategy. Conducting an internal audit of the company is essential as a first step. Map out your entire business. Take note of where people and systems interconnect. Using this data, you can develop a solid, sustainable plan to move forward.

Leadership:  Appoint someone to supervise the entire process. This journey will affect the organization as a whole in order to be truly effective. A primary point of contact overseeing the big picture is critical to ensure all the jigsaw puzzle pieces fit. To ensure success, this should be their primary job. Allow them to focus on it, and you will see exceptional results.

Build the Right Team: The size and complexity of your business will affect how your team will look. Building an internal team is sometimes a good option, for example, appointing one or two people from each department. This allows you to use the knowledge and expertise of people who know your company well. Another option is to hire an outside firm to oversee the work. Partnering with an enterprise cloud consulting firm ensures that you have the right skills to get the job done. In many instances, a hybrid model works as well. When an outside firm is combined with internal people, you ensure you have the talent to do the work and the vision to help you select the right options. MSH has the right people for any organization. 

Educate the organization as you go: New technology means people will have a certain learning curve. To get the most out of the new tools, people must be trained to use them. According to research, quality training pays for itself through improved productivity and competency.

Now Is The Time To Start Your Cloud Transformation Journey.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to Cloud Transformation. Every business has its own unique needs and hurdles. That is why putting the time, effort, and resources into building a custom-tailored strategy for your organization is crucial. Just as significant is recognizing that a successful digital transformation is an ongoing process that continues to grow and change with your business. Finding the right partner to help with this journey. Contact us today to get started on your Enterprise Cloud Transformation Journey.