The coronavirus pandemic will be both catalyst and accelerant for cloud adoption. In the short term, enterprises will focus on survival, putting large-scale digital transformation projects on the back burner and focusing on developments that will deliver immediate gains in terms of productivity, revenue, and stability. Service providers able to meet these new needs will thrive through flexible services and expertise. Enterprises aided during the immediate crisis-related IT spending will deepen those relationships with long-term spending in a post-coronavirus future.
Post-pandemic, businesses already benefitting from cloud resources are likely to continue adoption, having seen its value firsthand. Companies that didn’t perform well may look to the cloud for rapid solutions, seeking more professional and managed services. Digital transformation projects that were put on hold will be accelerated as the C-level aims to recover lost ground through a more agile business and to prepare for the worst once again. The COVID-19 pandemic shows us that cloud technologies are a critical component in keeping companies operating, economies vibrant, and people connected.
The next hybrid/multi-cloud challenge will be the control plane – Those committed to automation and programmability, enhanced with AI/ML business intelligence, will thrive
Cloud providers will create flexible consumption models – Vendors who provide customers with flexibility for offered services will enjoy customer loyalty long after paused digital transformation projects are resumed
Core managed services will become standardized and modular – Service providers who are able to standardize and automate a significant part of their operational responsibly will experience lower friction for larger projects as IT departments start to spend again