Ettling suggests that CIOs should understand their current IT systems, map out application versions, and understand data structures to plan a path to standardization in the cloud. He also stresses the importance of data integrity and the need for a single view of all data within an organization. Furthermore, he advocates for the use of cloud-based applications to empower employees with personalized user experiences and to reduce organizational complexity. The article concludes by stating that a comprehensive strategy is key to enabling continuous innovation through the cloud.
Key takeaways:
- Cloud-based applications are predicted to become the majority of new enterprise software purchases by 2024, with a focus on software-as-a-service investments.
- When moving to the cloud, key areas to focus on include planning for intelligent standardization, achieving a single view through data integration, empowering employees through mass personalization, and avoiding organizational complexity.
- Effective planning for intelligent standardization involves understanding existing IT systems, mapping out application versions, and understanding how data is structured, stored, and accessed.
- Empowering employees through mass personalization involves using cloud-based applications to provide more personalized user experiences at scale, using advances in artificial intelligence and automation.