Don’t forget the cloud on the road to AI digital transformation

photograph of a road in a desert leading to mountains during sunny day; digital transformation concept

AI and cloud solutions have become two leading technological developments transforming business operations. Together, they have provided improved work capabilities and increased IT agility.

However, organizations that currently deploy AI services in cloud environments do not always use them. Earlier this year, Wiz Research released its “State of AI in the Cloud 2024” report which stated that despite over 70 percent of organizations now using managed AI services, 32 percent still appear to be in the experimentation phase with tools and deploying fewer than ten instances of AI services in their cloud environments.

2024 has the potential to mark the year when AI strategies emerge in conjunction with the cloud. Cloud and AI have reached peak popularity for business use but their combined relationship can drive digital transformation even more exponentially.

Businesses that combine AI and cloud by understanding they are complementary rather than competitive components can drive growth and stand out from market competitors. AI has already proven its capability to process vast amounts of data whilst the cloud – flexible storage and access solutions. They aren’t at odds, but finding the right solution can take time.

The right balance to meet specific needs

Before introducing AI and cloud solutions, IT operators discussed finding a suitable technology model at an economical price point. Selecting the right balance to fit any specific business needs is crucial to meeting budget restraints and avoiding high costs. Still, organizations able to implement both correctly can build a unified data platform that enhances efficiency and makes data-driven decisions for accelerated work processes.

However, though success can be just a few correct decisions away, having a clear vision of organizational objectives is something that IT leaders need first. Do you want to improve your operational efficiency, create new revenue streams or innovate your products? How can cloud and AI address the current gaps in your workflows, data and skills? In answering these, organizations can align their cloud and AI initiatives with their business aims to choose the appropriate cloud and AI service depending on needs, budget and expertise.

These combined technologies can provide several benefits that augment human capabilities, making work innovative, structured and time efficient. AI and cloud collaboration can speed up work processes while decreasing error rates; both are vital in meeting demands for fast, accurate solutions that meet specific company goals.

Protecting business data at lower business costs

Security has also become a key concern for businesses today as cyber threats are more present and dangerous to business continuity than ever. Protecting business data is vital in a constantly changing, more sophisticated cybercrime environment. However, as companies grow and scale upwards, so do their operations and data which are becoming more challenging to keep track of.

On-premise solutions can be less enduring when it comes to cybersecurity budgeting. Physical infrastructure needs the maintenance of an on-site upgrade and can quickly fall behind if your team is not equipped to be constantly prepared for the next patch. In comparison, cloud computing eliminates the need for physical upkeep by working with AI to process large amounts of data.

An AI and cloud-dependent solution can detect inconsistencies immediately and mitigate potential threats in real time. Working together, these two technologies can cut infrastructure costs and provide a better security structure for in-house systems that can be easily adjusted with business growth.

The potential for rapid future growth

In today’s and tomorrow’s competitive technology market, integrating AI and the cloud presents businesses with real possibilities for rapid operational advancement. Organizations leveraging AI can automate complex tasks, optimize system performance and process significantly more data. Using this with cloud-based tools like predictive analytics can create an agile work structure that results in faster yet reliable data-informed decisions that reduce downtime for employees to focus on other complex tasks.

To maximize individual business growth, tailored solutions that fit the company’s specific needs are needed. Therefore, IT leaders are responsible for creating the cloud and AI unified infrastructure that works best for them – infrastructure that allows businesses to work smarter and utilize data potential and intelligent algorithms to scale their businesses across the coming decade.