5 strategies to optimize the cloud for digital transformation

Hosting applications and data in the public cloud is a proven way for organizations to achieve more agile network operations, improve the customer experience and reduce operating costs. But the path to digital transformation can be littered with roadblocks, especially for companies with limited experience in the cloud.

To optimize cloud deployments, consider implementing these five strategies:

1. Exploit the benefits of cloud-native applications.

When transitioning to the cloud, make sure your customers get the speed, reliability and convenience they demand. Legacy applications that companies moved without specifically refactoring them for the cloud are costly and wasteful, yet the cloud holds plenty of them. 

Applications designed for the cloud, generally referred to as “cloud native,” are more efficient and responsive for users.

2. Harness the potential of microservices.

Microservices can drive your digital transformation with faster, more reliable, scalable software. 

“Instead of working with a single application, break it into all its component pieces,” said Mike O’Malley, senior vice president of strategy for SenecaGlobal. “Then, optimize the size of each piece, so it runs efficiently, and you have good communication flow across the different services. It’s more cost effective and better quality.”

Separating the components enables agile development, faster deployment and more straightforward troubleshooting because the pieces are smaller, autonomous and focused. Similarly, a problem with a service takes down only that one service rather than the whole application. 

It all adds up to a more stable application with reduced latency. That’s a difference customers can see.

3. Stay competitive with high-quality software.

Customers expect features, functionality, reliability and speed. Today’s digital experiences mean that they may interact with your company only through your software, influencing how they view your brand. Quality is more important than ever.

Redesigning an application for microservices makes it more efficient but increases its complexity — and the potential for errors that users can see. Dismantling an application and hosting it in different silos connected by communication protocols requires careful engineering to ensure the services run well individually and communicate perfectly. 

Your software represents your business. Poor quality can lead to customer churn and negatively impact your company and your brand, leaving you fighting to regain your reputation and customers.

4. Create a cloud scalability plan.

Launching a product that can support 100,000 users is an achievement when you’re starting out. But what happens when that application needs to support ten times that number of users? You need a cloud scalability plan.

Think about your software running millions of simultaneous global sessions from a variety of devices and systems. That global architecture enables you to scale up to support and track more simultaneous users everywhere. Make a plan to ensure it functions as well when it’s hosted in hundreds of sites worldwide.

Each customer experiences your software individually, gathering their own impressions of what it’s like to do business with your company. Win them over by having a cloud scalability plan that ensures a positive, speedy user experience.

5. Leverage the power of analytics.

Serving exponentially more users will generate large amounts of data that can give you actionable insights if it’s analyzed well. 

“This is the area for the biggest long-term benefits of moving into the cloud,” said O’Malley. “Using AI and machine learning, you can refine your data and gain insights that help improve the customer experience.”

What you learn about your customers can help you optimize costs, add solutions and features your customers need and create new revenue opportunities. Data about how people access and use your application can help focus and fine-tune your efforts, so you deliver the best possible experience for every customer, every time.

Elevate your digital transformation with help from SenecaGlobal

Even with solid strategies in place, companies undertaking digital transformation often struggle with execution. SenecaGlobal provides cloud experts who can tackle complex problems and deliver advanced solutions, helping clients expand into new markets and achieve faster returns on their investments.