Peter Reid
The evolution of cloud-based technology has dramatically changed the business landscape in the past few years, and the latest developments in technology are set to create even further disruption. Businesses today are faced with increasing pressure not only from their traditional competition, but also from consumers as well as small startup businesses, who are empowered by the technological revolution. Agility and innovation is key to survival and profitability in this changing world. Embracing cloud-based technology is essential to this.
The world we live in has transformed significantly in the last 10 – 15 years. Smart technology such as smartphones and tablets has enabled always-on connectivity, and apps are continuing to evolve and change the way consumers interact and organisations do business. Apps have also led to the evolution of entirely new business models and ways of completing tasks, and the growth of wearable technologies such as smart watches, and virtual reality glasses, is set to further extend this capability in ways that can only be imagined. These, and several other emerging trends, have changed the game completely.
At the heart of all of these ‘game changers’ lies the cloud. Without connectivity to some form of cloud, smart technologies would not exist. However, therein lies the challenge. While the cloud enables a vast amount of technological innovation, and does not in itself introduce any new technical problems, it still has the potential to cause issues for business. The different commercial arrangements, including public, private and hybrid cloud, can exacerbate old technical problems, and interoperability is a crucial requirement. As a result, another trend that is emerging is a more open way of creating technology solutions, to allow for this required level of interfacing and interoperability.
In addition, the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) is bringing about the emergence of mesh networks, low-cost sensors and chips, modular technologies, and high levels of standardisation. The potential for the IoT is vast, and encompasses everything from supermarket trolleys to home automation systems. As sensors become smaller and more cost effective, and connectivity even more ubiquitous, so more and more everyday items will become connected to the vast network of the IoT. Further to this, 3D printing is increasingly cost effective, changing the prototyping process from a long and laborious one to a quick and agile one where designs can be altered on the fly.
So what does all of this mean for business? In short, a complete revolution of the business environment. Connected devices enable the ‘no office’ to become a reality. Employees can be located and work from anywhere in the world, with access to the same corporate resources, enabled by the cloud. Augmented reality could even allow organisations to create virtual meetings where everyone is ‘present’ at any given location. Even hard drives are becoming increasingly unnecessary as cloud storage offers capacity, convenience and anywhere access from any device. The traditional bricks and mortar office could become a legacy that is no longer necessary in the business world of the future. New ways of working will emerge that cannot even be imagined yet – much the same way as today’s world was unimaginable just a few decades ago.
Low cost processing and the growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning have vast potential to change businesses, again in ways that cannot yet be imagined. Crowd funding means that startup businesses could pose serious competition without ever needing to go through traditional means for funding. With 3D printing, factories are no longer essential for manufacturing – in fact, someone could print and build new and innovative solutions from their garage and ship them to consumers anywhere in the world.
For business, the upshot is that competition is no longer just other business, but potentially any consumer as well. With technological innovation, all a consumer needs is an idea, and utilising these new tools, the idea can quickly be made reality. The pool of competitors will thus increase exponentially, challenging organisations to remain relevant and profitable. Agility is key to survival, and cloud is key to enabling this agility. Organisations need to embrace the cloud or risk falling behind and losing out to the growing list of their more innovative competitors.
About Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies with around 151 million mobile customers, 30 million fixed-network lines and more than 17 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2014). The Group provides fixed network, mobile communications, Internet and IPTV products and services for consumers and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in more than 50 countries and has approximately 228,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenues of EUR 62.7 billion in the 2014 financial year – more than 60 percent of it outside Germany.
About T-Systems
Deutsche Telekom considers the European business customer segment a strategic growth area. Deutsche Telekom offers small, medium-sized and multinational companies ICT solutions for an increasingly complex digital world. In addition to services from the cloud, the range of services is centred around M2M and security solutions, complementary mobile communications and fixed network products, and solutions for virtual collaboration and IT platforms, all of which forms the basis for our customers' digital business models.
With approximately 47,800 employees worldwide, T-Systems generated revenue of around EUR 8,6 billion in the 2014 financial year.
Since the inception of T-Systems in South Africa in 1997, the company has cemented its position as one of the most successful T-Systems companies outside of Europe. A leading ICT outsourcing service provider locally, T-Systems offers end-to-end ICT solutions in both the ICT Operations and Systems Integration markets. Their extensive portfolio of services covers the vertical, horizontal, IT and TC space. T-Systems South Africa’s head office is located in Midrand with another major office in Cape Town, and 20 further representative offices in locations throughout southern Africa.
About Intervate
Intervate, a T-Systems company in South Africa, is an enabler of digital transformation, delivering digital workplace solutions and customer experiences that drive business value and improve productivity. We have over 14 years’ experience in delivering innovative solutions that enable digital transformation including Enterprise Mobility, Enterprise Information Management, Customer Relationship Management, Business Process, Cloud solutions and Enterprise Application Integration. Our technical expertise is supported by an understanding of the strategic drivers and challenges that enable us to provide our customers with professional guidance regarding the best practices proven to deliver successful projects and business benefits.
The world we live in has transformed significantly in the last 10 – 15 years. Smart technology such as smartphones and tablets has enabled always-on connectivity, and apps are continuing to evolve and change the way consumers interact and organisations do business. Apps have also led to the evolution of entirely new business models and ways of completing tasks, and the growth of wearable technologies such as smart watches, and virtual reality glasses, is set to further extend this capability in ways that can only be imagined. These, and several other emerging trends, have changed the game completely.
At the heart of all of these ‘game changers’ lies the cloud. Without connectivity to some form of cloud, smart technologies would not exist. However, therein lies the challenge. While the cloud enables a vast amount of technological innovation, and does not in itself introduce any new technical problems, it still has the potential to cause issues for business. The different commercial arrangements, including public, private and hybrid cloud, can exacerbate old technical problems, and interoperability is a crucial requirement. As a result, another trend that is emerging is a more open way of creating technology solutions, to allow for this required level of interfacing and interoperability.
In addition, the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) is bringing about the emergence of mesh networks, low-cost sensors and chips, modular technologies, and high levels of standardisation. The potential for the IoT is vast, and encompasses everything from supermarket trolleys to home automation systems. As sensors become smaller and more cost effective, and connectivity even more ubiquitous, so more and more everyday items will become connected to the vast network of the IoT. Further to this, 3D printing is increasingly cost effective, changing the prototyping process from a long and laborious one to a quick and agile one where designs can be altered on the fly.
So what does all of this mean for business? In short, a complete revolution of the business environment. Connected devices enable the ‘no office’ to become a reality. Employees can be located and work from anywhere in the world, with access to the same corporate resources, enabled by the cloud. Augmented reality could even allow organisations to create virtual meetings where everyone is ‘present’ at any given location. Even hard drives are becoming increasingly unnecessary as cloud storage offers capacity, convenience and anywhere access from any device. The traditional bricks and mortar office could become a legacy that is no longer necessary in the business world of the future. New ways of working will emerge that cannot even be imagined yet – much the same way as today’s world was unimaginable just a few decades ago.
Low cost processing and the growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning have vast potential to change businesses, again in ways that cannot yet be imagined. Crowd funding means that startup businesses could pose serious competition without ever needing to go through traditional means for funding. With 3D printing, factories are no longer essential for manufacturing – in fact, someone could print and build new and innovative solutions from their garage and ship them to consumers anywhere in the world.
For business, the upshot is that competition is no longer just other business, but potentially any consumer as well. With technological innovation, all a consumer needs is an idea, and utilising these new tools, the idea can quickly be made reality. The pool of competitors will thus increase exponentially, challenging organisations to remain relevant and profitable. Agility is key to survival, and cloud is key to enabling this agility. Organisations need to embrace the cloud or risk falling behind and losing out to the growing list of their more innovative competitors.
About Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies with around 151 million mobile customers, 30 million fixed-network lines and more than 17 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2014). The Group provides fixed network, mobile communications, Internet and IPTV products and services for consumers and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in more than 50 countries and has approximately 228,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenues of EUR 62.7 billion in the 2014 financial year – more than 60 percent of it outside Germany.
About T-Systems
Deutsche Telekom considers the European business customer segment a strategic growth area. Deutsche Telekom offers small, medium-sized and multinational companies ICT solutions for an increasingly complex digital world. In addition to services from the cloud, the range of services is centred around M2M and security solutions, complementary mobile communications and fixed network products, and solutions for virtual collaboration and IT platforms, all of which forms the basis for our customers' digital business models.
With approximately 47,800 employees worldwide, T-Systems generated revenue of around EUR 8,6 billion in the 2014 financial year.
Since the inception of T-Systems in South Africa in 1997, the company has cemented its position as one of the most successful T-Systems companies outside of Europe. A leading ICT outsourcing service provider locally, T-Systems offers end-to-end ICT solutions in both the ICT Operations and Systems Integration markets. Their extensive portfolio of services covers the vertical, horizontal, IT and TC space. T-Systems South Africa’s head office is located in Midrand with another major office in Cape Town, and 20 further representative offices in locations throughout southern Africa.
About Intervate
Intervate, a T-Systems company in South Africa, is an enabler of digital transformation, delivering digital workplace solutions and customer experiences that drive business value and improve productivity. We have over 14 years’ experience in delivering innovative solutions that enable digital transformation including Enterprise Mobility, Enterprise Information Management, Customer Relationship Management, Business Process, Cloud solutions and Enterprise Application Integration. Our technical expertise is supported by an understanding of the strategic drivers and challenges that enable us to provide our customers with professional guidance regarding the best practices proven to deliver successful projects and business benefits.
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Recevez chaque matin par mail la newsletter Finyear, une sélection quotidienne des meilleures infos et expertises de la finance d’entreprise et de la finance d'affaires.
Les 5 lettres mensuelles digitales :
- Le Directeur Financier
- Le Trésorier
- Le Credit Manager
- The FinTecher
- Le Capital Investisseur
Le magazine trimestriel digital :
- Finyear Magazine
Un seul formulaire d'abonnement pour recevoir un avis de publication pour une ou plusieurs lettres