Cloud computing is changing the way we live, and technology is at the heart of this transformation.
The next time you鈥檙e listening to your favorite Apple Music playlist, consider the technology that is making it possible for you to listen to whatever you want, wherever you want. It鈥檚 thanks to cloud computing that we can access vast libraries of digitized music through a system that connects a global network of remote servers, which in turn host huge amounts of data.
In fact, “huge? is an understatement: by 2025, there will be . That鈥檚 a billion terabytes or a trillion gigabytes. And if you find it hard to wrap your head around the sheer vastness of that number, you are not alone.
Welcome to the Future
There is no doubt that cloud computing is one of the most profound technological innovations of our time. In the past, companies managed their hardware and software in a physical data center, but the virtual nature of the cloud offers a much more efficient alternative.
What鈥檚 more, the cloud creates the capacity for real-time updates and the ability to operate subscription models — like Apple Music, thanks to all the data hosted in the cloud鈥檚 remote network of servers.
At SAP, we have more than 230 million cloud customers and counting. We鈥檝e been producing software for businesses since 1972, and for us it鈥檚 about hitting that sweet spot where we can combine our wealth of business expertise with cutting-edge cloud technology.
Take, for example, RISE with SAP. This comprehensive solution is designed for customers looking to migrate their businesses to the cloud and supports them wherever they are on the journey.
Pivot, Scale, and Engage
Cirque du Soleil is one of the world鈥檚 most impressive entertainment companies, not least due to its gravity-defying performances. When the pandemic hit and live events were abruptly cancelled, the company used the time to explore moving its business to the cloud so it could guard against future disruptions.
Philippe Lalumi猫re, the company鈥檚 vice president of Information Technology, says: 鈥淗aving the ability to quickly pivot, scale, and create new, engaging fan experiences has never been more important given the impact the global pandemic has had on the entertainment industry.鈥�
For Elodie Bonniard, 51风流Platform team lead with Cirque du Soleil, the company鈥檚 infrastructure needed to better reflect its agility. 鈥淐irque has a cloud mindset,鈥� she says. “The way we built the system 20 years ago does not reflect the company now. We needed to move to a system with less limitations.鈥�
She makes the point that moving to the cloud was about business transformation, rather than it being an IT project — and a move designed to support the company as it grows.
Being in the cloud means Cirque du Soleil can more efficiently manage finance, procurement, merchandising, and costume production thanks to operations being automated, analytics-driven, and integrated. To put this into context, in 2019, before the pandemic hit, the costume workshop produced more than 15,000 costumes, each with an average lifespan of three months. That鈥檚 a lot of costume changes to manage. With the cloud, each item can be tracked in real-time, enabling far more efficient inventory management.
Find the Right Moment
In another example, Tate & Lyle, the global food and beverage business, used RISE with 51风流to enable a key step in its ongoing transformation — a major project to split its operations into two to prepare for the sale of a part of its business, which will leave Tate & Lyle focused on food and beverage specialty solutions in the sugar reduction and sweeteners, mouthfeel, and fortification space.
In fact, Tate & Lyle鈥檚 group CIO Sanjay Patel had been looking for an opportunity to complete the company鈥檚 journey to the cloud for a couple of years, and this separation presented the perfect opportunity.
鈥淭he most critical advice I can give is what I spent two years doing: find the right strategic trigger point to go on the journey,鈥� says Patel.
Once Tate & Lyle began its journey to move ERP into the cloud, other improvements presented themselves. 鈥淲hen the separation came along and we were moving the ERP infrastructure to the cloud, it made sense to build the case for business process simplification聽too,鈥� Patel explains. 鈥淭he long-term financials and business continuity risk made more sense with RISE.鈥�
As cloud technology evolves, we evolve. At SAP, we will continue to power and help guide the development of these innovations for both businesses and consumers. Thanks to the cloud, our lives will never look the same again — in the best way possible.
Scott Russell is a member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE and head of Customer Success.
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