Retail businesses stand to benefit immensely from Cloud technology, and not only in terms of what it can do to boost application performance during seasonal spikes.
Many retailers are using Cloud solutions to handle critical applications from communications to customer relationship management, and the Cloud looks to play an increasingly important role as retailers adopt omni-channel strategies that tie online, store, and mobile experiences together.
Today’s users demand a more agile IT environment— one that supports mixed workloads, hybrid cloud, mobility, security, and Big Data. In other words, your IT environment must operate like a cloud provider to your lines of business and the extended ecosystem. The truth is that building a Cloud solution can be complex and, if approached without the right preparation, costly. Even retailers that have successfully implemented virtual server solutions can find the process of building a Cloud platform daunting.
In our experience, we’ve found that Cloud initiatives are far more successful when businesses follow these three rules:
1. Make Sure You’re Ready for the Cloud.
This may sound antithetical to the whole idea of innovation, but the reality is that not every retailer is ready to move to the Cloud right now. At Rolta AdvizeX, we offer our customers a Cloud Advizer™ service that benchmarks both the IT and business environment using 600 weighted characteristics to ensure that retailers are ready to make the move.
For example, do you have the IP-based infrastructure and IT skills to support the Cloud? Can your applications make the transition smoothly? What will the impact be on network bandwidth and storage capacity? Knowing the answers to these questions is essential to taking the right, next steps.
2. For a Smooth Transition to the Cloud, Pieces Need to Mesh.
A Cloud is really the combination of moving parts that work together seamlessly. At the heart of every Cloud are the same eight basic building blocks: applications, virtualization, management tools, data protection, networking, servers, storage, and security. If one of these blocks is weak, the entire Cloud structure is weakened, which can result in poor performance, compromised security, higher operational costs, and frustrated customers.
Converged infrastructure is a natural fit for retail IT environments, providing optimal flexibility and scalability. With the HP ConvergedSystem series, retailers can deploy a converged infrastructure platform that is purpose-built for cloud solutions or big data applications.
3. Plan Out the Next Three Years.
Building a Cloud platform isn’t a solution; it’s the beginning of one. Retailers that really get value from the Cloud are those that have a long-range plan with clear goals and actionable steps along the way. We recommend having at least a three-year plan from the start.
For over 40 years, Rolta AdvizeX has helped enterprises get more value from HP solutions with expert advisory, professional, and managed services. With our unique Cloud Advizer™ service, we deliver an actionable IT strategy that aligns with your business goals, based on in-depth analysis and built around industry best practices and experience. The Rolta AdvizeX Cloud Advizer™ ensures that your company selects the right technology at the right size and the best price, while leveraging your existing skill sets and technology infrastructure for minimal disruption and maximum ROI.
Whether you’re building a private cloud or increase business agility with a hybrid cloud solution, Rolta AdvizeX can help you plan, build, and manage your infrastructure for better performance and faster results. To learn how your business can benefit from a Cloud Advizer™ engagement or HP ConvergedSystems no-fee assessment, talk to your Rolta AdvizeX representative. ▪