Everything as a service (XaaS) is popular for a reason. Virtually any computing or IT function employed by your company can be replaced or supplemented by XaaS. Adopting XaaS will modernize the functionality of your existing systems, increase the efficiency of your teams, and offer an unheard-of degree of flexibility. Moving to the cloud can deliver significant cost savings, but a trusted technology advisor can go further, replacing legacy run costs with new opportunities to grow.
In its report titled “Accelerating agility with XaaS,” Deloitte polled 1,117 American IT professionals in Q3, 2018. The report showed that 71% of the companies represented now allocate more than half of their IT budget to XaaS. Those numbers are rising as XaaS continues to gain favor with IT departments.
That popularity means some companies are tempted to jump aboard the XaaS train without taking the necessary first steps. That can be a critical error. Most companies employ legacy computer systems and software. There are departments and business units outside of IT that are key stakeholders. There are many variables in play and not all of these may be immediately obvious. Deploying a cloud-based solution without a solid plan in place that accounts for existing systems and requirements is a recipe for disaster.
In its report Deloitte noted:
“Only 24 percent of respondents say their organization has a comprehensive, enterprise-wide strategy for adopting XaaS. Without a sound strategy, complexities can be magnified, increasing the likelihood that companies will encounter issues related to cost overruns, poor interoperability, and security breaches.”
And those cost savings that XaaS is expected to deliver? Deloitte found issues there as well.
“Forty-four percent said that duplicative costs are an issue—in other words, they’re continuing to pay for traditional IT (such as existing infrastructure) while also paying for XaaS.”
What can you do to ensure your company’s transition to XaaS happens on time, on budget, without causing any critical issues? How can you ensure the move to XaaS delivers the expected cost savings instead of resulting in a situation where you’re paying for services twice?
The answer is simple: don’t do anything until you have an XaaS implementation strategy in place.
Few companies have the required expertise in-house. They struggle to build the business case, let alone frame the story effectively (or convincingly) for the CEO or Board. While the CIO and IT department are central to a project of this nature, they benefit from partnering with experts who have the experience, access to cloud vendors, and tools to create an effective XaaS implementation strategy.
For example, ACLIVITI provides a team of experienced professionals who work closely with your organization. They provide an impartial resource that works to understand how your systems currently work and identify the needs and requirements of all stakeholders. They leverage a close relationship with top cloud service providers to help your company evaluate and identify the ideal solutions. Using ACLIVITI’s proprietary APEX technology value rationalization (TVR) framework will provide the optimal solution and business case that supports it. And ACLIVITI works side-by-side with the IT department on implementation and deployment to ensure everything goes exactly according to plan.
To put it more bluntly, ACLIVITI will analyze a mess of network and legacy architecture, learn how you built what you built, and get you focused on where you want to go. They accelerate the process so the client gets what they need done, while also ensuring the project is completed by their deadline.
Without a comprehensive XaaS implementation strategy, what should be a huge win for the company can quickly become a disaster. Don’t let that happen to your company. Choose an experienced XaaS partner who knows the business inside and out, works with a wide variety of cloud-based vendors, and has a framework in place that’s proven to deliver successful XaaS projects.
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