Accenture Finds That Vast Majority of Companies Are Embracing the Journey to the Cloud but Alignment to Business Strategy Lags
September 27 2016 - 8:57AM
Business Wire
Survey of Nearly 1,900 Executives in 13
Countries Tracks Boardroom Perspectives on Cloud Implementation in
the as-a-Service Economy
According to research from Accenture (NYSE:ACN) released today,
although there’s a significant uptick in cloud adoption at the
enterprise level, companies are missing the full benefit of their
cloud adoptions by not factoring their IT implementations into
their overall business strategy. The “Cloud in the Boardroom” study
of nearly 1,900 c-suite executives across the world, found that
while more than 95 percent of respondents have a five-year cloud
strategy already in place, only 38 percent have aligned these plans
with overarching business goals.
The survey also revealed enormous potential for hybrid and
public cloud growth across all 15 surveyed industries, with four of
five executives reporting that less than half of their business
functions are currently operated in public cloud, but noted
increasing intent on moving more of their operations to the cloud
in the coming years.
“Our research confirms that enterprise clients are
overwhelmingly recognizing the value of a Cloud First agenda –
leveraging the cloud to bring applications, infrastructure and
business processes together and be delivered as-a-Service – as a
driver of digital innovation, and they are upfront about the
guidance they need in order to move even faster on their journey to
the cloud,” said Jack Sepple, senior managing director, Accenture
Cloud and Accenture Operations group technology officer. “By taking
steps to align their cloud and business strategies and to involve
IT more directly in cloud decision-making, companies will be better
positioned on their journey to the cloud as the as-a-Service
economy matures.”
C-Suite Moving Past Outdated Objections to Cloud
Migration
The study found that executives are more informed about the
benefits of public and hybrid cloud implementations, shunning dated
opposition and doubts.
While half of respondents cite security as their biggest concern
with the public model, more than 80 percent believe public cloud
security is more robust and transparent than what they’re able to
provide in-house. Similarly, 80 percent say they are no longer
worried about compliance and regulatory issues. With an
overwhelming majority, 89 percent, now agreeing that implementing
cloud strategies is a competitive advantage which allows their
companies to leverage innovation through agility.
C-Suite Must Provide Training in Order to Include IT in Cloud
Decision-Making
The research also revealed a perceived shortage in cloud
competencies and emerging skill-gaps within the enterprise IT
functions that must be addressed to increase cloud decision-making
capacity for enterprise IT to truly lead in the as-a-Service
economy.
Nearly four of five executives reported that the IT function of
their businesses may lack the necessary skills to be involved in
as-a-Service purchases, despite an overwhelming consensus (88
percent) that IT should participate in these transactions. To help
bridge this gap, 92 percent of organizations have or are planning
to establish a formal IT service broker role.
Methodology
Accenture conducted an online survey, fielded between January
and February of 2016, of 1,879 C-level executives of companies
across 15 industries in 13 countries.
For more information on the 2016 Accenture Cloud in the
Boardroom Survey, please visit
http://www.slideshare.net/AccentureOperations/cloud-in-the-boardroom.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company,
providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy,
consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched
experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries
and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest
delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business
and technology to help clients improve their performance and create
sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 375,000
people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives
innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us
at www.accenture.com.
Accenture is a leader in helping organizations move to the cloud
to take advantage of a new era of service delivery and flexibility,
where applications, infrastructure and business processes are
brought together and delivered As-a-Service. Accenture’s Cloud
First agenda offers comprehensive, industry-focused cloud services
including strategy, implementation, migration and managed services,
and assets including the Accenture Cloud Platform that can drive
broader transformational programs for clients. Accenture has worked
on over 20,000 cloud computing projects for clients, including
three-quarters of the Fortune Global 100, and has more than 31,000
professionals trained in cloud computing.
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AccentureAlexander Aizenberg, +
1-917-452-9878alexander.aizenberg@accenture.com
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