Importance of cloud strategy

Why a Cloud Strategy is Essential for Supply Chain & Logistics Success

Cloud computing is necessary and not a competitive edge anymore in supply chain and logistics sectors. Organizations that have employed cloud strategy are in a better position to achieve the results than others that have not employed cloud computing. Organizations have more approaches to employ cloud strategy and make extensive use of it. The supply chain and logistics industry in particular has to enhance resilience, flexibility, and agility to avoid disruption and minimize time. Your organization should have employed recent development in the cloud in order to stay ahead of the competition. Though, many organizations lack a clear cloud strategy, which leads to inefficiencies, disruptions in logistics, energy shortages, bottlenecks, overspending, and security vulnerabilities. A cloud strategy is necessary as it helps an organization to align with business goals and not only its IT strategy; it helps in mitigating risks that would otherwise lead to compliance, security, and operation risks. Cloud strategy also helps in controlling expenses and minimizing operational delays, which enables a strategic approach to rapid scaling, innovation, and business agility. Although it’s better to craft a cloud strategy before employing cloud computing, it’s very rare, as most of the organizations craft their cloud strategy after they have gained some hands-on experience on cloud. As soon as an organization installs a cloud strategy, they can notice their quick ability to resolve issues, streamline operations, and increase overall efficiency

Stages of employing a cloud strategy:

  • Alignment of objectives:
    The company must define the purpose of cloud computing and connect it with the wider plan for digital transformation and business. Built frameworks such as NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) may be utilized to define these. Developing understanding around different cloud applications across business practices is required, and they have to make sure that the stakeholders agree to use the executive workshops.
  • Develop an action plan:
    The organization should identify the cloud council members with their representation from IT, finance, security, and operations to guide decision-making. There should be collaboration between business units so that they can contribute to cloud vision and strategy, and clear objectives must be established. Gap analysis should be conducted so that cloud readiness and desired business outcomes and benefits can be defined so that this organization may know their area of investment.
  • Prepare for execution:
    Aligning of the cloud strategy with the existing strategies (e.g., security, edge computing, data center modernization). Create the cloud principles as advised by application and operations team readiness, business priorities, application modernization strategy, and vendor capabilities. After creating principles that define expectations for the form, significance, and control of cloud usage, you can establish ownership, responsibility, and risk acceptance.
  • Establish governance and mitigate risk:
    Implement a cloud strategy to assess requests for improvements, replacements, and/or new developments. By using cloud strategy, you can use it to inform about the cloud implementation, adoption, or migration operational plans. Identify feasible investments required in security and networking and find out the infrastructure and tools required to support cloud adoption or cloud-native development.
  • Optimize and scale:
    Organizations need to prioritize investments they need to improve in the existing cloud strategies and implementation. Then they should create shared objectives for their cross-functional teams and highlight flexibility and customer centricity over operational performance and process. Lastly, they should use analytics to know about insights and optimize cloud cost management.

Key Stakeholders Involved:

Top companies establish cross-functional teams in their development projects. The following are some key stakeholders involved:

CIO:

Works with executives across the enterprise to provide direction and leadership for cloud strategy and informs enterprise stakeholders about the mission and objectives of the cloud.

CISO & team:

Provides security-related insights, like governance, compliance, and privacy tactics. If needed, update the entire security plan to incorporate the cloud strategy. Acquire or improve abilities as required.

Technical domain architects:

Develop cloud operating plans and models that are compatible with the plans and use the cloud strategy concepts to guide implementation and migration.

Infrastructure & operations (I&O) leader & team:

Contribute an understanding of I&O capabilities and assist in guiding the planning approach for the I&O changes needed for cloud adoption. Manage the IT operational procedures and architecture set up to enable infrastructure to support the cloud. Acquire or improve abilities as required.

Enterprise architecture & technology innovation leaders & teams:

Ensures that all stakeholders are in line with the specified company goals and strategy. Contribute to the abilities of the business infrastructure and its association with the cloud approach and concepts. Identify the framework changes needed for achieving cloud goals. Acquire or improve abilities as required.

Applications & software engineering leaders & teams:

Provide details on the development skills and applications required for cloud adoption. Build vs. buy and in-house vs. cloud appropriateness for new or existing apps can be determined by cloud principles. Acquire or improve abilities as required.

Client stories:

1. Client: A leading financial information, analytics, and ratings provider.

JRD’S Solution: Migrated 14 Tibco workflows to EDW using Talend DI with reusable ETL jobs and configured context.

Benefits:

  • 40% reduction in migration time.
  • 30% improvement in efficiency and performance
  • 25% reduction in manual efforts through streamlined workflows.

2. Client: Healthcare organization specializing in pharmacy services.

JRD’s Solution: Develop a Python script to extract data, query CRM for receipts, and automate email delivery.

Benefits:

  • Saved 32 person-hours per run.
  • Eliminated manual error.
  • Improved tracking and accuracy.

Conclusion:

To thrive in 2025 and beyond, supply chain organizations must change their cloud strategy from an IT initiative to a business facilitator. Higher authorities must form a structured, result-driven approach that maximizes operational efficiencies while minimizing risk. In a rapidly evolving environment, organizations must ensure that their cloud investments are strategic, cost-effective, and suitable for the future. To make sure that they are focused on the right investment, organizations must establish a clear vision and strategy along with following governance that helps in measuring the progress. By transforming the infrastructure to create a digital presence that is built on cloud help, you can be resilient and responsive, which is crucial for logistics.
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