Digital Reporter
Mariel L. Aguinaldo
So you know what cloud computing is and why businesses worldwide are clamoring to utilize it. But how is it being used, exactly?
According to the latest IDC report on global cloud IT infrastructures, total worldwide spending on cloud IT infrastructure is expected to reach $62.2 billion in 2018, clocking in a year-over-year growth of 31.1%.
But with some firms are apprehensive about uploading their entire systems onto the public cloud, on-premise private cloud systems are becoming popular as gradual approach to transforming an organization’s capacities. With these platforms, firms benefit from a decentralized computing system, while still maintaining control over its sensitive data, says Robin Hernandez, director of IBM Private Cloud Offering Management.
Less than year since IBM launched its AI-powered, on-premise platform, IBM Cloud Private (ICP), hundreds of enterprises worldwide have already jumped onboard. Now, with the wealth of case studies from across various industries available, prospective techpreneurs have a number of ways to get inspired.
Here are seven ways businesses are powering their workflows with the cloud:
Integrating AI into enterprises
Singaporean AI company Sentient.io used ICP to host the country’s first AI-as-a-Service platform, which equips organizations with AI capabilities such as self-learning and problem-solving. In turn, these upgrades help users meet strict data security and privacy requirements and manage the lifecycle of their digital assets, among other benefits.
Designing and developing containers (software containers, that is)
Five9 Vietnam and SK Holdings C&C South Korea have been developing containers, or bundled application platforms holding a software’s complete runtime environment. Through containerization, a piece of software can run across different computing environments regardless of factors like IT infrastructure.
Improving communication among the police
Combining ICP and Kubernetes containers, the New Zealand Police has been developing a mobile-based communications system for their officers, along with other new services. And these same tools are helping them retrofit their existing systems.
Global coordination made easy
Automotive glass manufacturer Fuyao Group China, which supplies to top firms like Toyota, Audi, and Bentley, uses ICP to coordinate enterprise applications across its global manufacturing and administrative operations. This allows for a free flow of information across the organization’s various firms, allowing for a smarter, more agile, and more flexible corporate structure.
Optimizing operations of insurance companies
Aflac Insurance Japan and Ilmarinen Finland use cloud computing to ehance their digital services and IT infrastructure, making their operations speedier and more efficient. In Germany, TechnikerKrankenkasse (TK) developed a new cloud-powered service called TK-Safe which enables customers to access their health insurance data via mobile anytime and anywhere.
Streamlining financial processes
Brazil’s Fidelity National Information Services and Macedonia’s KlirinskiInterbankarskiSistemi AD Skopje are using cloud computing to streamline processes like checking transaction chargebacks and payment-clearing. Meanwhile, KrediKayıtBürosu (KKB), the cloud provider of Turkey’s finance industry, is consolidating and localizing the banking systems of more than 150 banks and financial services companies into one private platform.
Educating outside the classroom
Mangalore University in India is creating a learning platform that can be accessed remotely by any student. With this technology, students at any of its affiliate colleges can “attend” emerging tech courses outside the four corners of their classrooms.
“The cloud has evolved in a very short time from being a way to cut costs to a platform for business transformation and innovation,” Mr. Hernandez said.
