What do M&S, Heathrow and RAC have in common?

The obvious answer is, of course, that they are household names in the retail, airport and automotive sectors in which they operate.

Less obvious is the fact that today each of these venerable old businesses with such a pedigree of serving their customers well in the past, are putting cloud IT at the heart of their business to make sure they are able to do so in the future.

Prepare for a digital future

To be clear, we’re not simply talking about updating day-to-day productivity tools or replacing servers. What these companies are doing is using cloud IT to fundamentally change the way they do business.

The RAC is using data from telematics boxes to predict when vehicles break down. Heathrow uses real-time data on everything from weather to cancelled flights to manage its workforce and passenger experience. M&S is bringing data together from every part of the business to change the way it operates.

Each business is creating a new digital business model.

Get an unfair advantage

If you operate away from the consumer frontline in business or professional services, it’s easy to think you don’t have much in common with such big companies.

The truth is that whatever your sector or size if you aren’t thinking about how technology can help you collaborate more effectively, interrogate data or automate tasks, a competitor will soon do so and start scooping up your clients.

Just as M&S has to face down competition from born-digital companies like ASOS – as well as the rest of the high street – so will you.

The good news is that the unfair advantage that disruptive digital companies enjoy is one that you can take advantage of too.

Whether you are a long-established name in your sector or a relatively new kid on the block, a small business or one with a national or international footprint, you can use cloud IT as a platform for growth and competitiveness.

Free up resources to grow

The business case works out on a number of levels. The first is that by moving to cloud IT such as Azure, you put your IT infrastructure in the hands of experts who can keep your business secure and running.

At the same time, you can think about how the people who were previously tied up in ‘keeping the lights on’ can do more productive, strategic work for the business.

Finally, you can ensure that you have the tools and resources you need to compete effectively when you need them.

Get it right, first time

 At Cloud Direct we’re an Azure Expert MSP. This means we are one of only a handful of the 30,000 Microsoft Gold Partners globally with the right experience to set-up and migrate you safely and securely to the cloud.

Whether you have built your business case for the cloud and are ready-to-go or need some help planning your move, we are the people to help you.

You can take one step closer by calling us today or download our guide to understand how businesses like yours are using the Azure cloud to grow.