Thread by @OdeleyeWole, Let's get started. Today I will try to explain extensive extensively the [...]

Let's get started. Today I will try to explain extensive extensively the principle of the "Cloud" , and the potential business and careers opportunities it opens up /1 https://twitter.com/OdeleyeWole/status/1245430463277273093

https://twitter.com/OdeleyeWole/status/1245430463277273093

The term 'Cloud' or 'Cloud computing' itself isn't new. It's been around for decades. It's really just a metaphor for the internet and it's based on the simplest principle of storing and accessing computer programs and data over the internet instead of locally on a server /2

We all current use cloud technology in different forms we are not always conscious of. For example :

Backing up your iPhone data on the iCloud. Apple iCloud provides you storage space "as-a-Service" instead of you looking for an external drive to back up
/3

Google provides you with the ability to create and edit documents, videos, store contacts, build websites, or host virual meetings without any resources consumed on your phone or laptop. Google in this case is providing you with applications "as-a-Service". /4

The concept of providing technology resources "as-a-Service" means that consumers and businesses can 'subscribe' to use specific resources without actually owning them. This very simple concept changes the way businesses and people look at technology investments /5

Now why is all this important?

Because Cloud technology has been the single biggest cause of technology disruption in the last 30 years. Look at a few examples:

Uber disrupted the global transportation industry buy developing a decentralized car hire model. /6

Uber's core operations technology is heavily dependent on Google maps. Uber didn't need to build their own mapping technology from scratch. They simply leverages on Google Cloud Mapping APIs to build a new business cheaply. /7

Now let's look at this from the business point of view. Modern day organizations have been pressured to constantly innovate so as to reduce their cost of operations and increase their revenues. Different type of Executives have different business concerns /8

Let's look at the HR Director of an organization. Modern HR executives like @efizeey are tasked with creating the "future of work", finding the right talent , building the right leaders, and creating a workplace the creates rewarding experiences for employees and drives growth /9

For executives in sales, marketing or Customer services, they are measured on the last best experience a customer has across any channel of their choosing. Modern Customer Experiences are expected to be exceptional, and Customer loyalty can't be taken for granted anymore /10

For executive who manage supply chain or finance functions, the emergence of internet-of-things and robotic automation causes implicit changes to the operating model of digital supply chains and has high impact on the revenue and bottom line of their organisations /11

What's more interesting is that no industry is immune to the disruption caused by the Cloud. Hence organisations of all sizes are aggressively looking for how to digitally transformation their operations by leveraging cloud technologies.

Guiding them is what i do for a living/12

Now the world economic forum @wef explained the two key elements of Digital Transformation that are unfolding.

Firstly, the modern Customer is largely a digital Customer. This is a person who is savvy and educated and in complete control of their buying journey /13

The digital Customer wants to engage with organisational on their own terms across any channel of their choosing. She expects unique and delightful experiences.

That's why our generation has no qualms calling banks, Telcos or electricity companies out on poor service /14

Secondly, any company that wants to become a digital Enterprise , must be ready to make a fundamental shift innhow they run and operate, and also how they monetize their products and services. They need to be able to run multiple business models at the same time. /15

Based on the two elements, it's clear that in order for your organization to thrive in the modern world, all aspects of the business need to have a high level of "digital IQ", meaning a deep understanding of cloud technology trends, and the ability to harness technology ..../16

...with the aim of driving business forward.

Am I making sense please?

/17

From a business point of view, the summary is that organisations seeking digital transformation are doing so by shifting their attention to Customers and employees as the focal point of their technology investments. /18

How does this affect you?

For your organization to transform digitally, they need to have experts with the right skillset, talent composition, with high digital IQ to facilitate the change needed to harness business opportunities and how they measure success /19

It is only such experts that are guaranteed to not only retain their jobs in the coming years , but thive and grow in the modern digital economy /20

That been said, let's go to the meat of the matter.

How can you start developing the competency required to harness Cloud technology and drive organizational growth and efficiency ?

There are at the most basic level, 3 types of Cloud Service Models.

These models are:

1) Software-as-a-Service
2) Platform-as-a-Service
3) Infrastructure-as-a-Service /22

Remember earlier I mentioned that the concept of the cloud is that businesses can subscribe to services they need.

Software-as-a-Service refers providing organizations with already setup business applications to drive their end to end business processes on the Cloud

/23

Platform-as-a-service refers to providing businesses, including startups with Platform services like APIs, Databases, Analytics, Application development and other support tools to build their own unique business requirements on the cloud /24

Infrastructure-as-a-Service allows organizations use bare metal storage, compute power, network services and security Infrastructure to move part of their ICT workload to cloud platform.

This is typically for organisations that need to outsource datacenter workloads /25

Today I promised we would talk exclusively about Cloud Applications opportunities (Software-as-a-Service)

Tomorrow and next we will talk about Cloud technology (Platform-as-a-service) and Cloud Infrastructure (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) respectively /26

Let me start with the business opportunities in Cloud Applications.

Over my career, I have designed the digital roadmaps of alot of large organizations across Banking, Government, Power, Telecommunication, Oil and Gas and Retail. What I typically find is that they .../27

... try to leverage cloud technology to drive some or all parts of their business processes. These processes are usually either back-office ( Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, Humans Resources, Logistics etc) or front office (Sales, Marketing, Customer Services etc) /28

Now if you group these Business processes into Cloud Application functions, you will typical arrive at 4 broad types of Cloud Applications namely:

1) Enterprise Resource Planning
2) Human Capital Management
3) Supply Chain Management
4) Industry Specialized Applications. /29

So using @Oracle solutions as an example (I'm not allowed by contract to name others),

The Oracle Fusion ERP Cloud would allow diverse organizations transform their Finance, Procurement, Project Management, Governance risk and compliance processes to modern operations /30

The Oracle Fusion HCM Cloud would allow organisations empower their workforce and drive HR strategy across Recruitment, Workforce administration, Compensation , Time and labor, workforce planning & modelling, Talent & performance Management as well as learning and development /31

The Oracle Fusion SCM Cloud would enable organizations automate processes around Inventory, Demand Planning, Logistics, Order Management, Product management, etc and leverage new technologies like Internet-of-things and Robotic process automation /32

The Oracle Customer Experience Cloud would help drive revenue and business strategy of organisations from front office functions of Sales, Marketing, Service, E-commerce or Social, leveraging new tools like chatbots and predictive analytics /34

I will talk about industry Specialized Applications another time so as not to confuse you. /35

The importance of all these Cloud Applications is that organizations don't need to incure the heavy costs typical associated with IT Applications projects. The applications have already been implemented on the Cloud , all they need to do is subscribe /36

Now if you want to toe the line of Cloud Applications, it's important you get trained and certified by a Cloud vendor. You can decide you want to specialize in any of ERP, SCM, CRM or HR Cloud Applications. Across any of the top cloud vendors in the world. /37

For example, I hold a number of Oracle Cloud Application Certifications across Finance, Supply Chain, HR, Digital Banking and Public Sector Revenue management. Having training and Certification let's your employer or Customers know that you have.../38

...the required expertise and Digital QI to advise them on their digital transformation journey on the Cloud. They is a huge career booster and also gives you the opportunity to earn income from independent consulting work. /39

Depending on the role you occupy in an organization you can decide to be a functional cloud specialist eg Certified In Financals cloud only or Procurement Cloud or Talent Cloud or Inventory Cloud. This is if your role is specialised in and you want to grow vertically /40

Regardless of if you are an employee or an IT Consultant or a student , you cannot ignore the important of cloud technology to businesses. Nearly all organizations are already building capacity to move in that direction and this affects the career growths of people like you /41

It makes Alot of sense to skill yourself in a relevant cloud technology and fucntional domain so that you can quickly establish yourself as an expert who will be relevant in the current digital economy that is fast expanding. /42

And that brings me to the end of todays session on Cloud Applications opportunities. Hope I didn't disappoint you. If you have questions, feel free to ask or dm me, I'll be happy to answer you.

Do have a great night ahead.

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