Is the Future More Sustainable with Hybrid Cloud and AI?

Organizations are constantly brainstorming how to make sustainable growth a reality. Rapid digitalization and technology acceleration change how businesses manage everything from product development to customer experience. At times, it’s as if companies cannot keep up with the advancement in which the digital world is headed. Consumer demand and customer needs are changing and evolving alongside it, especially in a post-pandemic environment. IBM proposed a solution using hybrid cloud and AI at the recent Think 2021 event.

 The hybrid cloud and AI module outlined in IBM Think 2021 automates some processes and allows others to be easily accessed by cloud technology. Integrating hybrid cloud leverages the capabilities and potential of the cloud across a spectrum of business ecosystems. It also addresses the challenge of moving to a cloud-based system or model. AI’s goal is to augment human intelligence but not replace it.

 Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, emphasized the importance of giving business leaders and employees the opportunity and time to do what matters most. As time is a limited resource, businesses need to utilize their money, time, and resources. IBM’s technology promises a sustainable future built around innovation.

 I felt honoured and inspired to listen to the following speakers and visionaries, who value the human aspect in tech:

•  Tony Hemmelgarn, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software, was the first guest speaker. He discussed how critical AI and digitalization are in predicting and influencing outcomes, making decisions, and shaping customer experience. The digital world should ultimately reflect the material world; the closer that relationship is, the more AI becomes a tool to augment human potential. This will inspire a more sustainable and resilient workforce focused on innovation.
• Karen Lynch, President and CEO of CVS Health, discussed the role hybrid cloud technology and AI has had in shaping healthcare during the pandemic. Both have contributed significantly to the success of telehealth. For example, CVS uses AI to track and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to those that need it the most. I recently experienced the technology first-hand and was quite impressed. From scheduling an appointment for my vaccine to the screening process to obtaining a digital record of the vaccination, everything was done digitally. 
• Bret Taylor, President and CEO of Salesforce, expressed how this emerging technology has accelerated considerably during the pandemic and shaped how businesses interact with an increasingly digital market. The financial services sector exemplifies customers’ changing needs – online banking vs. face-to-face, immediate credit decisions, 24/7 customer service – as companies adapt to an online world.

IBM unveiled three new exciting technologies at Think 2021. First, Project CodeNet enables AI to interpret programming languages helping businesses to infuse AI across their organization. Next was AutoSQL (Structured Query Language), which uses AI to access, automate, and integrate data without moving it – a practical, efficient, and sustainable process. Lastly: Watson Orchestrate is a powerful AI engine that allows leaders to perform work faster and automate mundane tasks.

Think 2021 reinforced the importance of accountability, trust, and cybersecurity as a growth driver. Campbell McDermid, Practice Director at Adobe, stated the need for data-driven accountability to ensure accuracy. Unified data addresses challenges and illuminates customer insights. Measuring key metrics, KPIs and unifying data leverages intelligent decision-making while transforming and building upon a more profound customer experience. I have written before about the importance of data when creating an environment where transparency and accountability are at the heart of company culture and values. IBM and those partnering with IBM clearly feel similarly about establishing an ethical and sustainable environment. Innovation and growth continue to progress when humanity is prioritized alongside tech.

In addition to all the openness and possibilities technology demonstrates, vulnerabilities and breaches are also a significant risk. The need for security is profound as digitalization accelerates and companies scale in unique ways to adapt to that modernization. IBM recognizes that with promising tech like hybrid cloud and AI, cybersecurity is essential and ideally integrated into every business framework. 

 Another Think 2021 speaker, Mauricio Guerra, Chief Information Security Officer of The Dow Chemical Company, explored the symbiotic relationship between security and trust. He advocates for a zero-trust approach as we move into the future of cybersecurity. Businesses are more susceptible to data breaches and theft as they scale in ways to match virtual demand. Therefore, data vulnerability and human error should be considered when building secure networks where safety is harmonized with business goals. Few might describe cybersecurity as a business growth driver, but Mauricio does, giving us food for thought about how we will build our organizations in the years ahead.

IBM also recognizes the benefits of a zero-trust foundation.

There is a dichotomy of when or when not to put trust and faith into cloud technology. Using technology responsibly requires a mix of caution and openness. Authenticity is critical to enhancing the customer experience, not excluding data security. Customers are more likely to return to companies where trust is established, data is secure, and where they feel safe.

Synchronizing innovation and transformation with accountability, trust, and security promises a sustainable future as far as the exciting technology of hybrid cloud and AI is concerned.

I firmly believe that innovation happens at the intersection of tech and humanity. If technology does not reflect and represent the needs of our customers, of the expanding and changing world itself, then it is not relevant. AI and hybrid cloud systems unite and bring these ideas into focus, issuing a cutting-edge and sustainable future.

Hybrid cloud and AI are two critical forces for digital transformation. In a letter to investors, Krishna even calls hybrid cloud and AI “the two next great shifts in the technology landscape.” The resilience, joy and efficiency they provide to our day-to-day life is far beyond anything we have experienced in the past 20 years.

Given that, just imagine how these technologies will dramatically impact the next 20.

From time to time, IBM collaborates with industry thought leaders to share their opinions and insights on current technology trends. The opinions in this post are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM.