Unwrapping 2024 priorities

As the year wraps up, our daily list of tasks and responsibilities commonly transforms into time spent reflecting. Many of us take moments to reassess what elements of the previous year we want to leave behind. And much like the careful study of each new, unwrapped present, we contemplate fresh plans and where we will focus our energy in the approaching year.

This reflective mindset extends into the world of technology, and a set of themes seems poised to accompany us into 2024. In this edition of The SoftwareOne Scoop, we unwrap these themes and discuss critical areas where organizations should prioritize extra time in the upcoming new year.

Theme #1 – The future of work is here, and AI powers it.

In 2023, artificial intelligence (AI) was undoubtedly?the?trending topic discussed across organizations and at many?conferences . And for good reasons – as AI is projected to continue to provoke creativity, increase productivity, and empower organizations to transform.?

As a recap, during this year's 微软 Build event, Chief Executive Satya Nadella delivered a keynote address urging businesses to seize the significant advancements achieved in generative artificial intelligence and the direct influence it currently wields on modern work practices. Nadella asserted that AI stands as?"the most important technology of our time" ?and has the potential to transform every industry, highlighting Microsoft's investments in AI, including the development of new AI-powered services, such as the Copilot suite.?

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It's clear that AI has the potential to transform user experience, but its impact goes well beyond that. AI can potentially revolutionize user experience, with implications reaching far beyond. Many businesses are strengthening their AI divisions and integrating third-party tools for improved forecasting and anomaly detection. Moreover, specialized Cloud Financial Management (FinOps) tools are integrating AI into their optimization features. For example, some tools analyze usage patterns over time, using AI to forecast future usage and propose optimization strategies, autonomously implementing them.?

Theme #2: Organizations will still be asked to do more with less in 2024?

As we step into 2024 amid economic uncertainties, it becomes imperative to prioritize cost optimization and embrace FinOps.

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In fact,?Gartner's findings ?indicate that although short-term reactive measures are unavoidable, companies implementing sustainable?cost reduction initiatives ?not only surpass the competition but also emerge as both resilient and profitable.?A SoftwareOne study ?also found that 83% of CIOs must do more with less in 2023, and 45% express the belief that enhancing transparency and control over cloud costs would enable them to derive more value from their cloud investments, enhancing overall company support.

Dan Ortman , Global Practice Lead FinOps at SoftwareOne,?states: ??

"The next year is going to be a challenging one for businesses worldwide. The increased agility that comes with cloud computing will allow companies to better respond to these unexpected market changes. Adopting FinOps practices will help them optimize not just their spend but the processes, accountability and transparency required to get maximum value from their cloud investment. Once legacy IT is migrated and modernized, and cloud is optimized, any savings can be reinvested into innovative projects that help the IT team to achieve more with less."?

Theme #3: Sustainability. IT serves as a catalyst for efficiency, with an expanding environmental footprint.

According to ING, ?the IT-related share of global electricity usage is predicted to fall to 31% by 2030 without efficiency improvements. Backing your organization's sustainability roadmap necessitates gauging and consistently refining the environmental effects of your software and cloud infrastructure. This involves tracking and evaluating the carbon footprint of your IT operations and encompassing each hyperscaler cloud within your setup.??

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Engaging in?FinOps practices ?can contribute to lowering emissions linked to your software and cloud environment, and the FinOps services provided by SoftwareOne aid your sustainability initiatives by delivering carbon footprint reports for on-premises data centers, cloud infrastructure, and software services. We empower you to oversee your IT strategy's financial and environmental implications, facilitating informed decision-making based on data and ensuring compliance with regulatory reporting requirements.?

Undoubtedly, with change and new technology come challenges – but that is where we are here to help.??

Stay ahead of cloud costs and get on the right side of history when it comes to reducing your team’s energy consumption by scheduling a?FinOps Diagnostic ?with SoftwareOne so you can create new investment opportunities within your organization.?

Theme #4?–?It's all about the data.??

The quality of your data doesn't just ensure you maintain governance and productivity in the business world; it can determine the success of artificial intelligence once integrated into your environment. If you've ever heard the phrase 'garbage in, garbage out,' you know what we mean.??

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Ensure your organization? is AI-ready by visiting our AI & Copilot?blog series, ?which outlines critical technical requirements for implementing Copilot and steps to take to ensure you are data-ready.?

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Make 2024 the year of doing more with less. No matter where you find yourself on your technological journey, SoftwareOne is dedicated to supporting you at every stage. Contact our experts today and collaborate on crafting a personalized transformation roadmap for your needs.

And that’s the scoop! We’d love to hear from you. What did you like? What do you want to see more of? Leave us a comment below??? ?so we can make sure we’re serving up the best content for you. And don't forget to subscribe??? ?so you don’t miss our next edition!