Cloud usage: Debunking skepticism and exploring benefits and cost savings

• People who utilize cloud technology demonstrate double productivity, resulting in a 2.3 to 2.5-fold improvement in business outcomes.
• AWS is working to bring greater performance, lower costs, better integrations, simplicity of use, and security.

Advancing organizational data capabilities in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region presents various benefits and challenges, including gaining insights from vast amounts of data and improving decision-making. However, this also requires significant investment in infrastructure, skills, and security. Cloud usage offers cost savings and flexibility, enabling organizations to access powerful computing resources without needing on-premises hardware.

Cloud benefits such as scalability, availability, and disaster recovery capabilities also make it an attractive option for businesses seeking to expand their data capabilities. In this second part of the interview with Tech Wire Asia, Wayne Duso, Vice President of Storage, Edge, and Data Services at Amazon Web Services (AWS), discusses the challenges and benefits of enhancing organizational data capabilities in the APAC region, as well as the advantages and cost savings of using cloud technology.

The APAC region is one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse areas, with a rich blend of cultures, economies, and people. In recent years, APAC has seen a significant increase in the use of cloud technology and data storage systems. As a result, there is a growing demand for organizations to improve their data capabilities. However, some challenges need to be addressed to achieve this goal.

One of the major challenges in APAC is finding trained individuals in disciplines such as cloud technology and data storage systems. The difficulty in scaling has made it challenging to find the right talent, leading to a shortage of skilled professionals. Companies are focusing on educating and empowering their existing workforce to address this issue. For example, AWS offers free training courses with badges and certifications to help employees become more confident in using cloud technology and renew their careers for the next 20 years.

Benefits of cloud technology and sustainability

Despite the demand for better data capabilities, some individuals are skeptical about the benefits of using cloud technology. Some believe that “it may be costing businesses more than they are actually saving.” However, according to Duso, the cloud often provides significant cost savings and productivity gains. For instance, when customers partner with cloud providers to develop tailored solutions, they are provided with tools to monitor and understand how their resources are being utilized. This has resulted in a reduction of overall costs by 50% over five years and infrastructure costs by around 30-40%.

In addition, he noted that reports have indicated that people who utilize cloud technology demonstrate double the productivity, resulting in a 2.3 to 2.5-fold improvement in business outcomes. While customers may express concerns about the price per gigabyte per month on the cloud, when considering the bigger picture and doing the math, the cloud provides significant cost savings and productivity gains.

“If you’re interested in exploring the benefits of using AWS, we can help you do the math and see how it can positively impact your business,” said Duso.

As the world transitions to more sustainable practices, companies are also looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. In this regard, the cloud has made a significant contribution, especially with the dedication of cloud providers to renewable energy. For instance, customers who use AWS infrastructure have essentially zero carbon footprint, reducing the carbon footprint of millions of companies and individuals.

How Pos Malaysia transformed its business with AWS

An example of how cloud technology is helping to advance organizational data capabilities in APAC can be seen in the digital transformation of Pos Malaysia Berhad, the national postal and courier service provider. Pos Malaysia is closing its on-premises data centers and migrating most of its IT infrastructure to the cloud by 2023. By going all-in on AWS, Pos Malaysia will be able to make transactions smoother with new digital, customer-centric solutions while simultaneously reducing IT costs by 50%.

Through the adoption of these solutions, the 200-year-old organization, with its vast last-mile coverage spanning over 10 million addresses and a network of more than 3,500 retail touch points, will enhance its ability to offer seamless deliveries to customers.

To deliver improved postal and logistics services, Pos Malaysia migrated 60 critical applications, including parcel tracking, point-of-sale retail, SAP, human resources, supply chain, and mail tracking, to AWS in June 2022 and will move the remaining applications by 2023. Using AWS, Pos Malaysia can seize growth opportunities in e-commerce, as demand for online shopping has increased throughout Southeast Asia during the pandemic.

AWS’s commitment to innovation and progress in APAC

Looking to the future, AWS is working to bring greater performance, lower costs, better integrations, simplicity of use, and security. As the company looks to the future of cloud computing and data storage, there is a lot of potential for innovation and progress, particularly in areas such as AI/ML.

“How exciting is this? It’s beyond exciting! We have completely flipped the equation for certain classes of computers. There are some projects that I can’t discuss now, but there are some things we’re working on that are simply mind-blowing, and they’re constantly on my mind,” said Duso.

AWS is excited about emerging technologies, such as quantum computing, which is offered as a service. Customers can experiment with various quantum technologies through the cloud and achieve real results faster than before. The possibilities of 3D, whether in VR, AR, or other areas, are extensive and potentially revolutionary. 

“Looking ahead, I believe we won’t tolerate 2D worlds for much longer. As technology advances, we’ll be able to experience a radically different world in the same form factor without the need for glasses or other cumbersome devices. It’s an exciting time to be at the forefront of innovation and progress in the tech industry,” Duso concludes.

AWS is also excited to support APAC and worldwide organizations to advance their data capabilities, reduce their carbon footprint, and drive growth and innovation in their respective industries.

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