Cloud and The "symbiotic relation" between Cloud and Artificial Intelligence by Ms. Rishu Sharma, Lead Research Manager, Clout & IoT, IDC India In order to have a successful digital transformation, Cloud is the underneath for delivering AI services. In fact, the growth for cloud is ultimately powered by data provided through AI. This symbiotic relation between cloud and AI requires all stakeholders across the eco- system to come at a common agreement around the gen- eration, usage as well as benefits derived along with the challenges bought in by such data influx and exchange.

Ms. Rishu Sharma, Research Manager, Cloud & IoT, IDC India. Rishu leads the consulting and research practice for Cloud and IoT markets in India. She is involved in advisory assign- ments for IT vendors in the areas of strategy, strategic marketing, and end-user insights across technologies and industry verticals. She also advises tech buyers (CIOs and lines of business [LOBs]) in their business planning, in order for them to make informed, viable and sustainable strategic decisions on Cloud and IoT Rishu has over 10 years of experience in the field of consulting, business research and project management, digital marketing, presales, and bid management in the IT industry, focusing on hardware, software, and IT services. Prior to joining IDC, Rishu worked for Hewlett Packard Enterprise as a senior consultant for the marketing and strategy teams. She also worked with organizations such as British Telecom and CRISIL. As part of her responsibility, she managed multiple consulting projects delivery involving key technologies such as cloud, digital, mobility, , security, of Things, and so forth across all geographies, along with scoping and requirements freezing, project manage- ment and delivery, quality assessment, and presentation to the executive council, followed by implementation. Rishu is a management graduate in Marketing and Finance and holds a diploma from Indian School of Business in Hyderabad. She is also an all India rank holder for company secretary examinations.

Penetration of cloud in Indian organiza- insights, along with employee productivity enhance their current business and technol- tions has been seamless, with most of them and process automation are some of the key ogies strategies. having begun their cloud journey in India. benefits that enterprises are seeking to While virtually, none of the third platform derive from AI. Facial and pattern recogni- With enormous storage capabilities for data technologies is possible in scaled up imple- tion are some of the early use cases for along with processing and computational mentation without having cloud as a basis, Indian organizations. Multiplied to a power, cloud is the underlying platform the recent developments in AI aims to make massive market like India, such use cases enabling AI. AI and Machine learning is technology adoption easier. The confluence provide large data sets, both structured and being implemented to provide hyper-per- of AI and cloud will fuel not only innova- unstructured. As against looking to AI as a sonalized digital services to the end-cus- tion but will also bring about change, with new technology, enterprises expect AI to tomers. Auto insurance companies are cloud providing the data providing enabling custom- needed for effective AI ers to seek claims by and information provid- providing pictures online ed from AI can help which are scrutinized by robust the cloud. intelligent systems without having the need to physical- As per IDC's Cloudview ly visit the site/vehicle. This 2018 survey, over 80% is breaking barriers for rural of organizations in India markets with quicker, faster cite Machine Learning as and efficient processing. very important to their While storage is provided organization's cloud by cloud, intelligent strategy with plans to systems are enabling new spend money on this ways of delivering person- over the next 12 months. alized services to the end Uncovering new customers. Asia Pacific II |. 2019 02 . 06 Cloud and Artificial Intelligence

India is still warming up to artificial intelli- results. solutions must be able to desired business gence. Most organizations have realized value that exceeds the cost of investments with minimal human intervention.

In order to have a successful digital transformation, Cloud is the underneath for delivering AI services. In fact, the growth for cloud is ultimately powered by data provided through AI. This symbiotic relation between cloud and AI requires all stakeholders across the ecosystem to come at a common agreement around the genera- tion, usage as well as benefits derived along with the challenges bought in by such data influx and exchange. Cloud helps AI in two broad ways – one by being a data feeder and providing accessibility and two by provid- ing scaled up environment for such data-concentrated services at a reasonable charge. Not only that, Cloud also lets the organizations, still in nascent stages of AI adoption, experiment with ML, predictive analytics etc. with least amount of risk. that AI is the way to go but are lacking While large and diverse data sets create new The future is a seamless convergence of faster adoption, as they still figure out challenges. However, when combined with cloud and AI. With the proliferation of embracing cloud for widespread deploy- AI technologies and exponential computing devices and the amount of data being gener- ment. Banking sector, for instance, are power, they create greater and newer oppor- ated, cloud provides the computational and experimenting with chatbots that enable tunities. On the providers end, vendors are storage, thus becoming a repository. AI on customers for making transactions related looking at AI and ML as being key differen- the other hand will not only be able to to payments, recharges and so on. Ease of tiator to their cloud services. Global leverage this information, but also be an implementation and ability to integrate with scalability, local hosting and interoperabili- additional data-source and provider to this existing IT along with cost competitiveness ty will be important for vendors in India repository. For organizations to move to is among the key asks when it comes to market. Vertical -specific AI use cases on matured levels in their cloud journey, AI desired AI solution. cloud will be able to provide much needed will be among the key enablers. While AI differentiator that the enterprises seek. intensity is mostly subjected to digital- The adoption status of cognitive/AI correlates highly with the information Digital Transformation (DX) maturity of the organizations. Adoption of AI solutions will enable organizations to move towards the later stages of information DX maturi- ty— repeatable, managed, and optimized. Organizations must work on having an agile mindset to promote digital business innovation. This will require organizations to have clear measurement mechanics for the impact that AI technologies can bring in. While increased employee productivity and increased process automation are the most common expectations among organi- zations adopting or planning to adopt cognitive/AI solutions, the barriers related to shortage of skill sets, understanding of vendor solutions, governance, and regulato- ry implications cannot be overlooked.

Some enterprises are still burdened with legacy infrastructure and top of it the concerns around cost, security shortage of skilled resources and governance compli- ance deter the AI adoption. While organiza- Providers must also look partnering with native companies, leaders can nurture this tion do realize that AI is the way forward, the other niche vendors to provide vertical development with right mix of vision, they still need to build algorithms and specific solutions like partnering with people, processes and technology. applications that would help them get these startups in healthcare enabled by AI. The

Asia Pacific II | 2019 . 07