Cloud apps, digital transformation aid business continuity during pandemic: VMware

Deployment of modern cloud native apps and digital transformation have helped enterprises across the globe ensure business continuity during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study.

Only 2% of the 5,000 participants in the study, published by cloud computing firm VMware, said that their digital experience or transformation efforts were in vain.

Around half of the information technology (IT) and business decision makers surveyed told the Palo Alto, California-based virtualisation company that digital transformation increased business efficiency, while 42% felt that digital platforms enhanced customer experience. Despite the economic slowdown, 39% of those surveyed said they would upgrade their existing technology platforms.

The study, dubbed Successful Digital Transformation: Apps At The Ready, was carried out by technology research firm Vanson Bourne for VMware across 17 countries in March and April.

“The speed (with which) organisations moved their engagement to digital channels during the pandemic signals the critical importance of modern applications. Businesses need to do more than transform capabilities to deliver digital experiences for customers and for employees. They need to cultivate software-minded leadership, driving alignment among app developers, IT and the business, and adopting strategic technology platforms,” Sumit Dhawan, senior vice president and chief customer experience officer at VMware, said.

Modern cloud native apps have enabled remote workforces for 54% of the surveyed companies, pushing quick updates in response to changing landscape for 42%, while 41% said that it helped them maintain reliable uptime.

However, security and integration were the two key challenges for software engineers, as technological, operational and organisational hurdles, along with the multitude of technology architectures and platforms, complicated the development and deployment processes, the study found. In fact, the multitude of technology platforms was cited by 27% of participants as the key issue.

Leadership was key to create a modern, agile and digital enterprise, as per 88% of the respondents. Additionally, 80% were of the opinion that embracing developer processes, such as test and learn, would enable enterprises to work more effectively and efficiently.

In April, Bengaluru-based IT services firm Mphasis partnered with VMware to modernise and accelerate enterprise IT services delivery that will help organisations build enterprise applications that can perform functions faster.