Cloud Partners: Unsung Yet Influential Heroes

India's cloud is booming with 27% YoY growth. Yet, a surprising fact is that 72% of Indian companies rely on third-party partners to 🗽 guide their cloud journey, granting these partners significant influence over cloud-related purchasing decisions.

☁️ India’s Cloud Landscape

India boasts one of the world’s largest, youngest, and most digitally savvy population and is a leading tech nation.

With the world’s 3rd largest startup ecosystem, home to over 80,000 active startups, the nation is a hotspot of innovation and growth.

According to Gartner, end-user spending on public cloud is expected to grow 27% in 2023 alone. By 2026, the cloud is anticipated to contribute US$ 310-380 billion to India’s GDP, accounting for approximately 8% of the relative GDP.

🛠️ The Modernization Journey

Companies are turning to the cloud to modernize their data strategies, especially crucial now with the rise of AI; modernize applications, etc.

Modernization is a big keyword and driver today in the cloud. In our recent conversation with Darren Sharpe from Microsoft, we explored this modernization drive in depth (find the full discussion in my LinkedIn feed or YouTube).

Companies understand that cloud offers scalability, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. But a ‘move to the cloud’ or ‘cloud-first’ strategy requires organizations to think through their entire cloud operating model in detail.

🤝Partners: The Unsung Heroes

A recent EY survey revealed a significant trend: Indian companies largely depend on third-party firms to validate, verify and implement their cloud strategies.

72% of companies engage cloud consultants for advice on tech stack, cost-saving strategies, and more.

Over half (51%) entrust their entire modernization strategy to these third parties.

🎯 So what?

This reliance on third parties signifies that they influence or even decide on 3/4 of cloud spending, not the end-user companies. For those selling SaaS products or services as part of modernization strategies, being top-of-mind for these third parties is crucial.

If cost-conscious India relies heavily on partners for cloud modernization, what does this mean for the rest of the world? The implication is clear: cloud buying and selling is predominantly a partner-driven ecosystem.

💡 For SaaS and service providers , the message is unambiguous: building strong relationships with third-party partners is not just beneficial, it’s essential. In the complex journey of cloud modernization, these partners are the gatekeepers, the influencers, and often the decision-makers.

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