The calculation of cloud success

As appeared on Briefing Magazine on February 27, 2023
Written by Josiah Chaves, VP, Cloud Products at Aderant

Going cloud doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. A firm can consider itself cloud-first as it moves forward in implementing new technologies, but these solutions can – and should – still be able to seamlessly integrate with on-prem core systems.

Cloud platforms give increased access and visibility into previously siloed systems and time to data, promoting widespread firm knowledge-sharing. Adopting a cloud-first technology strategy is a good step towards eliminating the often gruelling back and forth between front and back offices. Inherently, cloud platforms provide a level of automation previously unattainable to firms, and allow for data access in a quicker, more seamless way.

A carefully calculated and well-executed migration strategy is paramount to each layer of the firm finding significant value in ‘going cloud’. For IT teams, adopting cloud-based systems enables them to shift resources away from hardware provisioning and the ever-increasing requirement of securing systems, and instead focus on the enablement of business processes through technology. For both front and back office, accessibility to information and systems becomes easier, which is increasingly important in the hybrid work environment we have all adapted to.

Cloud solutions also provide increased insight into firms’ processes across a broader spectrum of their employees. Take the billing process – with increased access to bill status, as well as timely notifications of non-compliant pieces, a cloud technology solution should ultimately increase firm profits by reducing costly write-downs and rejections that often stem from missed steps in messy manual processes.

The key to a successful cloud migration is for the firm first to identify the value it wants to deliver to end users – and the areas of growth where cloud technologies can accelerate solving business challenges. A successful strategy will include addressing processes or challenges that need attention one by one, rather than having a ‘rip and replace’ mentality. Taking the time to create checks and balances between the cloud solution and legacy systems is vital to both firm success and user adoption.