Study: More Enterprises Transforming Business Models Using the Cloud

The rise of cloud computing has enabled businesses in nearly every sector to lower operating costs and increase productivity, but as the cloud evolves, so too will the ways enterprises leverage the technology's advantages.

According to a recent IBM study, more companies are using the cloud to enhance existing business models and drive innovation. The report said 35 percent of organizations will use cloud technology to transform business models by 2015, up from 16 percent currently.

"Companies are starting to understand - cloud isn't just about gaining efficiencies and cost savings; it's about driving the kind of fundamental innovation that provides lasting marketplace advantage," said Saul Berman, IBM global strategy consulting leader. "Cloud has the power to open doors to more efficient, responsive and innovative ways of doing business, and we believe the companies that will come out on top will be the ones that find ways to leverage it as a key point of differentiation in driving business value."

Respondents cited several objectives for the cloud, including greater collaboration with external associates, cost savings and the ability to open new business channels and markets. These goals are in line with most companies' business objectives, the report said, as respondents indicated their future priorities include growth and competitive initiatives.

The IBM report is one of several recent studies that revealed enterprises increasingly view cloud computing as a business enabler, rather than a technology model used for data storage and hosting applications and infrastructure.

According to market research firm Gartner, many organizations are leveraging the cloud to augment business intelligence software. The Gartner study found that 27 percent of companies have either already implemented the cloud to enhance business intelligence functions or plan to do so soon.