A new study by IDC Retail Insights reveals that Western European retailers' use of cloud deployment is maturing. Retail companies are no longer evaluating cloud-based deployment models based on the more immediate and evident benefits (e.g., cost savings and scalability) only. The study finds that long-term benefits and efficiency gains beyond costs are now the most important criteria for retail companies to make informed go/no-go decisions around cloud computing investments.
Cloud has rapidly established itself as a viable model to consume IT services, and retailers have indicated a preference for cloud to adopt solutions quicker to address accelerated demand from consumers to become omni-channel. Drawing on retail-specific responses from IDC's 2014 European vertical markets survey of IT decision makers, this study details the trends in the Western European retail industry around cloud computing.
Key findings of this study include:
- The adoption and investment intentions in cloud-based solutions vary a lot across different technologies. Despite the big talking points around cloud computing and increasing availability of cloud-based solutions in the marketplace, current adoption rates in Western European retail are quite low.
- From a Western European perspective, the adoption of cloud-based solutions and services by retailers is occurring at varying speeds due to the levels of consumer demand, retail maturity, and economic conditions of countries in the region.
- There is growing demand from Western European retailers for case study examples and best practice frameworks when considering cloud solutions and services.
"Western European retailers have reached a higher maturity level when it comes to cloud deployments compared with a few years ago," said Luca Bonacina, senior research analyst, IDC Retail Insights. "Retailers are making more informed decisions that go well beyond short-term, cost-related considerations. Although retail companies are more aware of the benefits of cloud computing, the adoption of cloud-based solutions is still low and, at the moment, mostly limited to some specific modules of enterprisewide applications. Over the next two years, the Western European retail market will continue to move steadily toward cloud to satisfy different end-user requirements. The pace of the transition will depend on the ability of IT service providers to continue the cloud education process and to further increase and make more appealing the cloud computing service product range."
More insights are discussed in the study Cloud Computing Trends in Western European Retail (IDC Retail Insights #GIPW06W, December 2014). The study examines Western European retailers' views on cloud based on responses from IDC's European Vertical Markets Survey. It also explores short-term investment plans in the cloud computing space.
To arrange a one-on-one briefing with an IDC Retail Insights analyst or for more information about IDC Retail Insights, please contact Kanupriya at +44 (0)20 8987 7111 or kanupriya@idc.com.
About IDC Retail Insights
IDC Retail Insights assists retail businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers that serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the retail industry. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com. For more information, please visit www.idc-ri.com, email info@idc-ri.com, or call 508-935-4490. Visit the IDC Retail Insights Community at http://idc-insights-community.com/....
Cloud has rapidly established itself as a viable model to consume IT services, and retailers have indicated a preference for cloud to adopt solutions quicker to address accelerated demand from consumers to become omni-channel. Drawing on retail-specific responses from IDC's 2014 European vertical markets survey of IT decision makers, this study details the trends in the Western European retail industry around cloud computing.
Key findings of this study include:
- The adoption and investment intentions in cloud-based solutions vary a lot across different technologies. Despite the big talking points around cloud computing and increasing availability of cloud-based solutions in the marketplace, current adoption rates in Western European retail are quite low.
- From a Western European perspective, the adoption of cloud-based solutions and services by retailers is occurring at varying speeds due to the levels of consumer demand, retail maturity, and economic conditions of countries in the region.
- There is growing demand from Western European retailers for case study examples and best practice frameworks when considering cloud solutions and services.
"Western European retailers have reached a higher maturity level when it comes to cloud deployments compared with a few years ago," said Luca Bonacina, senior research analyst, IDC Retail Insights. "Retailers are making more informed decisions that go well beyond short-term, cost-related considerations. Although retail companies are more aware of the benefits of cloud computing, the adoption of cloud-based solutions is still low and, at the moment, mostly limited to some specific modules of enterprisewide applications. Over the next two years, the Western European retail market will continue to move steadily toward cloud to satisfy different end-user requirements. The pace of the transition will depend on the ability of IT service providers to continue the cloud education process and to further increase and make more appealing the cloud computing service product range."
More insights are discussed in the study Cloud Computing Trends in Western European Retail (IDC Retail Insights #GIPW06W, December 2014). The study examines Western European retailers' views on cloud based on responses from IDC's European Vertical Markets Survey. It also explores short-term investment plans in the cloud computing space.
To arrange a one-on-one briefing with an IDC Retail Insights analyst or for more information about IDC Retail Insights, please contact Kanupriya at +44 (0)20 8987 7111 or kanupriya@idc.com.
About IDC Retail Insights
IDC Retail Insights assists retail businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers that serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the retail industry. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com. For more information, please visit www.idc-ri.com, email info@idc-ri.com, or call 508-935-4490. Visit the IDC Retail Insights Community at http://idc-insights-community.com/....
