Technology has transformed the way we live. Suffice to say, it has also changed the way businesses are conducted, transactions are performed and problems are solved.
Every industry today has had numerous breakthroughs because of modern technologies. The IT industry, in that case, saw one of its quantum leaps through cloud native technologies. Because new technologies keep coming up every day, you may feel that cloud native is just like one of them. BUT, I’d like to say that this technology is here to stay, for good.
Similar to other latest technologies, cloud native platforms have various benefits applicable for all kinds and sizes of business accelerations.
In this blog, I will tell you all about cloud native technologies and best ways to use them to future-proof your business.
What are cloud native technologies?
To define in layman terms,
Cloud native technologies are technologies used to develop applications based on containers. The containers used are called cloud native. These containers are utilized as microservices and managed through DevOps and consistent deliveries.
If we look at the brief history of cloud native tech, it originated 20 years ago from cloud technology giant, Netflix. Netflix today, is one of the largest OTT platforms. They have completely revamped and scaled software development by leveraging cloud native technologies.
Then in 2004, Google slowly but steadily implemented container technologies, followed by the launch of Docker project in 2013 and Kubernetes project in 2014.
Suffice to say, cloud native platforms enable companies to develop, build and run scalable and stable applications in agile environments.
These technologies help companies to deploy changes and updates to their applications frequently and smoothly, without having to disturb user experience.
How do cloud native technologies help you future proof your business?
Believe it or not, when cloud native software development was introduced, the industry was skeptical. But soon, companies took first steps towards altering their infrastructure, and success stories were witnessed.
And before we knew it, this platform engulfed the industry with a better and agile approach to developing software solutions.
Among a plethora of benefits, cloud native technologies give organizations a great opportunity to make themselves future ready.
Here’s how:
1) They keep you up-to-date with the latest technology
One of the most obvious benefits and, factually, the first step you need to take towards preparing your business for the future. Technology is changing, and it is changing quickly; as quickly as a blink of an eye. What seems latest now, will be old school tomorrow.
However, as technology evolves, so does the industry. Winning against your competitors needs you to keep yourself up-to-date with technology trends.
And cloud native technologies help you do that successfully since they are constantly getting upgraded with new approaches.
2) You become more susceptible to change
Because you are keeping pace with the trends, you are well prepared for any changes or upgrades that might come in overnight.
And cloud native tech makes you flexible by enabling dynamic environments for product development and maintenance.
3) Product maintenance becomes organized
Cloud native technologies, based on container services run on agile DevOps processes. This means, the products you develop using these technologies are easier to update from time-to-time.
Product updates directly affect the respective containers; ultimately getting reflected in the entire application. On top of this, because the underlying technology is cloud, you can expect real-time changes in the product without any delays or errors.
As a result, your product maintenance, enhancements and migrations become smoother and more organized because of cloud native.
4) They make your product more stable
Solutions developed on cloud native technologies are highly efficient and scalable.
Today, cloud has become an extremely flexible delivery platform, allowing businesses to deploy the smallest to vast applications and make them run smoothly.
Additionally, cloud native software development converts your product into a mixture of lightweight containers. This reduces your storage, server load; thereby improving product performance.
5) They improve user experience
Apps running on cloud native architecture face no shutdown time for any changes done. In simpler words, these apps do not face any downtime for any updates or enhancements.
For that reason, the end user experience becomes smooth. Additionally, cloud technology is more secure, reliable and scalable; which fits your customers’ needs regardless of their business size or type.
This also increases customer retention and brand loyalty.
6) They strengthen your infrastructure
It goes without saying that cloud technology has taken over the world by a storm. Desktop applications have been replaced by easily accessible web apps, eventually impacting the bottom line of any business – customer experience.
With cloud native technologies, your systems would not only be built and deployed in the cloud, but would also be functional in the cloud.
Additionally, this architecture will make your product a collection of various loosely coupled microservices. This improves modularity and makes your apps easier to test and build.
7) Your development costs reduce
One other important step to take to future-proof your business would be to optimize costs in all aspects. While operational costs are a different angle altogether, development costs would be easily reduced owing to cloud native technologies.
Because the product maintenance reduces and there are no delays ineffective development (smaller time frames), your cost reduces to a large extent.
In conclusion
Implementing a cloud-native strategy at your organization requires time, effort, and patience. All the steps or impacts I mentioned above will make your business prepared for what the future has in store.
As quoted by Les Brown,
It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.
So, it is wise to take a farsighted approach, predict industry dynamics, and be ready with every step and measure to grow your business in the right direction, at the right pace. Startups, as well as enterprises, need to address the importance of customer experience now, as customers are becoming more and more aware of their requirements with a clear idea of what they wish to achieve with the technology they adopt. Cloud-native technologies are simply one step ahead to accomplish that.
Let me know what you think of the steps in your comments below, and if I or Wishtree can help you make your business future-proof.