Is Your Technology a Solution or Just a Tool? You Might Be Surprised.

Are you considering the cloud? Or maybe you're already there and thinking about bringing some workloads back on-premises? If so, you're not alone.

Recent research from Gartner and Barclay's reveals a surprising trend: Many businesses are rethinking their cloud strategies due to unexpected cost overruns. This phenomenon, known as "cloud repatriation," raises the question: Are we truly understanding the difference between technology and a solution?

It's easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding new technology—promises of cost savings, increased efficiency, and endless possibilities. But often, we jump in without a clear plan, assuming the technology itself will solve our problems. The truth is, technology is just a tool. It's a means to an end, not the end itself.

Glo Fiber Business, a part of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, recently published an insightful piece on this topic titled, "When Does a Technology Become a Solution?" It dives deep into why many businesses are struggling with technology implementation, using cloud repatriation as a prime example. Did you know that up to 30% of enterprises are considering moving cloud applications back to their facilities? Or that 83% of CIOs plan to repatriate some cloud workloads this year? These statistics highlight the focus on the "how" (the technology) instead of the "why" (the problem we're trying to solve).

The blog post emphasizes the importance of a problem-centric approach. Instead of asking, "How can AI improve X?", we should be asking, "Could AI be the piece we are missing?" This shift in mindset helps us see technology as one of many tools in our arsenal, rather than the solution itself. It also encourages us to consider the many aspects of implementation, from pre-project planning to ongoing management and evaluation.

Glo Fiber Business also touches on the emotional side of B2B buying decisions, which play a larger role than we might think. This can lead us to adopt technologies based on excitement rather than a thorough analysis of our needs.

If you're grappling with technology implementation, or simply want to ensure you're making the right decisions for your business, check out the Glo Fiber Business blog.