Businesses are increasingly using cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) to future-proof their operations in an era characterized by fast technological progress. Sandeep Bhargava, Senior Vice President of Global Services and Solutions for Rackspace Technology’s Public Cloud Business Unit, outlines the particular difficulties and possibilities faced by tech executives negotiating this intricate cloud environment. He stresses the necessity of using these technologies strategically to optimize scalability, security, and ongoing innovation, from mastering multicloud settings to utilizing AI for breakthrough insights. Bhargava offers helpful advice on how businesses should take advantage of these developments to obtain a competitive edge while cultivating a robust and flexible operational model, since cloud-based solutions are transforming sectors including finance, healthcare, and retail.
TAM: As organizations increasingly adopt cloud solutions, what are the key challenges and opportunities you see for tech leaders in the rapidly evolving cloud landscape?
Sandeep Bhargava: While organisations continue to advance their cloud adoption journey, tech leaders still face significant challenges and opportunities. Managing multicloud environments is one of the key challenges organisations face, with leaders responsible for managing the integration, governance, and cost across the different infrastructures. Additionally, security and compliance remain high priorities as cyber threats are evolving new threat forms and regulatory standards are becoming tougher.
But for most organisations, this is not perceived as an impediment, but instead as an opportunity. The integration of AI, data analytics, and automation within cloud environments empowers companies to advance their innovation activities and mining valuable insights from their data. Today’s cloud-native applications are making it possible for organisations to enhance their operational efficiencies, scale up operations at will, and provide tailored solutions to their customers. For tech leaders, the focus now shifts to not only adopting these technologies but also ensuring the organisation embraces agility and continuous learning which will be crucial in optimising the use of cloud technology.
TAM: Artificial intelligence is transforming various sectors—how do you see AI enhancing business operations, especially in conjunction with public cloud services?
Sandeep Bhargava: AI is undoubtedly a game-changer for businesses across industries, and when integrated with cloud services, its potential is amplified. Cloud platforms provide the scalability, flexibility, and computational power that AI-driven solutions require.
AI is changing the business processes of companies in areas like customer service, forecasting processes and operations of supply chains, logistics and distribution. Millions of AI-trained emulators and AI-powered super-apps are elevating the customer support experience by providing rich atmospheres and entertainment, as well as answering questions, all within the customers’ time frames. In theory, AI can also enable companies to manage their supply chain more effectively by forecasting demand, automating inventory control, and enhancing the decision-making cycle. When combined with the cloud, these AI solutions have a global reach and flexibility businesses need to respond to changing market conditions and customer demands.
TAM: How can companies better leverage cloud-based data analytics to drive operational efficiency and improve business outcomes?
Sandeep Bhargava: Cloud-based data analytics offers companies a powerful way to extract meaningful insights from vast amounts of data, driving operational efficiency and better business outcomes. One of the advantages of using cloud-based analytics is scalability. Companies can process and analyse data at scale, allowing them to rapidly respond to market changes and optimise operations in real-time. Cloud platforms also provide access to advanced tools, such as AI-driven analytics, that help organisations uncover patterns, predict trends, and automate decision-making.
To use the resources to the maximum, businesses should focus on a few critical areas. First, integrating data from various sources into a unified cloud platform ensures a holistic view of operations and customer behaviour, facilitating more informed decision-making. Second, companies should invest in analytics tools to generate actionable insights —whether through real-time dashboards or predictive modelling — enabling teams to identify inefficiencies and opportunities to grow faster.
Finally, it’s essential to cultivate a data-driven culture within the organisation. This means empowering employees across departments with the tools and training to interpret data effectively and act on insights.
TAM: In your experience, what industries are leading in cloud adoption, and how are they using these technologies to gain a competitive edge?
Sandeep Bhargava: Sectors that have taken the lead in cloud adoption include technology, finance, health, and retail. Technology companies, especially cloud-native, have taken early leads in embracing innovation and scaling business activities across a well-diversified value chain.
Financial organisations use cloud technologies to enhance data analytics, improve customer experience, and achieve regulatory compliance. Healthcare sectors increasingly need cloud solutions in the management of patient data, facilitation of telemedicine, and simplification of administrative tasks.
Traditional and e-commerce retailers use cloud services for enhancing supply chains; delivering customer interaction in a personalised manner; and tracking inventory real-time. As they are adopting cloud technologies, these industries have enhanced agility and scalability, more importantly providing access to leading-edge tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning that help them respond quickly to changes in the market, enhance operational efficiency, and provide customers with better goods and services.
TAM: What advice would you offer to organizations looking to maximize their cloud investments while maintaining scalability, security, and innovation in their operations?
Sandeep Bhargava: To maximise cloud investments while ensuring scalability, security, and continuous innovation, organisations should focus on a few key strategies.
- First, adopt a multicloud or hybrid cloud strategy. Different workloads have different requirements, and by adopting a multicloud approach, businesses can optimise cost, performance, and compliance. That way, the provision for scaling services up or down according to demand can be provided, thus ensuring agility without vendor lock-in.
- Second, security from the start. With companies pushing business-critical workloads to the cloud, much emphasis must be placed on having strong security in place, such as encryption and continuous monitoring. There should be a zero-trust architecture at all times in any cloud environment-the risk of cyber threats is constantly reduced, while the integrity of data is maintained.
- The third should focus on automation and AI-driven tools as part of the up-skilling and re-skilling strategies to improve the efficiency of operation and enhance innovation. Automating routine tasks, such as infrastructure management or incident response, can free up teams’ capacities for more strategic initiatives. AI and machine learning can also help analyse data in real-time. That leads to actionable insights and fuels business growth.
