The COVID-19 pandemic, which has been ongoing from more than a year, has triggered the digitalization of various industries, forcing them to make swift transformations and to adapt to rapidly advancing digital technologies.
Cloud Computing during Industry 4.0
One means of conducting digital transformation is to use cloud computing services as they are able to provide easy, practical, fast, and affordable facilities. This means that companies that are first to implement and adapt to digital technologies are able to grow and compete during Industry 4.0.
Cloud computing service providers are able to support companies’ digital transformations by assisting with the following aspects:
- Supporting Innovation
The cloud supports various types of digital innovation implemented by companies. Several companies that are evolving rapidly in terms of innovation include Adira Finance, Taspen and Pegadaian.
- Data Sovereignty
In the era of digital transformation, data sovereignty is not only about state security interests. From a business perspective, it can have a big impact, particularly in terms of facilitating customer access.
In Indonesia, for strategic industries, including the financial sector, certain data must be stored domestically and not abroad. Therefore, cloud service providers in Indonesia deliver this service. Telkomtelstra has reliable infrastructure supported by two full-capacity Azure Stack data centers in Indonesia, as well as a world-class hosted data center with a Tier 3 design and operations.
- Security
Another advantage of Telkomtelstra’s cloud service is its security system, as it has been registered by the Communication and Information Ministry as a cloud provider, meets the requirements of the relevant government regulation (PP 82) on data residency, and is ISO certified.
- Cost savings
By using a cloud provider, companies can reduce costs as they are not required to spend money on IT infrastructure. Companies can start using the cloud by customizing it to meet their needs and budget.
The cloud provides convenience in managing business services and system upgrades, which can be carried out by the service provider themselves. In addition, maintenance, software updates, and backup processes of cloud solutions are all included in the services delivered by cloud service providers, allowing companies to focus on their business processes.
Migration to the Cloud
Many companies are still unsure whether to use their own data centers, or move their data to the cloud. Most believe that when migrating to the cloud, all data must be transferred. However, in reality, companies do not have to make a full switch from traditional methods to the cloud right away. The existence of hybrid cloud solutions allows companies to combine the use of their own data centers with those in the cloud.
According to a Gartner study, by 2022, cloud implementation will have increased across all markets to 28% (up from 19% in 2018). The move or migration of a company with traditional (non-cloud) IT infrastructure to cloud-based solutions happens extremely quickly. The cloud is no longer just an IT strategy, but a business strategy that needs to be considered as it allows companies to focus on the continuity of their business processes.
Benefits of Using the Cloud System
Companies that undergo digital transformations using cloud computing services have access to several benefits, including:
- Updated Assets
Digital transformation will be a catalyst for increased cloud usage in Indonesia over the next few years. Currently, it can be argued that Indonesia is lagging behind other countries in terms of the cloud penetration of its companies. One reason for this is that several companies have already invested in using their own data centers. Unfortunately, the data centers that many of these companies self-manage have depreciated, leaving them hesitant to move to the cloud. However, over time, as the depreciation period passes and companies continue to develop, they will generate enough capital to switch to using the cloud.
- Agility
By using a cloud system, data stored in the cloud can be managed quickly and concisely. In addition, results are more easily obtained when data is required as there is no need to search manually. This helps companies to increase their competitiveness and for businesses to develop rapidly.
- Innovation
Many innovations that use devices are born from the cloud environment. Currently, the digital economy is a key consideration of all companies. The digital economy is experiencing relatively rapid growth, partly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced companies to do everything in their power to continue to compete and to not be left behind by other companies.
- Guaranteed availability
Cloud Computing is designed with high availability, where the system is registered in the data center, guaranteeing that data and other facilities are available to be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Users can store data as they wish, and manage data properly on cloud servers.
- Flexibility
In recent years, many companies have realized the importance of implementing cloud computing in the current work environment. A recent survey of 500 executives conducted by KPMG International found that 42% considered flexibility to be a key reason for utilizing cloud computing. Cloud computing services offer company employees greater flexibility in terms of their work practices. If an employee requires access to documents or data while out of the office or at home, they can interact with the virtual office quickly and easily whenever they need it via any internet-connected device.
- Focus on Business
Running an IT department may not be the main order of business for company management. When companies use the services of IT solution providers that include cloud computing, management can focus more on their business.
As a joint venture between Telkom Indonesia and Telstra from Australia, Telkomtelstra presents various cloud-service based information technology solutions, or managed cloud services, which are supported by Microsoft Azure Stack with a one azure ecosystem, making it easier to adapt as all services are contained within the same ecosystem.
In addition, hybrid cloud services are also available, which are open and flexible Azure Stack based cloud services, allowing users to develop, adopt, and manage applications in local (Indonesian) data centers, while remaining connected to global cloud data centers.
Another service is the Cloud Contact Center, which is a comprehensive suite of cloud-based tools, applications, and services for contact centers that provide various multiple communication channels, including:
• Phone calls and messaging
• Advanced call routing
• Agent management
• Analysis
During the pandemic, cloud contact center services have been extremely saleable as they provide companies that have contact centers with many employees in one room with the opportunity to do everything from home. Staff can receive and answer calls, and access all applications connected to the cloud center, just as they have been doing from the office.
Service supervisors can also log in to listen to conversations that take place. Everything conducted in offline contact centers can now be done in cloud contact centers. The cost of use is also lower, based only on the use of active employees.
Telkomtelstra also provides a Hybrid Unified Collaboration service, which can connect the Microsoft Teams application to a wider telephone network, providing more flexibility for improving internal and external communication.
In addition, a digital customer experience service is also available, through which customers can talk to their assistants. This service modernizes holistic customer engagement and in-app communication to drive a proactive, fluid and meaningful experience.
“Telkomtelstra’s Role in Supporting Digital Transformation in Companies in Indonesia” was recently conveyed by Telkomtelstra’s President Director Erik Meijer during the webinar organized by Warta Ekonomi entitled “Cloud System in the Non-Bank Financial Industry as a Digitalization Effort in the Context of National Economic Recovery” on July 28, 2021.
The Secretary General of the Indonesian Cloud Computing Association (ACCI) − Fanky Christian moderated the event and other speakers include the CEO and Chief Editor of Warta Ekonomi.co.id − Muhammad Ihsan, Head of IT Strategy, Architecture and Planning Division of PT Pegadaian (Persero) − Supriyanto, Deputy Director of IT at PT Adira Dinamika Multi Finance − Dodi Yuliarso, President Director of PT Taspen (Persero) − ANS Kosasih.