This article is sourced from "China Software Network".

The partnership between Futong Cloud and AWS combines Futong Cloud's rich industry experience with AWS's advanced expertise in cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, and more, to fully support enterprises in achieving cloud-based digital transformation and continuous innovation.

Over the past five years, cloud computing has developed rapidly. In China, more than half of the enterprises have started using cloud services. The significance of cloud computing for enterprise users lies in understanding and interpreting the business of enterprise clients, and using tools such as artificial intelligence and big data to help customers improve their business, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.

The traditional industry's sector-specific and professional nature is undoubtedly a huge gap on the path to cloudification. On the one hand, cloud vendors find it difficult to deeply understand the business of these enterprise clients, and may not even delve into the subfields of an industry, making the solutions they propose often hard to implement; on the other hand, the information technology departments of traditional enterprises may not be familiar with cloud computing, leading to difficulties in cloud adoption.

Therefore, the key to traditional enterprises' cloud adoption is having talent or partners who understand both the industry and cloud technology. At this point, the need for professional Cloud Management Service Providers (MSPs) arises to address the complex challenges of cloud adoption.

Partners Are The Bridges That Fill The Gaps

On July 30th, at the AWS 2019 Partner Summit, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) established a strategic partnership with Futong Cloud Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as Futong Cloud).

In the collaboration with AWS, Futong Cloud will leverage its experience in industries such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance, and combine AWS's cloud computing technologies and services to provide services that meet the business and technical needs of industry clients in areas such as data lakes, AI, migration, disaster recovery, and operations and maintenance.

Futong Cloud, established in 2014, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Futong Technology Holdings (stock code: 00465), a listed company on the Hong Kong stock market. Committed to becoming a globally leading professional Cloud Management Service (MSP) provider, Futong Cloud possesses a robust team of technicians from renowned domestic universities and technology companies, achieving coverage of professional technical teams in multiple locations including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, and Chengdu.

Since its establishment, Futong Cloud has taken "full-stack cloud management services" as its core, deeply exploring the pain points of enterprise cloud adoption. Based on professional Cloud MSP and its independently developed multi-cloud management platform CloudoorManagement, it provides enterprises with specialized and customized solutions. Currently, it has numerous cloud transformation cases in various industries, including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, transportation, finance, media, and education. Futong Cloud's service experience with its clients reflects the evolution of customer mindsets in China's cloud computing market.

In the early days, Chinese enterprise customers' considerations for cloud adoption were focused on whether to move to the cloud, and if so, whether to use public cloud, private cloud, or build a hybrid cloud. The majority of decision-makers were skeptical about the cloud, considering its security and stability. This was not only the case for traditional enterprise customers but also for internet companies. However, most internet companies lacked the funds and capabilities, making cloud adoption a more economical choice compared to building server rooms and purchasing equipment. In recent years, when Futong Cloud communicated with enterprise customers, it found that customers were more concerned about the impact of new technology areas on enterprise information systems. In the past, when enterprises considered applying new technologies, they needed to conduct research and planning, initiate projects internally, tender, purchase, develop, implement, and deploy, with a cycle that typically took from half a year to a year.

In the era of cloud computing, market changes accelerate, and enterprise customers face more challenges, making them more willing to try new technologies.

Futong Cloud's experience in the domestic cloud computing market has given them a deep understanding of the needs of traditional enterprise customers, and their solutions have excellent implementability. This advantage is exactly what AWS is looking for, a bridge that can be built between cloud technology and specific industry customers.

Trust Is The Best Bond Between Partners

AWS recognizes that Futong Cloud has extensive practical experience in industries such as healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and finance. The strategic cooperation between the two parties leverages Futong Cloud's experience in traditional IT, especially in the implementation, operation and maintenance, and application development of IT infrastructure for enterprise users, combined with AWS's advanced cloud platform technologies, products, and services, to provide Chinese enterprise customers with a better cloud experience.

Vice President of Futong Cloud, Xu Zhixin, mentioned that some domestic cloud service providers encounter policy compliance issues when providing cross-border services. Since AWS is a global cloud provider, it has a natural advantage in adapting to local policies, regulations, and cultural languages. Furthermore, AWS's visionary talent policies play a significant supportive role for both partners and users.

For companies like Futong Cloud that provide global solution support, combining AWS's extensive service experience in the international market will greatly help customers reduce risks in policy and technology aspects. Xu Zhixin cited an example of a fast-moving consumer goods client going global, which requires Futong Cloud to provide consistent solutions and uniform technical support capabilities in Japan, the Middle East, North America, Africa, and Mainland China. Additionally, to reduce costs, the client intends to hire local residents in regions such as Africa and the Middle East and also requires local language support. AWS's capabilities make it the top choice for Futong when seeking partnership in these areas of need.

Among Futong Cloud's clients is the Zhongguancun Belt and Road Industrial Promotion Association (hereinafter referred to as "the Promotion Association"), which serves as a platform for international cooperation, operating numerous branches and overseas offices. Its IT infrastructure must not only serve domestic needs but also meet the demands of overseas branches and the "Ivy Plan". How to build a cross-regional business platform has become a significant issue for the Promotion Association.

To address this, Futong Cloud, in conjunction with AWS cloud products, has conducted customized planning and deployment implementation for the Promotion Association, helping it rapidly establish a new technological system and architecture, enhancing system availability and operational efficiency, and providing strong support for the stable operation of the overall business system. Futong Cloud has integrated AWS's innovative technologies into the project operations, providing new momentum for the Promotion Association to fulfill the "Belt and Road" initiative and offering more agile and stable services and support for the establishment of an international cooperation platform.

Collaborate Closely to Help Traditional Enterprises Migrate to the Cloud

From the depth and breadth of cloud adoption, Chinese enterprises are one to two years behind developed overseas countries in their cloud progress, with the gap mainly reflected in traditional enterprises. In China's cloud computing market, most internet companies have completed their cloud adoption, while the automotive, fast-moving consumer goods, and healthcare industries are just beginning to take steps towards the cloud. It can be said that the strategic cooperation between AWS and Futong Cloud is timely.

Before 2015, traditional enterprises in China were very cautious about cloud adoption. The appeal of cloud computing for enterprises was mainly focused on saving costs associated with data center space, equipment, operational staff, and energy consumption. Traditional business systems are relatively large and complex, and moving to the cloud is not a task that can be completed overnight. The timing and plans for cloud adoption of core systems, such as ERP systems, also present difficulties, and their characteristic of affecting everything when changed makes it hard for enterprise decision-makers to judge and make decisions on cloud strategies. Under these circumstances, the process of enterprises moving to the cloud is gradual.

According to Futong Cloud's experience, traditional enterprises often start their cloud adoption journey by trying out one or two business modules and then gradually determine the order and timing for different business systems to move to the cloud. Typically, when enterprises welcome new business opportunities, it is the best time to try cloud services. The innovative business needs of enterprises can be more flexibly addressed with cloud computing models, without the need to add new equipment or even modify the existing ERP modules and code, allowing for direct and rapid deployment and delivery. In this case, enterprises only need to solve the problem of integrating data between the new environment and the existing one, thereby gaining the benefits of data consistency reports and decision support.

Futong Cloud's experience indicates that traditional enterprises' concerns about cloud adoption risks are related to their insufficient cloud technology reserves. For traditional enterprises, the key to solving the cloud adoption challenge lies in having personnel who are proficient in both industry knowledge and cloud technology. AWS collaborates with several renowned academic institutions to train composite technical talents and partners, providing support for enterprises at the root level.

The strategic partnership between Futong Cloud and AWS combines Futong Cloud's extensive industry experience with AWS's advanced expertise in cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things, fully assisting enterprises in achieving cloud-based digital transformation and continuous innovation.