Cloud Data Architecture Enables High-Value Business Use Cases 

As with many IT investments, an investment in a CDA demonstrates a return (i.e., its value) by supporting multiple use cases that are considered high-value to various departments and user groups of business people within the organization. In other words, the perception of ROI and business value usually stems from the fact that multiple use cases are supported (not just one or a few) and most of these use cases have a direct impact on valued business processes.  

Here is a list of data-driven use cases that are considered high-value for the business in many organizations. The order of the list shows the highest value or currently most desirable at the top. Organizations hoping to demonstrate value from a CDA should focus on the priority use cases, plus deploy as many of them as possible early in their migration or deployment on cloud: 

• Advanced analytics, including predictive analytics via AI, ML 
• Self-service access to data for some classes of business people 
• Data exploration for some classes of business people 
• Real-time data from streams for some business decision processes 
• Data sharing across business units and departments 
• Data semantics that enable enterprise-scope visibility through data 
• Data governance that is simpler and broader 
• Multi-data-source reports, analyses, and other data products 
• Business transformations that require a unified data architecture 

How to make a Business Case for a CDA 

Base your case on:  

• Business-driven benefits and use cases, first. 
• Technology-driven benefits and use cases, second. 

As you make changes, demand better architecture as an outcome:   

• Don’t just move to cloud, improve to cloud. This will improve the business use of data on cloud. 
• Don’t just re-platform. Also re-architect data and solutions, to improve them and keep them relevant. 
• Lift-and-shift is not enough. Also re-engineer on cloud for full business value and optimally performing technology. 

Keep business requirements and business value in mind 

• You won’t get support and sponsorship from business people unless your plan addresses these. 
• Place business value first, before technical value. Business people control budgets and the authorization process, so you’d best keep them happy.