Summary Bullets:

• Google Cloud announced new solutions and updates to catch up with competitors in value-added services and differentiate in open-platform and analytics.

• Multi-vendor support enables Google Cloud to address the multi-cloud requirements of ASEAN enterprises.

Google Cloud made several announcements at the recent Google Cloud Next 2020 OnAir, including BigQuery Omni (multi-cloud analytics solution. For more, please see Google Cloud Next 2020: Google Pads Anthos via GCP’s BigQuery AI Extensions, July 15, 2020), Confidential Computing (encryption of data while being processed), Assured Workloads (automation of compliance), G-Suite update, and Anthos update. At the event, the provider also shared its plan on partner ecosystem expansion and professional service capabilities. For more, please see Google Cloud Next 2020: What Google Lacks in Cloud Market Share, it Makes up for in Engineering, July 16, 2020. These announcements are crucial for Google Cloud to retain its advantage against other providers in areas such as analytics and interworking with other platforms, and close the competitive gaps in other areas (e.g., market share, partner ecosystem, professional services and value-added services). Continue reading “Google Cloud Next 2020 – ASEAN Impact – Part 1: Driving Multi-cloud Adoption in the Region” →

Summary Bullets:

• Google Cloud could position G-Suite and its retail solution to help ASEAN SMBs during the pandemic.

• Google should include key local players in its partner ecosystem to extend its market reach in the region.

Google Cloud made several announcements at the recent Google Cloud Next 2020 OnAir and shared its expansion plan of partner ecosystem and professional service capabilities. The first part of this report: Google Cloud Next 2020 – ASEAN Impact – Part 1: Driving Multi-cloud Adoption in the Region analyzes Google Cloud’s proposition in multi-cloud in ASEAN. This post discusses the opportunity in SMBs and recommendations for Google Cloud and end-users in the region.

Impact of COVID-19 on ASEAN SMB

Domestically, SMB represents a large amount of market opportunity driven by over 90% of total establishments in a country. The buying behavior is different than large enterprises and MNC. The low ICT adoption and lack of internal ICT capabilities translate to higher opportunities for managed service providers. However, market growth is expected to be slower post COVID-19 as many SMBs are significantly impacted by the pandemic. SMBs, especially the small and micro enterprises, have had to squeeze their budgets across all functions including ICT to sustain their business during and post lockdown. Digital transformation is becoming less important, and the main priorities have shifted to adapting to new customers’ buying bmehavior such as e-commerce and cashless payment (e.g., mobile wallet). The economy and low power purchasing in ASEAN are also pushing them to be even more cost-sensitive with ICT purchasing. All discretionary spending is expected to be put on hold. Continue reading “Google Cloud Next 2020 – ASEAN Impact – Part 2: Powering SMBs in the Post COVID-19 Era” →

Summary Bullets:

• Google’s BigQuery Omni announcement pads Anthos, strengthening its multi-cloud position

• Google’s lagging cloud business will be fulfilled via GCP, expert enterprise developers, and engineering culture

What Google lacks in cloud followers and enterprise confidence, it makes up for with its engineering culture.

This week during Google Cloud Next digital conference, the company went after its arch-rivals in the cloud wars with new innovations that shore up its hybrid/multi-cloud brand Anthos. Google’s release of multi-cloud analytics solution BigQuery Omni is a reminder of Google’s ability to address sophisticated application modernization requirements by centralizing access to datasets located across major clouds including Google Cloud, AWS, and soon Azure. Continue reading “Google Cloud Next 2020: What Google Lacks in Cloud Market Share, it Makes up for in Engineering” →

Summary Bullets:

• IBM and Microsoft make key robotic process automation (RPA) acquisitions in May and June, respectively

• RPA is largely viewed as a major component of emerging intelligent automation solutions

RPA software has become the silver bullet of the various components which comprise new intelligent automation solutions that promise to provide cloud providers with an edge in the hotly contested cloud wars.

In recent weeks, cloud leaders Microsoft and IBM have made Tier 3 RPA acquisitions in order to fortify their automation strategies. Automation solutions are turning into a major new opportunity that application platforms vendors are betting on to help lure enterprises into app modernization projects and to gain steam amidst cloud rivals. The ability to automate repetitive operational processes is a mounting objective among enterprises in order to speed time to market with important services, and help reduce manual errors. Continue reading “Cloud Wars’ Latest Ammunition: Robotics” →

Summary Bullets:

• IBM is extending its cloud capabilities to the edge and it is partnering with telcos to deploy cloud services at 5G-enabled edge nodes and simplify the management.

• IBM and other hyperscalers are developing ecosystems of partners including telecom providers to deliver enhanced networking solutions for enterprises as they accelerate the adoption of cloud services.

IBM has announced new services to help enterprises and telecommunications companies implement edge computing for 5G; leveraging Red Hat OpenStack and OpenShift. Firstly, IBM Edge Application Manager enables customers to manage AI, analytics and IoT workloads at scale – up to 10,000 edge nodes simultaneously by a single administrator. IBM Telco Network Cloud Manager enables automation capabilities to orchestrate virtual and container network functions in minutes. The company has also extended a portfolio of edge-enabled applications and services to the edge to give customers a range of AI and cognitive capabilities. These include IBM Production Optimization, IBM Connected Manufacturing, IBM Asset Optimization, IBM Maximo Worker Insights, and IBM Visual Inspector. Continue reading “IBM Think Digital 2020: Helping Telecom Providers to Deploy Edge Computing for 5G” →

A test version of NHSX’s new COVID-19 contact-tracing application, created in conjunction with VMWare’s Pivotal Labs, hit the Apple and Google app stores this past week for an initial trial run in the Isle of Wight. However, its rollout may be delayed or even scrapped as the NHS has tasked Swiss company, Zuhlke, to evaluate its current centralized approach in comparison to the decentralized API model endorsed by tech giants Apple and Google.

Whilst the two approaches share some similarities, they also differ in key areas. Although both models use Bluetooth to register a user’s contact with others nearby, the decentralized model relies heavily on the devices to operate privately, referencing a central server but ultimately delivering alerts between the two parties. In contrast, the centralized model that NHSX had originally opted for would rely on a central database to issue these alerts. It is also worth noting that, whereas the NHSX app is its own entity, Apple and Google are simply providing an API that can be tailored by governments all over the world.

The UK is one of only a few countries to attempt the centralized model. Germany originally favored this approach before it made a sudden U-turn, whilst France has received a letter from hundreds of security experts urging it to switch to the decentralized model. One can only assume that the UK has faced similar pressures, which have led to the appointment of Zuhlke to assess whether a German-style U-turn may be worthwhile.

Despite some initial positive feedback that the NHSX app was lightweight, unobtrusive, and intuitive, many would agree that it would be wise to reconsider and adopt Apple and Google’s decentralized API approach instead and so, without further ado, here are five reasons why NHSX should consider making the switch: Continue reading “COVID-19: Five Reasons Why NHSX Should Consider Switching to Decentralized Contact Tracing” →

Summary Bullets:

• Legacy ICT services make it more challenging for ASEAN enterprises to adapt to the changing business needs due to COVID-19.

• COVID-19 is driving digital transformation for most ASEAN enterprises and will open up a wider opportunity for carriers and service providers.

The impact of COVID-19 on ICT and vertical industries are widely covered on GlobalData COVID-19 Dashboard. With lockdowns (or shutdowns, state-of-emergency, or similar terms used per country) in nearly the whole world, the impacts on ICT spending are somewhat consistent globally. However, the impact in the Southeast Asia region (aka ASEAN) is different. Most enterprises are in a very early stage of their digital transformation journey. While newer services such as cloud, SD-WAN, and UCaaS have become the norm in other countries, a large majority of enterprises in this region still rely on the traditional ICT such as captive data center and traditional network services. The lack of agility and flexibility in these legacy services makes it more challenging for enterprises to adapt to changes due to COVID-19 such as remote workplace and digital customer channels. As a result, enterprises are shifting their current ICT priorities to focus on cloud migration, network re-dimensioning, UC deployment and/or expansion and digital services roll-out. Continue reading “COVID-19: The Impact on ASEAN Enterprise ICT” →