The technology landscape has been the scene of various fronts of transformation in recent years, mainly marked by the convergence of different sectors. One of the recent synergies, but which has stood out among the most promising, is the joint action between telecommunications companies and cloud service providers. This strategic partnership has revolutionized the way companies consume technology, offering more comprehensive, efficient, and customized solutions.
The rapprochement between the two sectors has intensified in recent years, driven by the growing demand from the corporate market for integrated solutions and the pursuit of greater agility and flexibility in business. Telecommunications companies, with their vast network infrastructure and expertise in connectivity, have found in the cloud an opportunity to expand their portfolios and meet the increasingly complex needs of their B2B clients.
In this way, the combination of sectors creates an offer of customized solutions, that is, packages that combine telecommunications services with access to cloud computing resources. This movement is based on offering products through the so-called Value-Added Services (VAS), and it proves to be advantageous, mainly because it simplifies the contracting and management of these services by corporations, which then have a single subscription and a centralized point of contact.
In addition to making the packages more attractive and convenient for the end customer, product integration simplifies control and resolution of potential issues, since all services are under the same management. For the operators, this means a competitive advantage in the market, as they begin to offer a more comprehensive solution.
Furthermore, the convergence between telecommunications and cloud computing is especially beneficial as it allows network providers to expand their customer base and increase revenue without the need to acquire new leads. This is because, by offering cloud services as a complement to their plans, brands can meet a latent demand from their corporate clients and strengthen their relationship with their customer base.
From the cloud computing providers' perspective, partnerships represent an opportunity to reach a broader market segment. Driven by the market expansion in Brazil – which, according to IDC, is expected to reach US$ 1.5 billion in 2024 – these companies see partnerships with telecommunications companies as a quick way to reach an audience that already has an established relationship with the brands.
Evaluating in a more macro scenario, the recent market dynamics are even more relevant for small and medium-sized operators, who tend to find it difficult to compete with large players regarding product offerings. By partnering with cloud technology providers, these providers can offer their partners a wider range of services without neglecting their main strategic advantage, often based on closer customer engagement and support.
In summary, the convergence between the areas represents a new era of opportunities, especially for the B2B niche. This joint action tends to be beneficial for all three points of the business and should prevail as a common mechanism in an increasingly dynamic and demanding market.
*Sidimar Carniel is COO of4B Digital, the leading cloud technology platform in the country.
