Vertical cloud: Why companies benefit from industry software solutions

Gartner names the Vertical Clouds as one of the major digital trends for 2023 and we at DIGITALL agree: specific industry-solutions are crucial to help companies digitize their processes faster and reduce needed customizations.

Is the vertical cloud necessary? A thought experiment

Let's imagine, there was only one type of sneakers for every single person on the planet. It would have different sizes but it would always be the same. The same profile, the same fit, the same look.

Now, aside from aesthetic reasons, many people would have issues with this sneaker because they don't wear it for the same reasons and activities. Athletes might need something that can withstand a lot of usage and is optimized for different sports, such as climbing, running, or biking. People who live in hot areas, might want something light, whereas people in Northern countries would prefer more isolation materials.

Some people might prefer reflective designs to be safe during nighttime. The only alternative to this sneaker would be to make your own but you'd need the right skills, materials, and a lot of time. It surely wouldn't be easy.

To sum it up: it would be weird and nonsensical to force one type of sneakers on every single person. However, for a long time, this was the state of CRM and marketing software. For many years, most CRM vendors offered highly customizable standardized CRM solutions that acted as "one-for-all"-systems. However, for many industries that have very specific processes, compliancy rules and functional requirements, even the high flexibility was not enough.

Lack of customization harms digitalization

In fact, in many of our cloud projects, we found that our customers already had systems in place that had a low user adoption due to lacking functionalities and complex setups. They were digital but were not able to reap the benefits of a full digitalization since the systems often did not meet user (or customer) requirements.

That's why our industry experts usually got together with the customers' user groups and IT teams at the very start of our software projects to develop specific solutions for sales processes such as CPQ or design marketing templates for global use.

Read, how we supported the German company 11880 with a completely new and much more efficient sales solution.

Enter The Vertical Cloud

Techopedia defines the vertical cloud as "a cloud computing service that is designed to meet the needs of a unique customer base." Meaning that vertical cloud solutions are usually made to fulfill specific industry requirements such as API, functionalities, processes, etc.

These industry solutions can take on different forms. Whether it's an interface that simply connects standard systems with necessary industry solutions and systems, a template that basically enhances a standard system with pre-defined industry-specific processes, reports, and functionalities. Or an app that helps with specific tasks (automated or manual) by providing the right information, workflows, and mobility.

Advantages of industry solutions

• Compliance & appropriate data security standards
• The right terminology for user groups, reports, functionalities, etc.
• API for standard systems to connect the entire ecosystem
• Templates (e.g., for mailings, landing pages, contracts, CPQ)
• Different functionalities for specific user groups (e.g., sales, marketing, service, but also third-parties, partners, customers)
• Automation for typical, repetitive tasks to reduce workload
• Data sharing & workflow functions to not only connect different systems but also make use of them in one centralized system
• Field sales and service abilities that fit the specific needs (e.g., information, documentation, up-sell, payment)
• etc.

Some of the biggest - and most urgent - examples of vertical solutions can be found in public institutions & government, healthcare, banking and insurance, construction and manufacturing. All of which are industries that have an incredibly high need for secure data management, top notch forecasts and reports as well as many different stakeholders and user groups to include in a wide area of processes.

Of course, even a vertical solution might need some customization. After all, every company has its own internal infrastructure, terminologies and compliance regulations. But these industry-basics make sure that a solution can be up and running in a few months without investing endless project hours on adapting a basic system to your complex industry standards from cyber security to infrastructure to interfaces.

DIGITALL offers a wide range of industry-specific solutions and support together with our many technology partners. Find out how we can support your business including software evaluation services, implementation, customization and managed services.