Key Takeaway
Akamai’s study reveals that 82% of businesses lack a strategy for tracking ROI on AI projects reliant on cloud infrastructure, highlighting a significant gap between investment and accountability. CFOs are increasingly demanding justification for technology expenses. John Bradshaw, Akamai’s EMEA Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, emphasizes the need for these investments to yield tangible business outcomes. As the cloud market matures, organizations must rationalize their AI investments to achieve real value. Additionally, CloudZero’s report indicates that cloud waste rose from 30% in 2021 to 32% in 2022, underscoring the necessity for more sophisticated value extraction strategies.
The ROI Reality Check
One of the most alarming findings from the Akamai study is that 82% of businesses lack a strategy for tracking ROI on their AI projects, which increasingly rely on cloud infrastructure.
This indicates a significant disconnect between investment and accountability at a time when CFOs are demanding justification for every technology expenditure.
John Bradshaw, Akamai’s EMEA Chief Technology and Strategy Officer for Cloud Computing, views this as a natural progression in the cloud journey.
“We’ve reached a point where the rubber must meet the road, and it’s essential to start seeing value from these investments,” he explains.
“What we’ve observed so far is that people have heavily invested in AI because it has been a priority, which is excellent and beneficial for fostering innovation and generating new ideas.
“However, we are now at a stage where these investments need to be rationalized and translated into tangible business outcomes.”
This transition reflects a broader maturation in the cloud market.
According to CloudZero’s State of Cloud Cost report, cloud waste averaged 30% of companies’ cloud budgets in 2021, rising to 32% in 2022. This suggests that the initial benefits of cloud adoption have been realized, and organizations now require more sophisticated strategies to derive value.
