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 expenditures. John Bradshaw from Akamai emphasizes the need for these investments to yield tangible business outcomes, as the initial phase of heavy AI investment must now transition to real value generation. This shift indicates a maturation in the cloud market, with CloudZero’s report noting that cloud waste rose from 30% in 2021 to 32% in 2022, necessitating more sophisticated approaches to maximize value.
The ROI Reality Check
One of the most alarming findings from the Akamai study is that 82% of businesses do not have a strategy for tracking ROI on their AI projects, which increasingly rely on cloud infrastructure.
This indicates a significant gap between investment and accountability, especially as CFOs require justification for every technology expense.
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 stage where the rubber needs to meet the road, and it’s essential to start seeing returns from these investments,” he explains.
“What we’ve observed until now is that companies have heavily invested in AI because it has been a priority, which is beneficial for fostering innovation and generating new ideas.
“However, we have now reached a point where these investments must be rationalized and translated into tangible business outcomes.”
This transition reflects a broader maturation of 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 easy gains from cloud adoption have been realized, and organizations now require more sophisticated strategies to extract value.
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