Most would agree that customer experience is at the heart of business success. But think about what your customer sees and hears when they enter your facility? Servers. Blinking lights. Loud fans, maybe?
A new white paper from Digital Realty implores businesses to take a look at how small details of how their enterprise operates can “ultimately impact a customer relationship.”
Download the full report.
Digital Realty outlines in the new report how growing markets are impacting data center strategies, and ultimately, how the customer is at the heart of the data center evolution.
Of course, without fully understanding your particular market and clients, creating a positive customer experience is often out of reach. And here’s one thing you should know about your end user: They are creating lots and lots of data for your company to analyze and act upon.
“Whether your end user is buying coffee from you via an app, or you’re collecting industrial usage information, the rapid prevalence of data and artificial intelligence is transitioning most types of companies into data companies,” Digital Realty points out.
To serve these markets, according to the report, means prioritizing IT strategies. But undergoing digital transformation can be difficult for companies facing an overhaul in tech and processes.
The report explores some core considerations to keep in mind along the way when it comes to your data center strategy and developing a customer-centric focus.
Due to the inherent cost of acquiring the expertise and infrastructure needed to be run a business-critical data center, some businesses are turning to colocation solutions to address these challenges.
Digital Realty cites a report from BCC Research that points out colocation data centers are growing in popularity due to increasing data needs. Think machine learning, AI, the Internet of Things and more. And data growth isn’t expected to stop anytime soon.
Only 3 percent have implemented enterprise-wide digital transformation. — Digital Realty
The report also highlights how data centers have the potential to play a role in customer profitability.
“One of IT’s primary functions is to enable businesses to operate,” Digital Realty points out, as many enterprises are using colocation facilities to allow them to focus on other aspects of their businesses.
These include sustainability and energy management — both key factors behind positive customer relationships and brand management today.
Digital Realty asserts businesses should earn customer trust by considering these three energy management tactics, which are outlined further in the report:
- Use certified plans & resources for your data center needs
- Maximize power usage effectiveness
- Consider new cooling methods, like water cooling
- Energy sources and moving toward renewables
The report also drills down into the importance of access to data center and colocation data as it pertains to data center strategy, and the intersection of changing consumer needs and improvements in data center options.
Download the full report, “Customer Experience is at the Heart of Data Center Evolution,” to learn more about the markers of the data center evolution and how to choose the best solution and data center strategy for your organization’s needs.