As the old saying goes, “Adapt or die.” Businesses are often learning the hard way that if they don’t transform the way they interact with customers they risk losing to companies that move faster. These innovative companies know how to change their business models with new business realities. It is not a coincidence that these disruptive companies are adopting a hybrid cloud model of computing.

There are two questions that I’m often asked about the hybrid cloud:

• How is the hybrid cloud different than either a public or private cloud service?
• How does a hybrid cloud make a business more competitive?

To answer both questions, let’s start with a definition. A hybrid cloud is an environment that integrates traditional IT services with a combination of public, private and managed cloud services.

How is the hybrid cloud different? Unlike a public cloud or a single private cloud service, a hybrid cloud is based on combining services together so that they act as a single unified environment based on a required service level to support the business. Therefore, public cloud services such as Twitter or various public cloud applications can be used in conjunction with line-of-business applications. By bringing the application services and data together, companies are able to customize the customer experience.

What is the business benefit? Through the use of a hybrid cloud, the business is in a better position to create new intellectual property that will keep existing customers satisfied and open the door for new innovation.

What does business disruption look like?

The hybrid cloud has disrupted the way many traditional sectors conduct business. Many industries are faced with new forms of disruption to their business models in ways that they couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. Traditional businesses such as taxi companies, hotels and restaurants have seen new forces come into the marketplace. Emerging companies like Uber, AirBnB and SideCar are leaner, enabled by technology and able to leverage data in innovative ways. These businesses are using cloud services to gain a major foothold in their sectors.

Leveraging the hybrid cloud to gain an advantage

A company doesn’t have to be a startup to leverage more available data and implement it into their businesses. The combination of a public and private cloud to make operations more efficient is at the heart of what makes hybrid cloud such an important innovation and something with momentum too strong to ignore. With new sources of data being created all the time, through information on social media platforms or other sites, businesses can react and be more nimble. By tracking behavior, companies are able to adapt in real time.

Freedom to Innovate

The hybrid cloud has the potential to change the relationship between IT and of business leaders. The hybrid cloud platform provides a foundation that enables the business to more successfully integrate data from a variety of sources in a predictable manner.  The hybrid cloud also is architected to bring together internal and external services that meet the requirements of both customers and partners. When the business breaks down the barriers between application and data silos, they have the freedom and flexibility to move fast to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

IBM offers our Business Partners an unmatched spectrum of capabilities to help modernize existing applications and create new applications. Let IBM Cloud help extend your reach and differentiate you with the best solutions for your clients.