Few things are more disheartening for a business than investing significant time, energy, and resources into implementing new technology—only to find it doesn’t drive the expected results. As someone who’s witnessed firsthand both the triumphs and struggles of enterprise cloud transformation, I’m deeply passionate about helping organizations take their cloud journey from promise to performance.
The journey begins with the understanding that technology is just one element of success. Lasting value happens when organizations stay laser-focused on business outcomes, stick to a clear strategy, actively engage their users, and—long after go-live—continue seeking new ways to innovate and maximize return on their investments.
This topic took center stage at AI World 2025, where I had the pleasure of leading the Birds of a Feather roundtable session focused on leading practices for cloud implementations. As head of our Cloud Advisory practice, I partnered with outstanding leaders from our customers ACCO Engineered Systems, Emerson, Lowe’s, and Michaels. We engaged attendees in dynamic, interactive roundtable discussions across four areas critical to implementation success. Below are the core topics—and key cloud transformation learnings informed by the perspectives shared during our interactive session at AI World.
1. Governance: Orchestrate Business-Led Transformation
Cloud programs are far too important to be “just an upgrade” or a lift-and-shift. Focus on treating every cloud engagement as a business transformation. The key is to avoid simply transferring old processes into new systems (hint: that’s not the way to transform) but rather organize processes to take full advantage of the technology. To successfully support your journey to the cloud, establish a unified cloud transformation governance approach and empower business owners with decision-making authority to set and drive direction. Remember to address governance across both cloud and legacy systems, as there will likely be a period of coexistence. For most companies, it’s not a “big bang” approach, but rather an iterative move to the cloud.
Lessons learned from John Lund at Emerson Electric
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Establish and apply clear, consistent definitions for success metrics, resource requirements, and other key criteria to ensure all projects are evaluated on a common scale.
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Layer governance. Most decisions get made in focused workstreams but keep final cross-initiative oversight at the PMO and executive level.
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Continue prioritizing issue resolution, process handoffs, and ongoing improvements even after go-live.
2. Change Management: Lead with Change
We’ve found that our most successful transformations rely on visible, engaged leadership that champions change throughout the process. These kinds of leaders understand the value that cloud change management for organizations can bring. Documenting every change, assessing downstream impacts, and regularly asking “why not?”, establishes the foundation to maximize out-of-the-box capabilities and leverage leading practices. Cloud adoption introduces significant change, which makes continuous enablement essential and not just a one-time training. Embracing the cloud is more than a technical upgrade; it’s a cultural and mindset shift.
Expert guidance from Sharon Carr at Michaels
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Make change management a continuous priority. Respond quickly to team feedback.
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Empower your change champions to evangelize the changes and get your users excited about what’s to come.
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Integrate ongoing enablement into your cloud adoption strategy to sustain momentum through go-live and beyond.
3. People: Build Your “A Team”
Cloud transformation success is all about having the right people by your side. We’ve found the best results come from organizations that carefully choose and empower their “A Team” with cloud transformation leading practices they can apply immediately. These standout teams don’t just happen. Building a strong one takes intentional effort, but it’s worth it. With the right core players acting as critical change agents, you’ll move toward a solution where everything and everyone is in sync, paving the way for lasting cloud success.
Strategic suggestions from Darlene Mitchell at ACCO Engineered Systems
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Carefully consider the criteria for choosing your cloud leaders to drive your implementation. Look beyond “who’s available” and go for real expertise and passion.
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Work with people who aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zone and steer you in the right direction if you start to go off course. Success happens when key stakeholders embrace having tough conversations.
4. The Cloud Operating Model: Embrace New Ways of Working
Your cloud journey doesn’t end at go-live. It’s just the beginning. A robust cloud operating model is essential for success. Plan for the coexistence of legacy and cloud solutions with clear roles and responsibilities in place. The era of decade-long upgrades is over. Now, you can enhance and innovate your cloud solution quarterly. This shift creates a dynamic environment for continuous improvement and post go-live cloud optimization, but it requires careful planning (and a ‘living in the cloud’ mentality) to realize full benefits.
Winning strategies from Kathy Higgins at Lowe’s
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Establish effective mid-layer governance (often as a PMO) to align everything throughout the journey, keeping operating, change, and team strategies tightly connected as you transition.
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Remember, accepting new innovations in one area may affect other areas. Help your organization stay agile and connected throughout your cloud journey.
Collective Takeaways
Achieving sustainable success requires more than aspiration—it hinges on deliberate decisions around governance, change management, people, and operational excellence. Approach your initiative as a true transformation, manage organizational change thoughtfully, rally top talent to your cause, and continually align your team to the value-driven vision.
I encourage you to use these insights as your launchpad. Leverage them to shape a strategy that delivers on your goals and aligns with your values. If you’d like to talk more about your cloud journey or explore how Oracle Consulting’s Cloud Advisory experts can accelerate your success, I’d love to connect. We are here to help you unlock your full potential and thrive in the cloud.