80 VIEWPOINT Build a backbone MATT MORSE: 3CLOUD Intelligent platforms are the essential foundation for organisations looking to unlock the full potential of AI For years, software as a service (SaaS) dominated the enterprise landscape. But according to Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, the rise of agentic AI could upend that model. In a BG2 podcast, he predicted that AI agents will perform tasks like creating, updating and retrieving data across multiple systems, making backend structures irrelevant and shifting business logic from traditional SaaS apps to the AI tier. The subscription software model is therefore becoming obsolete. As AI agents take over tasks once handled by SaaS, businesses must rethink enterprise technology by embedding intelligence into their core operations. Staying competitive means evolving from software consumers into AI-enabled enterprises that continuously learn, adapt and automate at scale. To support this shift, businesses need more than just smart tools; they need an intelligent platform that acts as the foundation of an AI-enabled enterprise. As a Microsoft Azure dedicated partner, 3Cloud helps organisations to make that leap. With more than 1,600 Azure engagements and 700 Azure experts, we bring both the technical depth and strategic insight needed to build scalable, secure and futureready intelligent platforms. An intelligent platform consolidates the tools, infrastructure and governance models required to operationalise AI effectively. It enables organisations to move beyond siloed pilots and adopt AI as a strategic capability that touches every aspect of the business, from operations and product development to customer experience and decision-making. Businesses should envision an intelligent platform as constructed from four integrated layers, with each one offering increasing levels of sophistication and AI readiness. First, the foundation begins with a secure and compliant cloud environment. Built on Azure, this layer includes governance and compliance, identity and access management, and realtime monitoring of user activity. For some organisations, this layer alone provides the robust security and manageability they require. The next layer unlocks the value of data. It ensures businesses can access and integrate structured and unstructured data across systems. This is where much of the groundwork for AI begins, as businesses prepare their data estate for intelligent automation. The third layer is enterprise integration, which connects disparate systems to support realtime communication and efficient workflows. Finally, at the top of the stack are advanced AI Intelligent platforms are made up from four integrated layers, beginning with a secure cloud platform
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=