What Do Companies Look For In Cloud Services? It's All About Cost
By Tom Barkley
When companies decide to take their data and apps to the cloud, one goal stands out among the others.
Optimizing cost is the No. 1 priority for executives looking to undertake a cloud migration, according to the inaugural Forbes Research Enterprise Technology Purchasing Survey , which was released earlier this year.
'Cost is not just a metric — it's a lens through which every cloud decision is viewed,' says Mayank Bhargava, vice president of consulting services at CGI, which helps companies with cloud transformations. 'Successful organizations treat cost as a continuous design principle, not a one-time negotiation.'
With cloud solutions promising to help companies innovate more quickly and adopt new strategies, it may come as a surprise that innovation and revenue growth were cited by only 9% of executives — appearing at the bottom of the same list. Forbes Research Enterprise Technology Purchasing Survey
Ahead, explore additional findings from the October-November survey, which polled 1,000 business leaders involved in technology decisions about their demands and opinions of cloud vendors. Looking For Value In The Cloud
When shopping for cloud solutions, companies want to ensure they can keep data and storage demand under control, especially with AI requiring heavy amounts of compute.
Eighty-six percent of executives said cost-effectiveness is an important factor when considering which cloud solution to acquire. Getting their money's worth was considered more important than other goal choices: getting post-sales support, contract flexibility, scalability and vendor trustworthiness, among them.
'Buyers want assurance that every dollar spent yields business value,' says Bhargava.
While executives put vendor reputation further down the list of priorities when shopping for cloud services, that doesn't mean sellers should be complacent.
When asked what they liked about their cloud service, executives ranked vendor support last, with just over half expressing satisfaction. This suggests an opportunity for cloud providers that can take steps to differentiate in this area. Forbes Research Enterprise Technology Purchasing Survey
Tom Barkley is an editor in the Content & Design Studio at Forbes. The studio is a multidisciplinary team that works on variety of content, event and marketing products.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Upgraded—Here's Why Azure Is the Game-Changer
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is one of the AI Stocks Analysts Are Watching Closely. On July 31, KeyBanc analyst Jackson Ader upgraded the stock from Sector Weight to 'Overweight' with a price target of $630.00. Microsoft's Azure cloud segment has been accelerating, growing 39% in constant currency by the end of the fiscal year. Azure has been outperforming the firm's expectations over the recent quarters due to increasing core Cloud migrations among large enterprise customers. Back in April, capital expenditure concerns and depreciation expenses impact on gross margins had led the firm to downgrade the stock. Microsoft has since laid off 1,000 employees, and there has been no mention of macroeconomic headwinds that analysts had previously feared. 'The reasons for our April downgrade were centered around worries that capex and depreciation expense would hamper gross margins and again inflame the debate on AI return-on-investment, coupled with a skepticism that the Company would have the willingness or ability to continue to cut headcount enough to defend its margins. Plus there were macro concerns picked up in our survey work during the spring that we felt would impact Microsoft more than the rest of the sector. Azure growth accelerated eight full percentage points in constant currency over the second half, from 31% in January to 35% in March to 39% exiting the year. The last two quarters have rendered the debates all but irrelevant for the time being." An investor intently focused on the stock exchange monitor. "The Azure segment produced roughly $500M and $700M of upside to guidance in the last two quarters, respectively, the equivalent of finding a in your couch cushions. Upside like this is why we do not expect the costs of supporting the Azure business to be debated much for the remainder of the year. Further, there was no material mention of macro headwinds on the call and, since the time of our fears over needing to cut operating expenses in order to defend margins, Microsoft has laid off over 10,000 employees.' Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) provides AI-powered cloud, productivity, and business solutions, focusing on efficiency, security, and AI advancements. While we acknowledge the potential of MSFT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Must-Watch AI Stocks on Wall Street and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Wealth Of The Philippines' 50 Richest On Forbes List Rises To US$86 Billion
Sy siblings retain the top spot SINGAPORE (August 7, 2025) – The combined wealth of tycoons on the 2025 Forbes list of the Philippines' 50 Richest rose over 6% to US$86 billion, from $80.8 billion last year. The complete list can be found here and in the August issue of Forbes Asia. Buoyed by domestic demand and an uptick in infrastructure investments, the Philippine economy expanded by 5.4% in the first quarter of 2025, but U.S. tariffs proved to be a spoiler. The country's benchmark stock market index dipped 7% since fortunes were last measured, though that was partially offset by a firmer peso. Overall, nearly half of those on the list are wealthier compared to a year ago. The Sy siblings, heirs to the SM group built by the late retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr., retained the top spot despite their fortune falling by $1.2 billion—the biggest drop in dollar terms—to $11.8 billion. The group's real estate flagship SM Prime Holdings has an ambitious plan to invest $9 billion over the next five years to grow its property footprint across the country. Ports and casino billionaire Enrique Razon Jr. remained at No. 2 with a modest increase in his net worth to $11.5 billion. His International Container Terminal Services reported a two-thirds jump in net profit to $850 million for 2024 and said it will press ahead with global expansion this year. Property tycoon Manuel Villar retained his status as the country's third-richest with a net worth of $11 billion, amid the transformation of his mass-housing and memorial park developer Golden MV Holdings into Villar Land Holdings. Villar Land Holdings is the builder of Villar City, a sprawling 3,500-hectare mixed-use development that will be completed over the next three decades. At No. 4 is Ramon Ang of San Miguel, with a fortune of $3.75 billion. Rounding out the top five are Isidro Consunji & siblings of DMCI Holdings, whose net worth rose to $3.7 billion. Recording the biggest gain in percentage terms were husband and wife Dennis Anthony & Maria Grace Uy (No. 16), cofounders of broadband services provider Converge ICT Solutions. Their combined net worth rocketed 74% to $1.6 billion. Among the 20 listees whose wealth shrank is home improvement tycoon William Belo (No. 29), founder of big-box retailer Wilcon Depot. The company's shares fell to an eight-year low in April, bringing down Belo's net worth by over 40% to $520 million, the biggest drop on the list in percentage terms. The Que Azcona family (No. 6, $3.6 billion) took the place of Vivian Que Azcona, president of Mercury Drug, who died in April at age 69 shortly after the company celebrated its 80th anniversary. The drugstore chain is now led by her son Steven. The minimum net worth to make the list is $185 million, up from $170 million in 2024. The top 10 richest in the Philippines are: The list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, analysts and other sources. Unlike the Forbes World's Billionaires rankings, this list includes family fortunes, including those shared among extended families. Net worths are based on stock prices and exchange rates as of the close of markets on July 18, 2025. Private companies were valued based on similar companies that are publicly traded. The list can also include foreign citizens with business, residential or other ties to the country, or citizens who don't reside in the country but have significant business or other ties to the country. For more information, visit About Forbes: Forbes is an iconic global media brand that has symbolized success for over a century. Fueled by journalism that informs and inspires, Forbes spotlights the doers and doings shaping industries, achieving success and making an impact on the world. Forbes connects and convenes the most influential communities ranging from billionaires, business leaders and rising entrepreneurs to creators and innovators. The Forbes brand reaches more than 140 million people monthly worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature ForbesLive events and 49 licensed local editions in 81 countries. For media queries, please contact: Catherine Ong Associates Pte Ltd Catherine Ong, cell: +65 9697 0007, Email: cath@ Chenxi Wang, cell: +65 8187 3215, Email: chenxi@
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
We Found 28 Early Labor Day Mattress Sales On Editor-Tested Beds
Although the holiday weekend is still a few weeks away, many Labor Day mattress sales are already live. Of the hundreds of best-selling models our mattress and sleep team has tested firsthand, more than a dozen are heavily discounted—including the Helix Midnight Luxe, our pick for the best mattress overall, and the Nectar Premier, our favorite memory foam mattress. Many 2025 Labor Day mattress sales are already live. Here are the best deals on Forbes Vetted Tested ... More beds. Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailer Mattress brands tend to host near-constant sales throughout the year, and it's not uncommon for them to kick off their holiday events early. If you want to find the best price possible, you may want to hold off adding the mattress to your cart until Labor Day. But if you're looking for a solid deal on a bed that'll arrive ASAP, here's our curated list of best Labor Day mattress sales on models our editors have personally tested and approved. Our editors have tested over 200 beds, and many of our favorites are discounted ahead of Labor Day. See them below at a glance. Best Mattress Overall: Helix Midnight Luxe (Queen): Now $1,919, Was $2,399 (20% Off With Code LDW20 ) Helix Midnight Luxe (Queen): Now $1,919, Was $2,399 (20% Off With Code ) Best Cooling Mattress For Snoring: Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed (Queen): Now $2,999, Was $3,999 (25% Off) Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed (Queen): Now $2,999, Was $3,999 (25% Off) Best Cooling Mattress For Couples: DreamCloud Luxe Hybrid (Queen): Now $1,399, Was $2,464 (43% Off) DreamCloud Luxe Hybrid (Queen): Now $1,399, Was $2,464 (43% Off) Best Memory Foam Mattress: Nectar Premier (Queen): Now $949, Was $2,282 (58% Off) Nectar Premier (Queen): Now $949, Was $2,282 (58% Off) Best Hybrid Mattress: Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid (Queen): Now $1,698, Was $2,264 (25% Off) Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid (Queen): Now $1,698, Was $2,264 (25% Off) Best Firm Mattress: Plank Firm Mattress (Queen): Now $999, Was $1,332 (25% Off With Code SCHOOL25 ) Plank Firm Mattress (Queen): Now $999, Was $1,332 (25% Off With Code ) Best Cooling Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora (Queen): Now $1,699, Was $2,265 (25% Off With Code SCHOOL25 ) Brooklyn Bedding Aurora (Queen): Now $1,699, Was $2,265 (25% Off With Code ) Best Mattress For Couples: Bear Elite Hybrid (Queen): $1,578, Was $2,427 (35% Off) Bear Elite Hybrid (Queen): $1,578, Was $2,427 (35% Off) Best Soft Memory Foam Mattress: Amerisleep AS5 (Queen): Now $1,749, Was $2,349 (26% Off With Code FORBES600 ) Amerisleep AS5 (Queen): Now $1,749, Was $2,349 (26% Off With Code ) Best Value Mattress For Heavy People: Helix Plus (Queen): Now $1,199, Was $1,499 (20% Off With Code LDW20 ) Helix Plus (Queen): Now $1,199, Was $1,499 (20% Off With Code ) Best Pillow Top Mattress: The WinkBed (Queen): Now $1,499, Was $1,799 (17% Off) The WinkBed (Queen): Now $1,499, Was $1,799 (17% Off) Best Mattress For Side-Sleeping Couples: Nolah Evolution 15-Inch Mattress (Queen): Now $1,489, Was $2,127 (30% Off) Nolah Evolution 15-Inch Mattress (Queen): Now $1,489, Was $2,127 (30% Off) Best Luxury Organic Mattress: PlushBeds Botanical Bliss (Queen): Now $1,849, Was $3,349 (45% Off) If you're looking for some guidance as to which mattress is right for you, we've highlighted the defining features of some of our favorite mattresses below. Nectar updated its collection of mattresses earlier this year, with the Nectar Premier now sporting a more supportive and high-quality design. It still embodies the traditional memory foam feel many sleepers look for, but with added responsiveness, and its thick foams do an excellent job of isolating motion. Pro tip: We recommend upgrading to the hybrid model if you're an especially hot sleeper. Sleep Number's i8 model is packed with features to help hot (and noisy) sleepers. The entire mattress, from the cover to the foam, is designed to pull heat away from the body and allow for better ventilation. It also offers customizable firmness levels for each side of the bed. It can also adjust to your needs as you sleep and connect to a companion app to track your sleeping habits. We named the Helix Luxe our favorite mattress overall this year after it received top marks across the board during our testing. Between its lofty 13.5-inch height, cozy pillow top and superior motion isolation, the mattress is a true crowd-pleaser. If you're searching for the best soft mattress, we recommend the Amerisleep AS5. It was one of the softest beds we tested, and using code FORBES600 will save you $600 on any Amerisleep mattress. We found that this model cradles your body nicely and offers excellent pressure relief for side sleepers' hips and shoulders. However, the design doesn't deliver great edge support, and our hot-sleeping tester noted a slight heat buildup. While many mattresses are designed to support 230 to 250 pounds per side, the Helix Plus supports 1,000 pounds total. That—combined with its pressure-relieving foam, ample edge support and price tag—secured its place as our best value mattress for heavy people. This luxurious hybrid mattress is ideal for couples who predominantly sleep on their sides or backs. (Heavier sleepers or folks who tend to sleep on their stomach may want to seek out a firmer bed.) It has a plush Euro top our testers loved, and cooling properties throughout that keep you cozy and cool through the night. Anyone looking for a particularly luxurious organic mattress should check out the cushy Botanical Bliss from PlushBeds. It comes with a 100-night trial and a lifetime warranty, and the mattress is certified by a variety of third-party organizations that back its overall quality and sustainability. This Bear mattress comes in soft, medium, and firm variations and offers excellent motion isolation and edge support, all factors that led our sleep editors to name it the best mattress for couples . If you tend to sleep hot, consider adding the Celliant-infused cover for an additional $195—the material can help regulate your body temperature during the night. Plush yet supportive, this classic mattress is our favorite pillow top design . It offers plenty of pressure relief and excellent edge support, plus comes capped with a cozy Euro pillow top. We found the bed to be slightly firmer than advertised, so keep that in mind as you select between its three firmness levels (luxury firm, firm and plus). The Plank Firm is our top pick if you're looking for a firm bed . The mattress has a flippable design that offers two firmness levels in one, and hot sleepers can add a cooling cover for $150. In our tests, we rated the bed highly for its back support and its ability to keep spinal alignment neutral. At 15 inches tall, the Nolah Evolution has a luxurious construction and stellar support. It comes in plush, luxury firm and firm options, so you can choose the best firmness level for your sleeping position. All models feature a cushy Euro topper, cooling materials and zoned coils that offer targeted support for different areas of your body. Hybrid mattresses are popular because they're an accommodating blend of memory foam and innerspring mattresses. The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid has four layers of memory foam to provide pressure relief and a layer of zoned coils for bounce and support. This results in an on-top-of-the-bed, gentle hugging feel. You can also choose from plush, medium-firm or firm for your preferred comfort level. In our guide to the best mattresses , we rated this pick as the best cooling mattress. It has copper and gel-infused foams, plus 8 inches of airflow-promoting coils. After months of testing, we found that this mattress regulates temperature exceptionally well and prevents heat buildup. No bedroom refresh is complete without some new bedding. Here are the best early Labor Day bedding sales to help you find something that'll complement your new mattress. Why Trust Forbes Vetted Forbes Vetted's mattress and sleep buying guides are based on expert medical advice, hundreds of hours of research and extensive firsthand testing. Jordan Thomas, co-author of this story, is Forbes Vetted's assistant deals editor. She has over six years of experience writing in the e-commerce space, and was previously a deals writer at Wirecutter. She routinely researches deals and savings events—including mattress sales—to find the best offers available. Bridget Chapman, co-author of this story, is Forbes Vetted's senior mattress and sleep editor. She's tested hundreds of mattresses and sleep products over the past three years and has a sleep science coach certification. What Month Has The Best Deals On Mattresses? In general, most holiday weekends offer similar mattress sales. (That includes Labor Day weekend.) That said, Black Friday and Cyber Monday typically bring about the absolute lowest prices of the year. If you don't mind waiting, you can often save an extra 5 to 10% around those holidays. How Do I Know Which Mattress Is Right For Me? The right mattress for you depends on a variety of factors, including your sleep style and your budget. Certain mattresses are designed to accommodate specific sleep positions, and some materials cost more than others. If you're looking for a middle-of-the-road option that can appeal to many people, our sleep editors named the Helix Midnight Luxe the best mattress overall after testing over 200 models. Is Labor Day The Best Time To Buy A Mattress? Labor Day is one of the best times of the year to buy a new mattress. Many top-rated mattress brands mark down their best-selling models over the holiday weekend (and most extend their sales beyond the holiday as well). After Labor Day, you likely won't see discounts as steep until Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
