Why Most Cloud Transformations Fail – A Platform Thinking Perspective

Cloud transformations fail at an alarming rate. Some studies estimate up to 80% don’t deliver the expected value. But why?

Contrary to what many believe, it’s not mainly about tools, lift & shift gone wrong, or technical missteps. It’s about missing platform thinking.

---

🚫 The Real Problem: Platform Blindness

When organizations treat cloud as “just another infrastructure,” they ignore the foundational shift that’s required in how teams build, operate and collaborate.

Instead of enabling developer autonomy, many migrations recreate legacy silos in the cloud. The result? Frustration, shadow IT, exploding costs, and eventually—disillusionment.

---

🧠 A Better Approach: Platform Thinking

Successful organizations apply **product thinking** to their internal cloud platforms. They treat platforms like products—with:

• A clear developer value proposition

• Self-service APIs & golden paths

• Proper platform product ownership

• Shared accountability between tech & business

The key isn’t “faster cloud adoption.” It’s sustainable, value-driven platform enablement.

---

✅ Ask Yourself:

• Is your platform a product or a project?

• Do developers love or bypass it?

• Do you measure adoption like a real product team would?

Cloud transformation isn’t about cloud. It’s about transformation.

---

🔎 Source Reference

Various studies (McKinsey, BCG, Gartner) estimate that 60–80% of cloud and digital transformations fail or underdeliver, most often due to organizational or strategic missteps rather than technical issues.

Sources: McKinsey (2020), BCG (2021), Gartner via Forbes (2018), HBR (2018)

---

💬 What’s your experience with cloud migrations that failed or underperformed?

Let’s open up the conversation, comment or reply with your perspective.

---

👉 Subscribe for more on cloud platforms, developer enablement and enterprise architecture.

🔁 Also published on Substack