From cloud-first to cloud-smart: The new rules of digital transformation

Digital transformation is no longer about scale — it’s about smart execution. In this interaction with Dataquest, Ashish Kasi, VP – Software Engineering at Sabre, explains why ROI must be redefined, why interoperability is the new performance metric, and how technology partners are stepping up as co-innovators in driving measurable value.

How has digital transformation strategy been redefined in today’s business landscape?

Digital transformation has undergone a fundamental reset. Organisations have moved from technology-led initiatives to business-outcome-driven strategies, where transformation is measured not just by systems deployed, but by value delivered. In today’s economy, every engineering decision must be based on whether it makes us more resilient, more efficient, or more competitive.

What do you see as the toughest challenge for enterprises driving transformation?

The toughest challenge I believe is proving ROI, but it’s more nuanced than what meets the eye. Businesses are balancing immediate cost optimisation against long-term capability building. The real difficulty lies in quantifying the transformation initiative’s compound effects – be it improved time-to-market, enhanced customer experience, or organisational agility. These don’t always fit neatly into traditional ROI models, yet they’re critical to survival.

One non-negotiable playbook principle is to prioritise interoperability over perfection. Build modular, scalable systems that evolve incrementally.

How are enterprises balancing acceleration in AI and automation with operational efficiency?

On AI, automation, and cloud, businesses are doing both – acceleration and recalibration, strategically. They’re investing in AI that directly impacts core metrics and automation that eliminates repetitive work, freeing talent for higher-value activities. Simultaneously, they’re optimising their cloud spend, moving from ‘cloud-first’ to ‘cloud-smart’, ensuring every workload runs where it delivers maximum value per dollar.

What guiding principle should CIOs follow to stay agile and value-focused?

One non-negotiable playbook principle is to prioritise interoperability over perfection. Build modular, scalable systems that evolve incrementally. In volatile markets, the ability to rapidly reconfigure the technology stack is more valuable than having the ‘perfect’ solution, which could take years to implement.

Digital transformation has undergone a fundamental reset. Organisations have moved from technology-led initiatives to business-outcome-driven strategies.

How should technology partners evolve to remain relevant to CIOs and engineering leaders?

The ask from technology partners has evolved dramatically. They’re expected to develop solutions that integrate seamlessly, not create silos. Organisations seek pricing flexibility that scales with business cycles and, most importantly, industry expertise coupled with a co-innovation mindset. The most trusted partners today act as strategic advisors, challenge assumptions, and commit to shared success beyond SLAs. Partners who understand that mutual success is interdependent, and who show up as strategic advisors rather than vendors, are the ones earning the trust from engineering leaders.

shrikanthg@cybermedia.co.in