Buyers prefer service providers with an existing “off-the-shelf” cloud offering, as they can customize the solution and make it operational in a short time. In the early generation of cloud adoption, most buyers prefer service providers to host the client cloud in the provider’s datacenter, and the service providers building or hosting a cloud platform for clients is the “de facto” choice for managing the platform, as well. While this trend may reverse in the coming years, until that change happens, service providers that “own” a cloud platform will corner a significant portion of this market.
