Businesses in the West Midlands that use cloud computing contributed £3bn to the regional economy over a 12-month period, according to a study from Public First on behalf of Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The study, based on a survey of over 2,000 senior business decision-makers, showed that cloud technology is a key driver of economic growth and digital transformation across the West Midlands. It also revealed that an even greater adoption of cloud and AI technology could generate an additional £2.5bn for the West Midlands economy.

Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical data centres and servers, customers can access technology services on an as-needed basis from companies like AWS. This flexibility helps businesses reduce costs, boost productivity, and drive innovation, making cloud computing a key player in digital transformation.

Phil Le-Brun, director of enterprise strategy at AWS, said: “Cloud computing and AI are powerful tools that enable companies to innovate and stay competitive in their sectors as well as drive economic growth. We look forward to supporting the increasing number of businesses in West Midlands who are embracing cloud technology to fuel their growth.”

The research shows that two thirds (63%) of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the West Midlands currently utilise cloud computing, while a further one in three (35%) have implemented Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to enhance their operations.

In addition to economic benefits, the research also shows that cloud technology presents a significant opportunity for workforce upskilling.

Just one in four (29%) businesses in the West Midlands are currently considered digital leaders that proactively use technology to deliver results and improvement to an organisation.

To help boost the number of digital leaders in the West Midlands and across the UK, AWS has launched a number of learning and skills programmes.

AWS has also launched free trainings via AWS Skill Builder, a digital learning experience that allows anyone with an internet connection and a desire to learn to access over 500 free, on-demand courses in 17 different languages.

Register now to receive our free daily business news emails…