From sleepwalking to strategy: Turning cloud adoption into real value

As industrial transformation accelerates, Nordic companies are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and cloud platforms to stay competitive. Yet one question keeps surfacing: Are we truly unlocking value—or are we just sleepwalking into the future?

This question shaped this year’s dialogue at Dagens Industri’s “Industry 4.0” conference, where I joined leaders from Boliden, Södra, Hägglunds, Husqvarna, SKF, E.ON, and ELEVIO to explore the opportunities and challenges of the next Nordic industrial era—one defined by competitiveness, self-sufficiency, and intelligent technology.

Sleepwalking into the cloud

At the conference, I presented insights from the new Sleepwalking into the Cloud report with Juha-Pekka Helminen, Head of Automotive and Manufacturing Nordics at Amazon Web Services® (AWS®). The Radar-conducted study reveals how many Nordic companies, driven by the fear of lagging behind, hastily adopt cloud technology without a clear strategy.

These "sleepwalkers" appear modern but cling to traditional practices, resulting in fragmented systems, costly integrations, lost agility, and unrealized business value.

From sleepwalking to smart execution

In contrast, Spendrups’ Chief Information Officer (CIO) Jonny Engel shared their journey to becoming the Nordics’ most digital brewery. By rooting cloud adoption in strategy, automation, and data—powered by modern cloud solutions from Infor™—they significantly increased efficiency, transparency, and growth.

This is purposeful transformation: Leveraging technology not for its own sake, but to deliver measurable, lasting value.

AI, competence, and the value equation

AI was a major focus during the conference. Panel discussions with AI Sweden and Dagens Industri explored why Swedish companies have been cautious with AI—citing factors like data maturity and skill gaps, which are becoming increasingly concerning with the rise of generative AI.

True AI value emerges only when it is useful, technically feasible, and financially justified. Without this alignment, AI becomes just another buzzword.

Emerging challenges: Energy, security, and self-sufficiency

Energy demand, raw material security, and resilience featured strongly in the conference. E.ON and ELEVIO highlighted how digitalization increases energy needs, while Boliden and Södra stressed the strategic importance of self-sufficiency in critical minerals and sustainable materials.

A session with a former SAAB security expert delivered a warning that cyberattacks and organized crime increasingly threaten ownership and governance, blurring the lines between technology, security, and ethics.

A strategic wake-up call

Our joint research with AWS and Radar offers a clear message: To avoid sleepwalking, companies must align strategy, structure, and skills.

1. Set clear direction: Define desired outcomes before choosing technology
   
2. Create governance and alignment: Connect teams, data, and investments through strong structures
   
3. Invest in people and competence: Augment leadership capabilities and workforce skills in alignment with technology adoption

The path forward isn’t just about moving faster—it’s about moving with purpose. Success lies not in adopting the latest tech, but in ensuring every step in the cloud delivers real, measurable value.