SUCCESSOR

In the context of technology, a successor in providers refers to a technology product, service, or solution offered by a provider that can only be effectively implemented, fully utilized, or built upon after a preceding, foundational technology product, service, or a particular phase of a broader technology initiative (which may be from the same or a different provider) has been established, implemented, or completed.

It represents the next logical or advanced step in a multi-provider landscape or a phased technology adoption roadmap. The successor service leverages and extends the capabilities provided by its predecessor.

Here's a breakdown of "successor in providers" in relation to technology:

1. Building on Foundational Infrastructure (IaaS to PaaS/SaaS/Advanced Services):

   • Predecessor (Provider's Offering): Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) from a cloud provider. This provides the raw computing power.

   • Successor (Provider's Offering):

     • Platform as a Service (PaaS): Builds on IaaS by adding managed operating systems, development runtimes, and databases, allowing customers to deploy applications without managing servers.

     • Software as a Service (SaaS): Builds on IaaS and PaaS, where the provider delivers a complete application, abstracting all underlying infrastructure management.

     • Specialized AI/ML or Data Analytics Services: These often rely on the foundational compute and storage (IaaS) and potentially managed data platforms (PaaS) to perform complex computations.

   • Relation to Technology: The successor services provide increasing levels of abstraction and specialized functionality, but they are entirely dependent on the underlying infrastructure being successfully delivered by the provider.

2. Advanced Security Building on Baseline Protection:

   • Predecessor (Provider's Offering): A basic Firewall-as-a-Service, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution, or Identity and Access Management (IAM) service from a security provider.

   • Successor (Provider's Offering):

     • Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services.

     • Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms.

     • Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs).

     • Advanced Threat Intelligence feeds.

   • Relation to Technology: The more advanced security services (successor) build upon the telemetry and controls provided by the foundational security solutions (predecessor) to offer deeper insights, proactive defense, and automated responses.

3. Business Intelligence and Analytics Leveraging Data Platforms:

   • Predecessor (Provider's Offering): A cloud data warehousing service or a data lake solution.

   • Successor (Provider's Offering):

     • Business Intelligence (BI) platforms.

     • Advanced analytics and machine learning platforms.

     • Data visualization tools.

   • Relation to Technology: These BI and analytics tools (the successor) require structured, clean, and accessible data, which is the primary output and service provided by the data warehousing/data lake offering (the predecessor).

4. Enhanced Communication Building on Core Connectivity:

   • Predecessor (Provider's Offering): A reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP) providing basic internet connectivity.

   • Successor (Provider's Offering): Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions or Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) platforms.

   • Relation to Technology: High-quality voice, video, and collaboration services (UCaaS/CCaaS) are critically dependent on stable, low-latency, and high-bandwidth internet connectivity.

5. Professional Services for Optimization and Customization:

   • Predecessor (Provider's Offering): A core SaaS application.

   • Successor (Provider's Offering): Implementation consulting services, customization services, ongoing optimization services, or training services from the same or a different specialized professional services provider.

   • Relation to Technology: The value of these professional services (the successor) is fully realized after the core SaaS platform (the predecessor) has been adopted and is operational.

Implications for a Customer's Technology Strategy:

• Technology Roadmapping: Understanding successor relationships is crucial for building a clear technology roadmap, outlining the progression of IT capabilities over time.

• Phased Investment: It guides phased technology investments, ensuring foundational components are stable before investing in more advanced, dependent solutions.

• Vendor Ecosystem Development: Helps in strategically selecting complementary providers whose offerings seamlessly integrate with and build upon existing technology solutions.

• Value Realization: Many advanced features and greater business value are only unlocked by successfully adopting and implementing successor services.

• Dependency Management: Accurate mapping of successor relationships is vital for smooth project execution, avoiding delays that can cascade through interdependent systems.

• Strategic Agility: Planning for successor services allows a business to remain agile and adapt its technology stack to future needs and market opportunities.

In essence, successor in providers in relation to technology defines the logical progression and layering of technology solutions sourced from external providers. It represents the next step in leveraging provider offerings to enhance capabilities, derive deeper value, and advance an organization's overall technological maturity.