On-demand computing: the recent trend in cloud solutions
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When we talk about cloud computing, it may not sound like something new — it’s a solution that has been implemented for several years across companies of different sizes and industries. However, it’s worth discussing current trends, such as on-demand computing.
“On-demand computing (ODC) is a delivery model in which computing resources are made available to the user as needed. These resources can be maintained within the user’s company or provided by a cloud service provider,” explains TechTarget.
This trend makes it ideal for companies with limited financial resources that need to align their budget precisely with what they will need and use in the cloud.
The recent evolution and trends driving this model
In recent years, the shift toward on-demand computing has gained momentum for several reasons:
1. Explosive growth of the cloud market
The global cloud computing market continues to expand steadily. According to a BCC Research (2025) report, the cloud technology market is projected to grow from around USD 738.2 billion in 2025 to nearly USD 1.6 trillion by 2030 (a CAGR of approximately 17.2%). This shows how strategic it has become for companies to adopt flexible models that maximize their investment.
2. Greater adoption and maturity of hybrid and multicloud solutions
According to the State of Cloud Computing 2025 survey by Parallels, more than 50% of organizations already use multiple cloud providers (multicloud), and 27% plan to adopt hybrid models combining on-premise and public cloud resources. This diversification encourages customers to move workloads between environments as needed, without depending on a single infrastructure.
3. Pressure for cost efficiency and on-demand consumption
Many companies have realized that maintaining underutilized servers is a waste. Migrating to the cloud allows them to transform fixed expenses into variable ones — you pay only for what you use. A study by Foundry (2025) indicates that 70% of IT decision-makers say their organization has accelerated cloud migration in the past 12 months, and many of those migrations are specifically oriented toward consumption-based models.
4. Demand for distributed intelligence and low latency
Modern applications (IoT, augmented reality, edge computing) require processing close to the user. Models such as distributed cloud are gaining traction by extending computing logic to locations closer to end users, while still following the “pay-as-you-go” philosophy. Akamai, in a recent analysis, highlighted how distributed computing aims to bring resources closer to end users to reduce latency and optimize costs.
5. Intensive use of AI and demand for computing power
The demand for intelligent data centers adapted for AI workloads is growing exponentially. McKinsey estimates that AI-adjusted data center capacity could grow by 33% annually between 2023 and 2030 to meet new workload demands, forcing architectures to reduce waste and scale capacity as needed.
The combination of these trends makes on-demand computing not only a desirable strategy but almost a mandatory one for companies that want to compete efficiently, both technically and economically.
Comparison: Traditional web hosting vs. on-demand cloud computing
When a client asks whether they need “web hosting” or a “cloud solution,” it’s important to understand the differences and scenarios where on-demand computing stands out:
| Traditional Web Hosting | On-Demand Cloud Computing |
|---|---|
| Fixed resources: the provider assigns specific resources (CPU, memory, storage) to the website, regardless of actual usage. | Instant scalability: you can automatically scale resources up or down depending on traffic, without manual intervention. |
| Less flexibility: scaling requires migrations or plan changes, not instant adjustment. | Pay-as-you-go model: you only pay for the processing, storage, or I/O you actually consume. |
| Generally predictable cost: you pay a fixed monthly or annual amount, though you might need to overprovision to handle traffic spikes. | High availability and resilience: multiple zones/regions, built-in redundancy. |
| Suitable for stable and predictable workloads: if your traffic is steady, hosting may be sufficient. | Connected service ecosystems: easily add features such as AI, managed databases, or analytics. |
For anyone deciding between these two options, on-demand cloud computing usually offers greater protection against traffic uncertainty or future expansion, avoiding the need for upfront overinvestment.
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