Is Multicloud the Future? Desirability of Compatibility in Cloud Computing Market
Management Science · 2026 · Leila Hosseini、Mehdi H. Farahani、Subodha Kumar
中文摘要
领先的在线服务提供商作为云计算服务的主要客户,正日益采用多云战略,以提升跨不同地点的服务交付。然而,各云平台之间的兼容性问题使这一战略的实施变得复杂。为应对这一挑战,云提供商可以提供一个多云管理平台,作为不同云环境之间的桥梁。尽管此类平台可以改善客户的多云体验,但也会给云提供商带来额外成本。本文考察云提供商的兼容性决策,以及兼容性对相互竞争的云提供商及其客户的影响。研究发现,当均衡中建立了兼容性时,云提供商对其资源设定的价格始终高于不存在兼容性时的价格。此外,我们发现市场支配力更强的云提供商总能吸引更多需求,而市场支配力较小的对手则可能出现需求下降。有趣的是,当云提供商在均衡中建立兼容性时,竞争对手的利润总是增加,尽管在兼容性下客户福利可能下降。这些洞见连同文中给出的其他发现,可以帮助云提供商决定何时建立兼容性以及如何有效地为其资源定价。此外,我们为政策制定者提供了关于兼容性何时能够提升客户福利的指导,以支持兼容性战略的有效实施。本文由 D. J. Wu(信息系统)接收。资助:S. Kumar 感谢坦普尔国际商业教育与研究中心(Temple Center for International Business Education and Research)对本研究的部分支持。补充材料:在线附录可从 https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.01359 获取。
Abstract
Leading online service providers, as major customers of cloud computing services, are increasingly adopting a multicloud strategy to enhance service delivery across different locations. However, compatibility issues among various cloud platforms complicate the implementation of this strategy. To address this challenge, cloud providers can offer a multicloud management platform that acts as a bridge between distinct cloud environments. Although such a platform can enhance customers’ multicloud experience, it also entails additional costs for the cloud providers. Our paper examines cloud providers’ compatibility decisions and the impact of compatibility on competing cloud providers and their customers. Our findings reveal that, when compatibility is established in equilibrium, cloud providers consistently set higher prices for their resources than when compatibility is absent. Additionally, we find that a cloud provider with greater market dominance always attracts more demand, whereas the rival with smaller market dominance may experience a demand decrease. Interestingly, when a cloud provider establishes compatibility in equilibrium, the competitor’s profit always increases, although customer welfare can decline under compatibility. These insights, along with other findings presented in the paper, can support cloud providers in deciding when to establish compatibility and how to price their resources effectively. Furthermore, we provide guidelines for policymakers on when compatibility could enhance customer welfare, supporting effective implementation of compatibility strategies. This paper was accepted by D. J. Wu, information systems. Funding: S. Kumar thanks Temple Center for International Business Education and Research for partially supporting this research. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.01359 .