During COVID-19, leaders will define where agile, pay-as-you-go IT technology could assist as healthcare organisations work to cut costs and deliver services in the midst of shrinking revenues and high patient traffic. Consumption-based IT strategies enable healthcare teams to concentrate on current and forward-looking programmes without overspending or long-term commitments, facilities or infrastructure billed directly based on the use of a client. An IDC study on the subject states that a consumption-based model can lower the cost and complexity of infrastructure operations, provide reliable performance metrics and accelerate business transformation.

Unlike IT managed services, which can deliver savings by outsourcing key activities, usually for a flat monthly cost, a model focused on consumption is directly related to the quantity of what is consumed at a given time. 

Healthcare organisations accustomed to decades of conventional models, including on-site data centres, extended system lifecycles and flat subscription fees, may initially create doubt about the notion of consumption-based IT on usage in the minds of payers and healthcare organisations. In fact, a key obstacle to making the change is unfamiliarity with consumption-based solutions. Until implementing a new model, healthcare organisations must evaluate their existing infrastructure, data-use needs and potential future challenges.