In an era where digital transformation is often treated as an abstract cloud of concepts, Maria Palikara, Marketing & Sales Director of interworks.cloud, grounds the conversation in reality. Through her recent interview with Fortune Greece, she highlights a fundamental truth: cloud is not a static product, but a living organism that requires constant care, strategic decisions, and, above all, human support.
The Strategic Acquisition by Climb Global Solutions
The inclusion of interworks.cloud into the Climb Global Solutions (NASDAQ: CLMB) family was not just a piece of business news; it was a milestone for the Greek tech scene. As Ms. Palikara explains, this move was not a simple change of ownership, but a strategic alignment that allows the company to expand its footprint globally. Climb, as one of the world's leading technology distributors, saw in interworks.cloud not just a client base, but a sophisticated automation platform (Cloud Commerce Platform) that can serve as the backbone of digital distribution internationally.
This acquisition confirms that Greek innovation can stand worthily on the global stage. interworks.cloud now operates as the hub for Climb's further growth in the Southeast Europe region, offering added value through its expertise in supporting Managed Service Providers (MSPs).
Beyond Theory: The Daily Reality of Cloud
For Maria Palikara, the keyword is "implementation." Many organizations invest in cloud technologies because they "have to," but without having a plan for their management. interworks.cloud focuses exactly there: on the bridge between purchasing a service and its meaningful utilization. Daily work involves supporting partners, ensuring business continuity, and providing tools that simplify complex billing and license management processes.
- Flexibility: The ability to adapt to changing market needs in real-time.
- Support: Transitioning from a "vendor" model to a "consultant" model.
- Evolution: Continuous upgrading of services to meet new challenges, such as cybersecurity.
Ms. Palikara emphasizes that success in the cloud is judged by the decisions made every day, not by the initial excitement of an investment. interworks.cloud has managed to create an ecosystem where partners feel safe to grow, knowing that there is a robust infrastructure behind them.
Artificial Intelligence as a Growth Catalyst
In the discussion about the future, Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds a central position. However, interworks.cloud's approach is realistic. AI is not treated as a threat to jobs, but as a tool that will allow partners (MSPs and VARs) to become more efficient. By integrating AI features into the Cloud Commerce Platform, partners can analyze consumption data, predict customer needs, and automate processes that previously required hundreds of man-hours.
"Artificial Intelligence in the service of the cloud is no longer a science fiction scenario. It is the way we will help our partners scale their businesses without proportionally increasing their operating costs," Ms. Palikara states.
The company's strategy includes educating its partners to understand how AI can improve the end-user experience. From support chatbots to advanced analytics tools, AI is the next big bet for interworks.cloud.
Leadership and Corporate Culture
In conclusion, Maria Palikara refers to the role of women in technology and the importance of corporate culture. In an industry traditionally dominated by men, she serves as an example of leadership that combines empathy with efficiency. The culture of interworks.cloud, which was maintained and strengthened after the acquisition, is based on teamwork and continuous learning. For Ms. Palikara, people are the ones who make the difference, especially in a field as dynamic as cloud computing.
The message is clear: Greece can produce world-class technology, as long as there is vision, persistence in quality, and the understanding that technology is the means, not the end in itself.
