Anniversaries are always a good point to take a step back, reflect on the past and think about what the future holds. That is something I have done this week as we head into the third calendar year of G-Cloud by taking time out to reread the document which lays out the government’s Cloud First Strategy as published by the Cabinet Office in 2011.

Looking through the document it is striking how frequently it refers to a vision for commodity IT services and a move away from customised solutions as part of a drive for lower costs and greater competition. But is this move towards commodity buying really likely to change buyer behaviour and deliver those benefits?

As things stand right now, I am not so sure.

I’d even go so far as to say that commoditisation could end up being a barrier to the delivery of lower …