Core Insights - The increasing reliance on "free trials" by companies is driven by the need to mitigate architectural decision risks rather than just cost savings [1][2] - Companies are shifting from traditional metrics to real-world testing to validate the stability and governance of cloud platforms [2][3] Group 1: Reasons for Increased Dependence on Free Trials - Companies previously relied on parameters, pricing, and case studies, but these do not address critical questions about stability, hidden risks, and operational clarity [2] - Free trials have evolved into a mechanism for architectural validation rather than a promotional tool [2] Group 2: Key Capabilities to Validate During Trials - Stability of the infrastructure, including performance under load and recovery speed after failures, is crucial [3][4] - Governance transparency and control are essential, as modern cloud platforms focus on governance systems rather than just resources [3] - Consistency in technology stack and API, permissions, and monitoring systems is vital for assessing future operational control [5][6] - Smooth scalability and integration capabilities are tested to ensure long-term cost-effectiveness [7] Group 3: AWS Free Trial as a Validation Tool - Companies utilize AWS's free trial for preliminary architectural assessments due to its ability to cover core capabilities and validate real business scenarios [8][9] - The trial environment mirrors the production environment, enhancing the reliability of the results [10] - The trial is suitable for testing modern architectures, including microservices and automated deployments [11] - It allows teams to gain insights into operational methods without significant budget commitments [12][13] Group 4: Best Practices for Using Free Trials - Companies should define clear validation goals, such as performance and scalability, to maximize trial effectiveness [15] - Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with essential services is recommended for realistic testing [15] - Implementing observability by integrating logs and metrics helps identify potential issues early [16] - Conducting stress and anomaly tests can reveal architectural bottlenecks [17] - Evaluating future scalability, including cross-border deployments and AI integration, is crucial for planning [18] Conclusion - The search for "which cloud servers offer free trials" reflects a deeper need for companies to validate the feasibility and control of future architectures rather than merely seeking discounts [19]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved total revenue of RMB2,232.1 million in Q4 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 29.6% [30] - Non-GAAP operating profit turned positive for the first time, reaching RMB24.4 million compared to a loss of RMB187.6 million in the same period last year [34] - Non-GAAP gross profit reached a record high of RMB427.7 million, up 63% year-over-year, with a non-GAAP gross margin of 19.2% [11][33] - Non-GAAP EBITDA margin reached 16.1%, compared to negative 1.6% in the same quarter last year [35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Public Cloud revenue grew by 34% year-over-year to RMB1,409.8 million, driven by AI-related business [30][15] - Enterprise Cloud revenue amounted to RMB822.3 million, increasing by 22.7% year-over-year [18] - AI-related business achieved gross billing of RMB474 million, representing nearly 500% year-over-year growth [13][27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from the Xiaomi and Kingsoft ecosystem reached RMB493 million, up 78% year-over-year, contributing 22% to total revenues [14] - The company is positioned as the sole strategic cloud platform within the Xiaomi and Kingsoft ecosystem, capitalizing on AI opportunities [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deepen cooperation with the Xiaomi and Kingsoft ecosystem and explore AI opportunities to create value for stakeholders [23] - The focus is on high-quality and sustainable development, with expectations for accelerated revenue growth and improved profitability in 2025 [37] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the positive impact of AI advancements on the cloud computing industry, indicating a broader acceptance and application of AI technologies [45] - The company expects revenue growth in both Public Cloud and Enterprise Cloud to accelerate in 2025, with a positive non-GAAP operating profit anticipated for the full year [29][30] Other Important Information - The company has a strong liquidity position with cash and cash equivalents totaling RMB2,648.8 million as of December 31, 2024 [36] - Total capital expenditures for AI investments are projected to be around RMB10 billion for 2025, supported by shareholder arrangements [52] Q&A Session Summary Question: Industry outlook and impact of AI trends - Management discussed how AI advancements are reshaping the cloud computing landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges for Kingsoft Cloud [40][45] Question: Update on 2025 capital expenditure plan - Management provided insights into the efficient asset-light model for data centers and the expected total investment in AI for 2025 [48][52] Question: Expectations for 2025 revenue growth and drivers - Management indicated that AI will be a significant growth driver, alongside contributions from the Xiaomi and Kingsoft ecosystem [56][60] Question: Margin performance and long-term profitability trend - Management expressed confidence in continued margin expansion, with EBITDA and operating profit expected to grow at a faster pace than gross margin [61][63] Question: Demand for AI inference and legacy Public Cloud business outlook - Management noted strong demand for AI inference within the Xiaomi ecosystem, while traditional Public Cloud business may continue generating revenue [68][72] Question: Pricing strategy for GPU Cloud revenue - Management emphasized a differentiated pricing model for AI-related services, which are expected to command higher fees due to their value in client workflows [80][86]