Orange Implements "FinOps Clean Days" to Improve Cloud Cost Accountability

Orange's FinOps Strategy

Orange, a leading telecom provider, has implemented a strategy to improve FinOps accountability within its engineering teams. This strategy includes "FinOps Clean Days" and gamified hackathons, which involve teams collaboratively optimizing cloud spend.

These events are designed to engage engineers directly in cost management, with experienced practitioners guiding newcomers. The company's 100-plus person FinOps community has achieved an internal Net Promoter Score above 70, indicating high satisfaction with the program.

Addressing Industry Challenges

The initiative addresses a common industry challenge: moving engineers from FinOps awareness to active participation in cost optimization. Orange views FinOps as a business change problem, applying known solutions to foster genuine team engagement.

Camille Marini, Orange's FinOps lead, stated that the company's approach emphasizes shared responsibility across the organization, similar to cloud security practices. This ensures every project stakeholder understands their role in achieving responsible AI spending.

Community of Practice and Communication

Orange established a FinOps Community of Practice, supported by Google Cloud Consulting, to facilitate this shared responsibility. The community uses standardized communication channels to disseminate methodologies beyond the central group.

Meetings are structured to be actionable, providing value through shared optimization techniques and billing updates. This approach acknowledges how agile teams operate, integrating optimization work into their regular cycles.