## 5 Discussion
### Key Drivers of Cloud Adoption  
In line with the theoretical understanding that both digital infrastructure and digital skills are crucial enablers of digital transformation, the machine learning analysis shows that ICT specialists and broadband access are the most significant predictors of cloud adoption [35, 66]. This supports the European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) framework, which emphasizes the dual significance of human and physical capital in promoting technology breakthroughs [36]. In fact, it is impossible to overestimate the synergy between digital skills and infrastructure; while strong infrastructure offers the tools required for transformation, the presence of workers with digital competency guarantees that these tools are used efficiently. Thus, current findings indicate that organizations must holistically approach digital transformation by investing in both advanced technological frameworks and the necessary human capital. Furthermore, GDP per capita and higher education levels exhibit moderate but consistent importance, reflecting the broader socio-economic capacity necessary to support and sustain the adoption of advanced digital technologies [40] This is consistent with earlier studies showing that greater education is linked to greater digital literacy, which improves people's capacity to interact with cutting-edge technologies [39]. As an illustration of how educational attainment enables people to navigate the digital landscape, a systematic evaluation revealed that those with higher education had a 37% higher likelihood of using digital platforms efficiently [39]. It is interesting to note that the robustness check (i.e., Panel B estimations) showed that human capital, as measured by ICT skills, continues to be the primary driver even in the absence of broadband data, albeit with a minor drop in predicted accuracy. This emphasizes how important workforce upskilling is as a robust component of digital adoption. Additionally, it has been shown that regions with higher economic means typically have better internet access and educational opportunities, fostering a population more adept at technological adoption [41]. According to a review of the literature, there is a strong correlation between higher GDP per capita and digital engagement, and socioeconomic factors such as income and educational attainment have a significant impact on access to and use of digital services [67]. The socioeconomic environment, which is defined by GDP per capita and educational attainment, fosters the use of digital technologies, according to recent research. Additionally, the partial dependence graphs show nonlinear effects: ICT specialists show a consistent, linear influence on cloud adoption, while broadband access exhibits a threshold effect, indicating that beyond a certain point, additional coverage gives declining returns. This phenomenon implies that the incremental advantages of additional broadband expansion may decrease if a particular degree of coverage is attained. To put it another way, while early gains in broadband access greatly increase cloud adoption because of improved connectivity and lower latency, further coverage beyond a certain point may result in diminishing marginal benefits. This idea is supported by earlier research. [PERSON] et al. [43], for instance, point out a positive relationship between employment productivity and broadband access, indicating that while increases in connectivity initially have a major impact on economic results, these benefits decrease as broadband penetration increases. Conversely, a steady, linear connection characterizes the influence of ICT specialists on cloud adoption. According to research, every extra ICT specialist raises cloud adoption rates, indicating that their knowledge directly promotes efficient usage of cloud services.