Aging technology, architectural complexity, and breakdowns of legacy software that wasn’t agile enough to compete with the increased demand for more sophisticated services, including IaaS, are among the main drivers for companies to think of cloud migration. It’s an integral part of digital transformation.

IT can help in reducing costs or provide a possibility to invest in small portions of vast computational resources available at cloud providers. Flexibility and scalability of the business apps that fit immediate requirements and can be updated along the way; as well as having the means to handle the massive amount of field data from ever-connected consumers and products hold a lot of promise. The common denominator for all of them is that they can detect new business opportunities and solve existing operational problems.

As always, transforming businesses is about creating winning customer experiences; and now, most of the business app development starts cloud migration with the customer first in mind.

Cloud Migration benefits that are here to stay

Each business has specific customer needs, and that’s why doing cloud migration in the wrong way could potentially harm your business.

If you still haven’t started with cloud migration with 2020 underway, it’s time to start thinking about how to make those changes by assessing your data and processing needs; as well as business latency and performance requirements.

Companies that work with app development products and services are already riding the wave and have plenty to offer to transform your business digitally. If done right, cloud migration will save you on maintenance and support costs, protect your data and systems from cyber-risks; and help you remain agile amid volatile market changes.

How to successfully do Cloud Migration

What should you keep in mind while you migrate to the cloud while selecting the best possible solutions, pick app features, and avoid costly mistakes?

Develop a digital transformation strategy to keep an eye on the big picture.

It’s easy to get lost in the myriad of apps when every one of them seems to be improving some aspect of your business. Don’t just grab each piece of technology that’s out there, hoping that it will grow your business without question. It’s better to start with the essentials following successfully implemented examples and build up as you go forward.

Conduct in-depth research and analysis of app features.

Remain critical and start adjusting your processes slowly. Make sure that for any update, you have a clear picture of the advantages and disadvantages by consulting the app development company before you buy a product. Most are willing to dedicate some time to answer your key questions and clarify your concerns.

Adopt the customer-first approach.

Think about how you can solve current customer service problems; or add an extra level of satisfaction to your offer to increase competitiveness; or generate new products and services. 

Invest in emerging technologies.

Could your business benefit from having a chatbot customer support? Do you need to purchase a robust business intelligence app because of a sudden growth spurt that’s a result of digital transformation in another area? What’s the cost of the outdated legacy licenses compared to cloud subscription plans with AI and IoT features? Can your business model benefit from a new app that encompasses AR and VR features?

Repurpose hardware and maintenance and support resources.

Don’t forget that cloud computing enables you to stop spending on expensive and space-demanding servers and IT paraphernalia. Most app capabilities are accessible from a browser or via a mobile app, so calculate those costs in the budget analysis. Usually, random on-call visits by IT specialists cost more than when they come as a feature in your cloud subscription. Can you draw in from this bucket and pour it into another one?

Strengthen data protection capabilities.

By migrating to the cloud, you get advanced security, which protects you from vulnerabilities and attacks typical for on-site software. As consumers, we create so much data that it is becoming more challenging to store it, keep it safe; and process it without expert support. There are stricter security requirements for cloud app development providers. Almost no business can match them on-premise.

The Inference

Perhaps the dominant reason for cloud migration to be a pressing requirement for 2020 and beyond is specialization. Specialized apps provide more significant benefits. Having in mind the dispersion of bulk products and services created with the Big Data as part of global digital transformation; being ready to act quickly with adopting new cloud migration features will be crucial for business survival and thriving.