A cloud migration plan is one of the first steps which enable organizations to move their data and applications from on-premise servers to the cloud. The plan itself is based on a strategy that focuses on identifying the workloads which benefit from being into a cloud-based environment and how to approach each, to make the transition smooth.

At AECCloud, we offer cloud migration support to enterprises working in architecture, engineering and construction, to ensure that they benefit from a good, smooth experience that keeps projects running.

Will everything move to the cloud?

A question we often receive from our clients and prospects is whether there is an alternative to cloud migration implementation or whether everything, at some point, will move to the cloud.

According to the Cisco Global Cloud Index, 95% of all workloads will run in a cloud environment, by 2021, thus setting an interesting premise.

Moreover, as Gartner forecasts, worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services should grow to $332.3 billion, in 2021, 23.1% more than in 2020.

Indeed, with the benefits and opportunities it offers, as well as with the low entry costs, cloud adoption will increase significantly, even among small and medium organizations.

How the cloud has changed the AEC industry?

In our materials, we have explained the reasons why companies choose cloud migration implementation, mentioning 24/7 data accessibility, reduced risk of data loss, creating opportunities for new ways to connect or pushing productivity. All of these are extremely valuable. Still, there are some specific reasons why the AEC industry benefits from the cloud.

First of all, there is connectivity. A cloud migration plan often starts from a need to which architecture, engineering and construction companies are very familiar: bringing together distributed teams of employees and contractors. Although, as any other businesses, AEC organizations also have centralized offices that host operational structures, such as administration, payroll, billing, the teams working on the actual projects are located outside of the company.

Cloud migration implementation enables professionals on the construction site to access their work documentation from their phones and tablets, as well as collaborate on plans and documents in real time. All these contribute to optimizing resources, particularly time and financial ones, as it results in an improved working flow.

Working with other employees at the same company is not the only thing that professionals in the AEC industry need to do. Collaborating with stakeholders, across different agencies and institutions is also crucial. Ensuring that everyone - from the contractor, to the subcontractor, plumber, materials supplier, electricians etc. - has access to the necessary documentation and that cross-collaboration is available in real-time is extremely valuable.

Referencing the times before there was a migration path to the cloud, things were happening differently: if someone needed a document, they would be required to receive it by email and, with every change, the file should be sent again, to each person involved in the project. This involved significant communications struggles, as well as a need for high storage. The cloud eliminated all these, automating processes and enabling different structures to access the same materials and applications at the same time, increasing their performance and efficiency.

More than in other industries, in AEC, companies deal with fluctuating budgets, which make financial procedures difficult and complex. What the cloud has managed was to help companies create more transparent budgets, using budgeting and project management apps.

All the above have created a strong point for cloud migration implementation.

The 7Rs of cloud migration plans

Cloud migration starts with identifying the objective and setting some goals, as well as with assessing the security strategy and the cybersecurity terms imposed by different clients and contracts.

Depending on a company’s capabilities, needs and budgets, Gartner identified, in 2011, 5 common migration strategies for cloud migration implementation, which were described under the 5 Rs. Later on, Amazon Web Services have built upon them, creating the following 7 Rs:

• Re-architect. Re-architecting involves modifying the architecture of an application by taking advantage of the cloud’s features and, thus, improving agility and performance. A good example is modernizing company-owned apps, reimagining their workflows and rules and, then, using PaaS elements to increase flexibility.

• Replatform. Replatforming means moving an application to the cloud, while also optimizing it, to take advantage of cloud capabilities. When replatforming an app, keeping its architecture is a priority.

• Repurchase. Repurchasing is a very common strategy, especially in today’s fast-paced environment, where enterprises move from in-house apps used for project management, CRM and budgeting, to SaaS models which offer even more features and which may be adjusted to each organization’s needs.

• Rehost. Rehosting means moving an application from the in-house servers to the cloud, without making any changes to it.

• Relocate. Customers which relocate to the cloud usually move their infrastructure without purchasing new hardware or inducing change to already existing operations. This is usually the case of those which use virtual machines to connect on-premise environments to AWS.

• Retain. Some applications - like legacy ones, for example - don’t justify the costs associated with migrating them to the cloud, so it is advised that they are kept in their source environment.

• Retire. Many cloud migration strategies start with assessing the existent applications, their usage and retiring those which are no longer needed or which are considered “orphaned” - they can’t be traced back to a business owner or developer resource allocated. Retire strategies manage to reduce costs, as well as operational risks.

How to choose between the 7Rs?

Cloud migration implementation affects AEC businesses to their very core, this is why it is important to analyze all sides of the process, focusing on optimization options, and choose the best solution for app migration.

Depending on their needs, companies may try all of the 7Rs or appeal to the ones that better suit their specific business.

Why do cloud migrations fail?

According to a Unisys report from 2019, 37% of American companies failed to see the benefits from their cloud solutions.

This happens as a result of the way challenges are managed. Sometimes, migrating large databases, ensuring intelligence is secured and safe, as well as maintaining operations throughout the pathway to cloud migration may prove extremely difficult for companies in the AEC industry, especially since they are going through different projects.

The best solution, in this case, is to work with a supplier who knows and understands the company’s context, asks the right questions and prepares a detailed cloud migration plan.

How may AECCloud help

AEC Cloud does all these, by making it a priority to understand each customer’s business and operational needs and develop a strategy that is feasible and which optimizes resources. Contact us for details on how to move your AEC company to the cloud.