ISVs can leverage both commercial and growth benefits by migrating applications to the cloud. With Microsoft Azure, you have access to the tools and technologies needed to accelerate the migration to the cloud. An experienced partner can help guide you on your journey, helping you focus on what’s important – innovative and modern experiences for your customers.
Within the past five years, cloud technology has created a host of new opportunities for Independent Software Vendors. Many ISVs have completed business transformations to move their onsite and web applications to the cloud, accessing the benefits of the SaaS model. The adoption rate of a cloud-based SaaS model by both established and start-up lSVs is great with Gartner predicting in 2018 that the SaaS space will grow by almost 53% by 2022.
ISVs are motivated to complete a transformation
Gartner also highlighted the large scale shift within the software industry, predicting that 80% of historical vendors will move to subscription-based models. The benefits of SaaS models are vast. Shifting onsite and web applications to the cloud means that ISVs can deliver more value to a wider customer base. These innovative models are raising revenues per user, providing more streams of income and radically driving scale. For Independent Software Vendors, cloud-based offerings are flexible and can more easily be scaled and adapted to access new markets and customer segments.
In addition to scale and growth benefits, there are many efficiencies to be gained. Overall, there is a reduction in infrastructure costs and the internal expertise required to maintain the infrastructure. ISVs see ongoing maintenance and reduction in complexities with an average 26% improvement rate in engineering efficiency.
Microsoft’s 4 step migration process
As ISVs migrate to the cloud, the following 4 steps laid out by Microsoft make it a more straightforward transformation. By following this process, migrations and modernizations powered by Azure can support ISVs to overcome typical logistical challenges and plan effectively.
1. Assess: Build a migration plan that’s backed by stakeholder alignment, informed by a comprehensive inventory audit and in-line with your TCO objectives.
This is the planning stage of the migration. Before embarking on the migration journey it is crucial that the ISV evaluates what their application is now and what is their core objective. These can range from growing customer base or reducing overhead costs, but it is important to assess this and keep it at the core of their plan. It is also advised to discuss problems to solve and objectives with key stakeholders within the business. A universally agreed upon objective will inform the methodology and ensure the migration moves smoothly with limited disruption to services. It will also help the business to establish if they require migration or modernization. Following the objective setting, the projected costs and scheduling can be set. What are the anticipated costs versus the current offering?
2. Migrate: Choose the right methodology for you, from no-code lift-and-shift migrations to highly scalable application modernizations.
Following assessment, ISVs will be in the position to decide how to approach their cloud transformation. Microsoft distinguishes between migration, an application and its infrastructure transference to the cloud, and modernization, modifications to the code and rearchitecting. An experienced cloud migration partner, such as Spanish Point Technologies, is beneficial here to help you identify which path is most suitable.
3. Optimise: Implement additional cloud services to help you govern and monitor your infrastructure, simultaneously controlling costs and managing usage.
The success of this digital transformation does not end with the migration or modernization within Azure. ISVs can implement the components of the cloud to provide the optimal customer experience. Monitoring is also important to manage resources and usage. Again, Microsoft’s resources such as the TCO Calculator can help keep costs in line with the Assess planning. This monitoring and updating of the infrastructure help ensure a seamless management process and expansion of capabilities such as AI.
4. Secure & Manage: Leverage advanced adaptive threat protection tools to keep your cloud infrastructure’s data secure and stable.
Managing and ensuring the security of your applications and cloud infrastructure is paramount and continual. The Azure environment contains built-in protections and management services which support this. These features allow ISVs to deploy their valuable development resources to innovation and improving their offering.
The value of a partner
A cloud partner can support ISVs throughout this transformation from the initial assessment to the overall management, helping you to access scale, lower costs and extend services. Spanish Point Technologies have supported various customers in achieving scale with Azure, and facilitating the transformation with the SMART AIM offering.
SMART AIM is a roadmap which allows you to focus on innovation and objectives. Built on Azure and our own cloud expertise, this roadmap considers your business requirements and the potential cloud benefits you can achieve. Learn more about SMART AIM and cloud migration here.
Talk to our cloud migration team now and set up a free SMART AIM consultation
