If you’ve been part of your organization’s digital transformation conversations and those discussions now include your EDI/B2B infrastructure, you’ve probably heard the term “lift and shift.”
And as you can probably guess, migrating your EDI system to the cloud isn’t that simple.
In fact, it’s a complex process. This article, the last in our four-part series on migrating EDI to the cloud, lays out the essential elements of a successful migration and the pitfalls to avoid.
Key Takeaways:
Start with a Strategic EDI Migration Plan
The Value of a Phased Migration Approach
Mitigating the Impact on Trading Partners
Plan for Networking and Performance
Ensure Compatibility and Compliance
Start with a Strategic EDI Migration Plan
Hosting your EDI infrastructure in the cloud can be more cost-effective than using an on-premises solution. But when poorly designed and executed, cloud computing can have the opposite effect and lead to higher overall costs.
Like on-premise infrastructure, setting your infrastructure up in the cloud needs to be done right and in accordance with your design strategies that support your infrastructure’s performance, transformation, and communications requirements. Infrastructure configuration in the cloud has similar components to on-premise infrastructure, yet some nuances given the infrastructure’s cloud location and feature sets.
It’s important to recognize that the term ‘lift-and-shift’ is more a conceptual term than process. In essence, migrating an EDI/B2B integration platform such as IBM Sterling Integrator or other EDI/data transformation application to the cloud is more akin to re-platforming and an upgrade, which explains why many clients wait until it’s time for an upgrade to migrate.
So, what are the essentials of a solid plan?
First, assess your current EDI environment:
- Document your trading partners, EDI protocols, integration points, and connectivity with systems like ERP or CRM.
- Identify mission-critical systems and processes that depend on EDI to minimize disruption.
- You can download our free documentation template to help you assess your current environment.
Next, set goals for your cloud migration:
- For example, improve scalability, reduce maintenance costs, or enhance disaster recovery and availability.
- Align migration objectives with long-term business goals, such as expanding global operations or integrating advanced capabilities like analytics or API development and management.
- Identify the cloud infrastructure professionals, internal or external, you’ll need to configure the infrastructure on which the migrated EDI/integration application will run.
Consider a Phased Migration Approach
Sometimes clients with a big appetite and the resources for digital transformation hear the term “phased migration” and fear a potential loss of momentum, especially in scenarios where approval for moving to the cloud may have been a long time coming.
However, it’s wise to be methodical in your planning approach. So instead of moving all systems, applications, and data at once, break the migration into smaller, manageable phases to reduce risk and complexity.
Suggested Sequence:
- For those not already there, migrate your ERP or other critical systems to the cloud first (if this fits your strategy), ensuring stability and integration with on-premises EDI.
- Transition the EDI system next, using a dual-connection model to ensure continuity (e.g., maintaining on-prem connections while testing cloud connections).
Example from the Field:
For one Remedi client, a well-known maker of fruit juices and other beverages, our solutions architect implemented a phased approach. The approach entailed the client migrating and stabilizing the ERP package before we assisted with the EDI migration. This minimized integration risk and downtime.
Mitigate the Impact on Trading Partners
Trading partner risk mitigation comes down to three key areas.
Address IP and Network Changes with Trading Partners: With AS2 communications, migrating to the cloud involves IP address changes that can affect trading partner connectivity. Prepare partners for these changes with early communication and thorough testing.
For those that plan on using a VAN, the IP issue is moot because trading partners connect to the VAN’s infrastructure, not directly to a server. The company’s migration to the cloud will require updating configurations with the VAN, but this won’t directly affect trading partners.
At the same time, if you use hybrid communication models (e.g. AS2 for some partners and VAN for others) you’ll need to address IP changes for the AS2 connections.
Use Risk Mitigation Techniques: Consider interim solutions like keeping the perimeter network on-premises while moving the application layer to the cloud. This minimizes disruptions to trading partners.
Test, Test, Test: Conduct rigorous testing with trading partners to ensure seamless data exchanges before decommissioning on-prem systems.
Ensure System Compatibility and Compliance
When it comes to compatibility, the first thing to consider is your EDI/B2B application requirements and capabilities. Essentially this means you will need to verify that the cloud environment supports your EDI system, including software, protocols, and trading partner requirements. Equally as important, you need to confirm your EDI/B2N application can run in the cloud and is supported by your vendor.
Then you want to address industry-specific compliance needs (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR) and work with the cloud provider to ensure certifications are met. For more details on compatibility and compliance, see our previous article in this series, “How Do I Choose the Right Cloud Provider to Host My EDI/B2B Infrastructure?”
Plan for Networking and Performance
Likewise, there are three elements to an EDI/B2B infrastructure performance plan.
Optimize Network Connectivity: Ensure that connectivity between cloud-hosted EDI and on-premises systems or other cloud services is robust and has minimal latency.
Build for High Availability and Disaster Recovery: Leverage cloud-specific features like availability zones and redundant data centers to maintain uptime during outages.
Monitor Latency: Ensure sufficient bandwidth between cloud and on-prem systems to avoid delays in critical transactions (e.g., ASNs or real-time data exchanges).
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
It’s understandable to be excited about migrating your ERP and other elements of the integrated data stack including EDI to the cloud, especially if your organization has been playing catch-up to competitors or, more embarrassing, to the expectations of trading partners.
But there are two risks you should do everything in your power to steer clear of.
- Underestimating Complexity. Remember that re-platforming to the cloud is akin to a full system upgrade and considerably more, requiring extensive validation and regression testing.
- Lack of Communication. Ensure trading partners, internal teams, and stakeholders are informed throughout the process.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Migrating your on-premises EDI/B2B infrastructure to the cloud requires a strategic, phased approach that minimizes risk and maximizes benefits.
As veterans of dozens of on-premises to cloud EDI infrastructure moves, we can help you devise a thoughtful plan to minimize impact to the business and trading partners.
Reach out here if you’d like to discuss your options for migrating your on-premises EDI infrastructure to the cloud.
Other Articles in This Series:
Should I Migrate My On-Premises EDI Infrastructure to the Cloud?
What Are My Options for Migrating My EDI to the Cloud?
How Do I Choose the Right Cloud Provider to Host My EDI/B2B Infrastructure?
