ERP Cloud Migration for a Global Manufacturing Company

This global manufacturing company had begun pursuing a cloud-first strategy and had to adopt its Groups Azure tenant and landing zones. Refractis were brought on board to ensure a safe and smooth migration.

The JD Edwards Platform and applications that make up the ERP in totality, are core to the way the business operates day to day. At the start of the Cloud Migration programme, the JDE ecosystem occupied over 35% of the Data Centres, so it was always going to be a complex project to migrate to Microsoft Azure.

The initial approach was to establish a full DR position in Azure for the ERP platform and its wider application ecosystem. The lack of existing documentation meant full designs had to be completed, which in turn led to an improved understanding of the inter-dependencies between applications and, after solving a particularly knotty challenge with label printing, we completed a full DR invocation test for the first time.

This allowed us to exit the first Data Center.

For production migration, we pursued a full upgrade approach, moving to current Operating System and Database versions, and to upgrade elements of the JD Edwards platform, to reduce technical debt across the companies estate.

A shift to cloud isn't just about keeping up with trends; it's about leveraging the potential of cloud computing to drive innovation and streamline operations. For the client the move to cloud has taken careful planning, design, development and meticulous testing with business users, which culminated in a seamless go live with minimal disruption to the business and operation.

How we got there…

• Careful planning: ensuring a smooth migration process, minimising disruptions and maximising efficiency.
• Thoughtful design: laying the foundation for a scalable and optimised ERP solution on Azure, tailored to meet the unique needs of the business.
• Methodical development: ensuring that the JD Edwards leverages Azure's capabilities to the fullest potential, driving future innovation and enhancing performance.
• Meticulous testing: with business users validating the ERP solution's functionality, usability, and alignment with organisational goals, fostering user adoption and satisfaction.
• The correct resources: This programme of work required a very talented team across the Clients organisation to pull together and work collaboratively with group company colleagues. Refractis worked with partners at the correct times with specialist expertise to aid our migration and we formed a cohesive and productive programme team

Migrating JD Edwards to Azure wasn't just a technological upgrade; it was s a strategic imperative for businesses looking to thrive in the digital age. For the client this is the first two phases for the ERP programme and part of their future digital blueprint. With careful planning, meticulous execution, and a commitment to continuous improvement, the ERP migration journey to Azure has been a transformative experience, propelling the clinet businesses towards a brighter, more secure and prosperous future.