According to an interesting study, transferring 60% of data and systems to the cloud can boost companies' growth by 11.2% on an annual basis. Having that in mind, it isn't surprising that more than 40% of global companies are working toward this threshold. By having important information stored on the cloud, brands can significantly improve their internal IT processes.
Unfortunately, getting to this point can be quite tricky. Data migration has its fair share of potential problems, pushing businesses into unnecessary expenses and causing productivity losses. So, the best way to reduce some of these risks is by getting acquainted with common cloud data migration challenges and their solutions.
Top 5 Cloud Data Migration Challenges
Besides technical challenges such as network vulnerabilities and threats, there are lots of other human-related problems that might pop up during the project. These are the main issues you might encounter during migration:
1. Adoption resistance
Funny enough, technology isn’t the biggest issue companies face when transferring data online. Instead, the biggest challenges come in the form of management and their perception of the process. The adoption resistance is especially common in more conservative, tech-resilient industries but can even affect progressive, data-driven companies.
2. Cost-related problems
As with any other business process, cost is a major factor that needs to be considered. Although the whole point is to streamline and simplify processes and reduce operational costs in the long run, you still need to invest a lump sum to get things into motion.
According to an approximation, the process might cost anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, depending on the size. Perhaps an even bigger issue is missing your initial cost assessment. This could put you in no-man's land where you can't continue and can't abandon the migration.
3. Lack of skill
Most people nowadays know how to use cloud systems. However, there are always some discrepancies between the new method of doing things and the previous one. Whatever the case might be, your employees will have to prepare for this transition the best way they can.
Companies also have to think about training their employees. Not only will it result in additional costs, but the process will also result in extra time and stress. In fact, don't be surprised if some of your valuable staff members bail on the company during this period.
4. Provider-related issues
One of the biggest challenges of cloud migration has to do with providers. As with any other service, choosing the wrong partner can be disastrous, especially when tackling a major project. The threat of vendor lock-in is real, not only increasing your overall migration costs but also leading to extra stress for everyone involved.
5. Lack of plan
Although 94% of organizations have already adopted cloud-based models, there are still those who, for one reason or another, are reluctant to do so. Most of them take their time, but there are also those who rush into things. In such situations, a lack of a plan can be disastrous, leading to all sorts of issues, such as bad relationships with providers or additional costs.
Top 5 Cloud Data Migration Solutions
One of the best ways to avoid potential issues is by paying for system integration consulting. However, you can also solve them yourself by following these guidelines:
1. Solving adoption resistance
Solving the adoption problem is mostly a managerial process that hinges on communication. Your brass needs to understand the benefits and requirements of the migration process and convey them to the staff. By having a better grasp of the concept and how it can help business in the long run, employees will become more receptive to the change.
Another good way to alienate the initial resistance is by going with simple, intuitive digital solutions. Integration with previous systems might also do the trick, as it will make it easier for the staff to transition to the new technology.
2. Solving cost-related problems
As data migration processes tend to be complex, only 16% of them finish within the predicted time frame. So, the best way to make the process more efficient yet less expensive is by creating a viable migration strategy.
Consult with your provider and make a precise estimate of the expenses. Besides the process itself, you'll also need to include potential costs that could be caused by slow adoption. That way, even if you miss the timeline, you can at least prepare your budget for these potential added expenses.
3. Solving lack of skill
There are a few ways to solve the training challenges. The straightforward one is to outsource an expert to spearhead the employee training. Most providers are willing to offer support, and sometimes, they even do it free of charge.
Another option is teaching some of your tech-savvy team members about the new systems and tasking them with training the rest of the staff. Although you'll have to jump through several additional hoops, your employees will feel better when trained by people they know. We also suggest you give out adoption certificates and other rewards to stimulate employees.
4. Solving provider-related issues
As with all other service providers, you should prioritize hiring the ones with recommendations. Check their track record and online reviews. Besides that, a good trick to avoid vendor lock-in is by simplifying data transfer, making things easier for your provider.
Another fantastic way to circumvent the issue is by creating an exit strategy; your data migration process should come with contingencies. Furthermore, you should also shortlist several other providers who could quickly jump into the project if the first company fails.
5. Solving the lack of a plan
Solving this potential issue is relatively easy; all you need to do is take your time when creating a strategy. Hiring an IT consulting agency is also a good move, as they can point out potential issues, timelines, and outcomes.
Conclusion:
While data migration has its fair share of challenges, most of them can be addressed through a methodical approach. Take your time to learn about the process, get your employees and management onboard, and choose the right provider.
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