Benefits of a Cloud Migration Strategy for Construction Companies

By 2025, experts predict that there will be rapid acceleration to the cloud. Driven by the demand for integration capabilities, agile work processes and composable architecture, Gartner Inc. predicts that companies will dedicate 51% of enterprise IT spending toward technologies that support a transition to the cloud, compared to 41% in 2022.

Companies are moving from a local server to the public cloud server as they respond to a new business and social dynamic — and companies that fail to adapt to to the pace of the cloud shift “face increasing risk of becoming obsolete”, according to Gartner’s research vice president Michael Warrilow.

While construction companies are often pinned as one of the least digitized industries in the world, even companies in the industry are turning toward cloud based construction software. According to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), 85% of construction contractors use or plan to use cloud-based solutions.

It’s not surprise why. The global pandemic is forcing companies to be more cost-efficient, agile and innovative in how they operate their businesses. While cloud computing in the construction industry is a relatively new phenomenon, construction companies that move to the cloud gain the same benefits as other industries: optimized costs, the ability to innovate faster, flexibility and scalability, simplified IT and enhanced security.

What is cloud migration in the construction industry?

Cloud migration in the construction industry is not simply using mobile devices to access the internet. Rather, cloud computing in the construction industry refers to the virtual storage space that holds your company’s applications, files, and data and provides easy access to this information on-the-go, whenever you need it.

What are the benefits of cloud computing in the construction industry?

For construction companies specifically, cloud based construction software allows contractors to access vital files and data from any device in the field. Project managers can collaborate directly into a company’s construction management software from the field during a jobsite visit. Contractors can instantly communicate their tasks or access vital safety information from any mobile device. When construction companies talk about streamlining communication or making collaboration a priority, they simply cannot do that without a cloud based construction software.

What is a cloud migration strategy?

Cloud migration in construction industry can, however, be complex and risky. As more and more companies reinvent themselves and reimagine routine business processes by accelerating their move to the cloud and embracing the digital transformation, companies need a high-level plan to understand what’s involved. Moving digital assets, services, databases, IT resources, and applications either partially, or wholly, into the cloud can be a transformative shift for your entire business, so it’s wise to understand what’s needed to execute an effective cloud migration.

Through an effective cloud migration strategy, construction companies achieve their desired business and technical outcomes — without any surprises or unknown disruptions.

Here are the benefits of a comprehensive cloud migration strategy in the construction industry:

Determines the correct migration plan: Although most companies and workloads will benefit from cloud migrations, a cloud migration in construction industry may not be right for everyone. An effective cloud migration strategy includes an in-depth analysis of your current on-premises solution and reviews your company’s desired outcomes to inform and accelerate your cloud journey. Through utilizing experts in the construction cloud computing technology, consultants expose the potential benefits and risks of the cloud computing technology in the construction industry.

Cost and time savings: Cloud migration in construction industry is a time-consuming process that can be costly. Companies who migrate without a clear strategy can easily rack up costs for new services, especially as application usage grows. An effective migration assessment discovers how moving to the cloud can help create efficiencies, control costs, and improve productivity through expert guidance.

Prioritizes workloads for migration: Migrating to cloud based construction software isn’t as simple as just moving all of your applications online at the same time. Each application and dataset may have different requirements. The cloud migration strategy needs a clear plan for each application and workload it migrates to the cloud to minimize disruptions.

Improved security: Moving data to the cloud means potentially making vulnerable your company’s key assets — especially in cases of disaster. In order to keep your data as secure as possible, you need skilled personnel managing your database and migration, as well as personnel with expertise in disaster recovery to provide you with a cost-effective option of maintaining backups.

Pilots, tests and adjusts strategy throughout process: A cloud migration strategy in construction industry provides detailed assistance to guide teams through the process and facilitate roll-back if necessary. This includes working with the client to build and test the system components, including developing the customizations, integrations, interfaces and data migration processes.

How we can help: CEM Business Solutions assists the construction industry with adopting the right cloud based construction software — and works to implement the right cloud migration strategy that fits your business plan. Companies who cut corners to speed up cloud migration prove to pay for it later. Aligning your business goals and leverage cloud computing is best done with experts who can devise the proper cloud migration strategy. Following the Microsoft Sure Step Methodology, CEM Business Solutions successfully implements cloud based construction software to all of our customers. If you are ready to successfully upgrade an outdated ERP software and create highly engaged stakeholders during a critical time of business growth, consult with one of our experts today.