Embracing Modernization

How to start working on a journey from having on-premises IT Services to streamlined delivery based on thinking differently and focusing on defending the goals and objectives your companies, organizations and teams are trying to solve.

I have worked with EUC technology for 25 of my 30 years in the industry, so you can say I have experienced a lot and participated in many IT projects over the years. Everything from infrastructure upgrades to changing technologies, both before and after the cloud arrived. Before, the upgrades took place in longer cycles, having to lock down their environment for anything from 3-5 years, before the next modernization project was started. But, in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for businesses to adapt and modernize their IT infrastructure has become paramount.

For manufacturing companies, this transition is not merely about keeping up with the latest trends but about staying competitive in an industry driven by innovation and efficiency. Recently, my colleague Vegard and I had the privilege of delving into this transformative journey alongside our friends at the Microsoft Denmark at their Technology Center (MTC), working closely with a forward-thinking company eager to revolutionize its approach to service delivery.

The company, like many others, found itself grappling with the challenges of traditional on-premises IT services. Managing a plethora of clients, application management, user personas, on-premises virtual desktops, user profiles had become a cumbersome task, hindering agility and scalability. Moreover, the complexities of maintaining multiple images and addressing user demands for personalized and pooled virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs) added to the operational burden. It was clear that a paradigm shift is necessary to simplify processes, optimize resources, and align with future challenges.

Central to this transformation was the company's decision to break free from entrenched technological preferences and embrace a holistic approach focused on reducing capital cost, simplicity and efficiency. During our workshop at the MTC that day, we embarked to collaborating on a journey to modernize their IT infrastructure, leveraging cloud-based solutions and adopting best practices for service delivery. Do you know what the best part of the workshop was? It was done without any use of PowerPoint or demos, only many knowledgeable people with experience and a lot of knowledge and a modern whiteboard to collect our thoughts on where, why and how.

One of the primary objectives or use case was to streamline user onboarding and offboarding processes, a common pain point for IT professionals across industries. By transitioning to cloud-based solutions, the company aimed to automate these tasks, reducing manual intervention, and ensuring seamless user experiences. Additionally, they sought to consolidate their virtual desktop environments, moving from private VDIs to pooled VDIs for improved efficiency and cost savings. They also wanted to reduce costs of purchasing laptops for external consultants, as well as the administration and costs of sending these out to remote locations. ?Another important area for this customer was to reduce their environmental footprint, by choosing solutions and processes that are sustainable in the long term.

Cost considerations played a significant role in the decision-making process, as is often the case when evaluating the feasibility of cloud migration. While many organizations perform cost calculations for on-premises VDIs, the accuracy of these assessments can be questionable, with hidden costs and assumptions skewing the results. Recognizing this challenge, the company emphasized the importance of collaboration and transparency in cost estimation, working closely with experts to obtain accurate data and make well informed decisions.

The journey towards modernization is not without its challenges, but the rewards are significant. By embracing cloud-based solutions and streamlining service delivery, manufacturing companies can enhance agility, reduce operational costs, and position themselves for future growth. As our experience with the workshop at the MTC exemplifies, success lies in the willingness to break free from conventional norms, collaborate with experts, and embrace innovation at every turn.

In conclusion, the transition from on-premises IT services to modernized delivery models is not merely a technological upgrade but a strategic imperative for manufacturing companies seeking to thrive in a digital-first world. By embracing simplicity, efficiency, and collaboration, businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and competitiveness in an ever-evolving landscape.

At Nerdio, we have helped many customers with this journey. Together with our partners, we have sat down and listened to the wishes and thoughts customers have had and, in collaboration, helped them find a cost-effective solution with opportunities for innovation, thereby reducing the risk of moving to the cloud. To better understand where Nerdio can help you, take a few minutes to read some of our customer stories, where our customers themselves talk about their journey.

Read about UCB Pharma's journey together with Nerdio and our partner OB-V-US. Or read about how many of our other customers came to the decision that Nerdio together with Microsoft is a very powerful and valuable combination, you can find them here.

What do you see as challenges in running things locally versus moving to the cloud? Are there other and bigger challenges that you see in moving things out into the cloud? Can you be as innovative without major modernization? Feel free to comment your opinions.

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