Mastering cloud migration: Empowering stakeholders and workforce for success

Running a business has never been easy and the pandemic made it even more difficult. To continue operating in a world where many office-based workers were mandated to stay at home, businesses had to shift operations to the cloud. With the flexibility offered by hybrid and remote working being embraced by employees and even being seen as a benefit that attracts new talent, many businesses are looking to stick with it.

According to Daemon’s Digital Transformation report, 94% of businesses have accelerated their digital transformation efforts in the past two years. Cloud migration is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must for businesses that want to stay ahead of the competition. By migrating to the cloud, companies can gain access to new capabilities, improve their agility, and reduce their costs.

Embarking on a cloud journey is an exciting one, but some processes can appear overwhelming. Moving data and applications from physical data centres to the cloud presents various challenges, ranging from planning pitfalls to technical complexities.

It’s essential for organisations to prioritise stakeholders and have an open and transparent relationship with them across the whole cloud journey. By doing so, stakeholders will trust the process, even if challenges come their way.

Don’t let misalignment sink the cloud migration

Stakeholder alignment plays a pivotal role in driving the success of any cloud migration endeavour, as highlighted by the findings of the Digital Transformation report. This report emphasises that human factors, particularly the misalignment of key stakeholders, are often the primary reasons behind the failure of digital transformation projects.

To overcome these challenges, organisations need to move away from individual decision-making within senior management silos and instead foster a culture of collaboration and shared vision. Establishing a collective "North Star" allows stakeholders to come together, align their objectives, and set a clear direction for the cloud migration journey. This shared vision acts as a guiding light, ensuring that all stakeholders are working towards a common goal and are aware of the benefits and outcomes expected from the migration.

While navigating the cloud migration process, companies should acknowledge that mistakes and setbacks can occur. However, it is crucial to celebrate successes as a unified team, recognising the achievements and milestones reached along the way. This collective recognition reinforces a positive and collaborative atmosphere, encouraging continued commitment and motivation among stakeholders.

Effective communication plays a vital role in maintaining stakeholder alignment throughout the migration process. Transparent and frequent communication channels should be established to keep stakeholders informed about the progress, challenges, and

decisions made during the journey. By providing regular updates and addressing any concerns or questions, organisations can foster trust, transparency, and engagement among stakeholders.

Empowering the workforce

Communication with staff is equally as important as it is with stakeholders. Staff are the backbone of any cloud migration process and must be a top priority in every journey.

Just like a professional athlete needs to train and practice regularly to perform at their best, employees need to be trained and supported to be successful in the cloud. Without it, they may resist change, waste resources, and struggle to adapt to the new environment.

By implementing comprehensive training and enablement initiatives, organisations can empower their workforce with the essential skills and knowledge needed to navigate the new cloud environment. This empowers employees to embrace change, effectively utilise cloud services, optimise workflows, drive productivity, and foster innovation. With their newfound expertise, employees become adept at navigating the currents of the cloud, propelling the organisation to new levels of success.

A well-designed training programme equips employees with the confidence and competence to embrace change. It helps them understand the value and benefits of the cloud, dispelling any apprehensions or misconceptions. Employees who receive proper training are more likely to become advocates for the cloud, encouraging others to embrace the new technology and contributing to a positive cultural shift.

Planning for cloud success

After establishing transparent relationships with stakeholders and equipping staff to handle the cloud journey, it's time for business leaders to take action and invest time and effort in implementing an effective cloud solution.

Rather than arriving with a readymade solution, it’s imperative to get to know the business and then create a solution to match – often referred to as design thinking.

This methodology provides a structured approach to unlocking innovation. Through understanding the human needs involved, this approach uses two layers, the five-step process and the three ‘lenses’ to find the true value in the solutions to implement.

A design thinking approach, combined with undertaking a Migration Readiness Assessment (MRA) is the perfect way to plan for cloud success.

An MRA enables organisations to gain insights into their progress in the cloud journey, assess their current level of cloud readiness, and formulate an action plan to bridge identified gaps. This assessment acts as a thorough examination, encompassing aspects like security, governance, and identification of any weak areas requiring strengthening.

By undertaking careful planning, investing in upskilling efforts, and fostering alignment with stakeholders, companies can successfully navigate through the complexities of cloud migration and eliminate any uncertainty surrounding the process. The cloud is no longer merely seen as a destination; rather, it has emerged as a powerful catalyst that propels organisations towards future success in the dynamic digital age.