Why Cloud?

If you're still running an on-premise system, it can feel like everything is going smoothly. Otherwise, you would have considered a change by now! But your business will continue to grow and change, even if your systems don't. So ask yourself how you can...

  • Keep up with the pace of change
  • Close gaps in your security as online threats increase
  • Support your IT infrastructure as employees change roles or leave the company
  • Improve business continuity in the event of hardware failures
  • Reduce costs
  • Continue to innovate your IT environment

...with your current legacy environment? Sure, you could cobble together a bunch of point systems that would kind of work. But ultimately that would just mean more expense, more integrations to maintain, and more implementations to deal with. No thanks. You could also do the really easy thing and just leave it for the next person! But is that really the legacy you want to leave your organization? No, we didn't think so. So if you know that you need to be able to adapt and grow, but you're really struggling with what to do next, we're here to help.

six Common cloud myths

MYTH #1: YOU CAN INVEST IN AN ON-PREM SOLUTION AND SIT ON IT

Younger companies are disrupting the market and starting with the best technology. In today's fast-paced environment, it is not practical to implement business applications that are rigid, difficult to upgrade, and then stick with them forever. 

 

MYTH #2: JOKE'S ON YOU! WE ALREADY HOST IN THE CLOUD

Sorry to break it to you but, simply hosting your current processes in 'the cloud' isn't digital transformation.* Simply running the same old technology on different servers outside your building is only scratching the surface. You can realize even better economies of scale and flexibility with less hassle (and less technical debt) by outsourcing not only the hardware, but also the software.

 

MYTH #3: THE INTERNET IS OPTIONAL

Most modern software architectures need the internet to connect to remote facilities, partners, and external data repositories. Global commerce and modern customer buying behaviors mean your software must have significant reliability on the internet, whether you like it or not. This does mean relinquishing some control, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. 


MYTH #4:  IF I CAN'T SEE IT, I CAN'T PROTECT IT

We get it. It is comforting to know that in the event something goes wrong, you can just go and check on your servers yourself. However, external attackers are getting more and more sophisticated at finding on-premise vulnerabilities. The idea that your internal IT team has the same skill set and up-to-date knowledge to combat the security threats of today as the entire security team at Microsoft is just...not realistic. Not to mention the physical risk of having an on-site server. What happens the next time there is a hurricane, earthquake, or someone with a backhoe cuts the wrong cord?

 

MYTH #5:  WE'RE FINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT DECADE

Some things get better with age. Cheese, fine wine, your favorite pair of jeans...but not technology. Well – at least most legacy technology. Unlike on-prem systems, cloud technology never gets stale. You never have to do a giant, expensive update and you're always on the latest and greatest. Our current clients have found getting almost instant access to new capabilities like AI-driven distributed order management (DOM)built-in eCommerce shopping cart platformmachine learning customer insights, and baked-in advanced business intelligence a breath of fresh air after years of having to patch on these capabilities with other solutions.

 

MYTH #6: I'M ABOUT TO HANG UP MY HAT AND RETIRE – THE NEXT PERSON CAN HANDLE IT

Ok – this isn't really a "myth." If you've been through an implementation before, the thought of doing another one could be like asking you to get all your teeth pulled. But is this really the legacy you want to leave behind? Your understanding of the business is second to none. Think of not only the technical knowledge you've picked up over the years, but also the inner workings of how business processes actually function (because we all know it's not quite as simple as what's on paper.) So, we ask you again: what legacy will you leave behind? A company that is ready for the next 10 years, or a company facing a major systems overhaul without the expertise of their knight in shining armor?

* Yes. We are very aware that "Digital Transformation" is a very big buzzword right now. And (again) yes, we wish there was something else to call it. But buzzword or not, it's what is going to take your organization to the next level. It's about finding innovative ways to change your company and the cloud is really the only way to jump start the process.   

THERE'S GOOD NEWS

Change is hard, and at this point, it may be that the more you hear about it, the more you feel like digging your heels in. But if you've got an open mind, we have some good news for you: you don't have to start by replacing your ERP — which is a lot to bite off. In fact, Microsoft offers several pathways to the cloud. From analytics and business intelligence for better reporting, to artificial intelligence to improve customer insights, we can help you start small, or go all in. It's a platform you can grow into, and grow with, for a lifetime. 

We're not going to sugar coat it — if you do decide to move to the cloud, it is still a big implementation, and it will probably be hard. But probably not nearly as hard or expensive as the last one you did. And once you're done, you can breathe a sigh of relief. This is the last of these huge business applications implementation projects you’ll ever have to go through! All of our customers who moved to Dynamics 365 are in a better place today, now that they are not facing multi-million dollar upgrade projects in the future. Rather than feeling prohibited from doing anything high tech, they are free to do anything new, now that they are free from their legacy technology investment. 

All the Pieces to Run Your Business...
And a Partner That Knows Your Industry

If your current business applications are reaching end of life, it may be time to stop patching together solutions before you end up with a real monster! The intelligent cloud has everything you need to move your business forward. And Sunrise is the Microsoft Partner of the Year focused on consumer brands, manufacturers, and retailers. From supply chain to retail, we can help you evolve!

Like many of our customers, you’ll be pleased with the results.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft's entire portfolio of cloud-based business applications makes it easy to connect what matters.
Sunrise solutions and industry experience make it happen to give your business systems a perfect fit.

READY TO GO FROM OUTDATED TO FABULOUS? INVITE US TO YOUR TEAM.

We know your industry. We know the Microsoft cloud and Dynamics 365. And we have the industry solutions that can accelerate project delivery and reduce customizations. Contact us or watch an on-demand demo to learn more.