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When will it be too late to move your Finance (ERP) system to the Cloud?

Queues are building for cloud migration services as the post-pandemic penny drops for organisations in every sector. Adam Hamlington explains why you can’t afford to wait much longer to migrate your core systems.

It’s no big secret that the Covid pandemic has caused seismic digital shifts throughout the commercial, public service and non-profit sectors. Organisations in every industry have had to adapt to survive. Pressure has forced change at a faster pace than ever before in the adoption of mobile and digital technology. Even the most traditional company cultures have had to absorb home-based and flexible working practices.

There’s a loud and clear message that even as we emerge from the pandemic (in some parts of the world at least) we can’t just go back to our old ways. Customers and employees have become used to many more virtual experiences, using digital engagement and self-service. These are almost always enabled by agile Cloud technology.

Cloud enabled organisations to survive and even thrive through the Covid pandemic

Cloud technology is the reason why so many organisations were able to adapt to the Covid landscape rapidly – from launching home delivery apps to supporting NHS track and trace registrations, from videoconferencing and interactive education to virtual sales tours.

Pre-Covid, this shift was beginning to happen. During Covid it gathered pace – and how! – throwing us all forward by several years in users’ adoption of innovative and digital practices. There’s no turning the clock back now that people’s expectations have been reset and they’ve seen what’s convenient, streamlined, cost-effective and possible.

Cloud has proved its worth – but many organisations have still not unlocked its full value

We’ve moved irretrievably into a cloud-based existence, according to the press and technology companies. But meanwhile, back in the real world, does that hold true? Every week, I talk to decision-makers in organisations that have made bold and tactical cloud-enabled changes, to adapt to the Covid situation, but have still not wholeheartedly embraced the idea of moving their core systems to the Cloud.

What’s stopping them? Many find that a difficult question to answer. It could be fear of a resource-intensive project, misconceptions about the cost or a sense that Cloud migration is complex and risky, when current on-premise systems are functional enough.

The penny has dropped and the race is now on

Here’s what’s changed in my conversations with clients. There’s a dawning realisation that Cloud is the future of all core technologies in most organisations. It’s becoming clear that on-premise systems are reaching the end of their supported lives, because of the way cloud has become entrenched as an enabler for adaptability and continuity in the pandemic. Tech giants like Microsoft are focused on cloud for business as usual.

This awakening is creating a new urgency, because proven cloud migration and transformation partners are in higher demand than ever. Lead times for projects are lengthening. The best providers are already finding it challenging to respond immediately. Hesitation could mean finding yourself at the back of the queue, or settling for a compromised approach to cloud migration. For example, your choice of consultants or partners could be limited, or you may have to accept a delay to your plans. This will have a knock-on effect on business performance, if competitors were quicker off the mark and able to take advantage of cloud capabilities to offer market-leading benefits and experiences to customers and employees.

Now’s the time to migrate core systems and realise proven benefits

Moving your core business and finance system to the cloud is a crucial first step. Once you’ve migrated these critical functions, you can integrate other systems and platforms that rely on their data. Right away, you’ll gain better visibility and control over vital management data, information and decisions and create cost-saving efficiencies in your essential finance administration activities.

Here’s a reminder of what a modern, cloud-based all-in-one business management system can do for your business in the post-Covid world:

The writing’s on the wall for on-premise systems

Today, the question isn’t “why move to the Cloud?”, it’s “why not move?”. I believe we’ve reached a tipping point, where the potential consequences of leaving it too late conclusively outweigh any cautious concerns. Of course, going it alone is a daunting prospect, but with an empathetic and experienced Cloud migration partner on your side, there’s little to fear. Moving core ERP systems to cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics Business Central typically saves money and increases efficiency, agility, resilience and service quality for our customers. Why not find out how we could help you make the same smooth and advantageous transition to the cloud?

Get in touch with Xpedition’s experienced team for a no-obligation discussion about moving your business and finance system into the cloud with minimum disruption and maximum benefit.

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