Cloud migration for the supply chain and transportation sectors

For every door that closes, another tends to open.

No one would deny that the supply chain and transportation sectors have faced huge problems over the last few years. At times, it's felt like your best bet is simply to assume that your delivery will be overdue and adjust your plans accordingly.

It's been a perfect storm of pandemic restrictions, geopolitical conflict, port congestion and labour shortages. The pipes are fit to burst. Is there any hope for the coming years?

Well, we don't claim to be the supply chain Nostradamus. We leave crystal balls to luxury designers.

We do, however, believe there's one silver lining – one that, funnily enough, goes by the name of "the cloud".

What is the cloud?

Ask someone with a casual interest in tech and they're likely to tell you that the cloud is all about backing up files.

You come back from Magaluf with your phone's camera roll at capacity. So you back them up to the cloud. Now, you can access them from any device at any time. All you need is an internet connection and your login details.

So far, so good. But the cloud goes well beyond this basic function.

The cloud refers to any software, platform or infrastructure that's been virtualised. Yes, Dropbox is the cloud – but so too are Gmail, Netflix and other everyday platforms.

This means that when we talk about the cloud in an industrial setting, we're talking about mission-critical software and platforms being put online.

Generally speaking, data and software used to run off in-house data centres. Today, they're mostly run off data centres provided by major cloud providers like Amazon, Google and IBM. Those companies provide the resources – you access your software and data.

The cost-effectiveness, scalability and flexibility of the cloud are much-vaunted – and with good reason. But how can they help the supply chain and transportation sectors in particular?

How can the cloud help the supply chain and transportation sectors?

If you work in the supply chain or transportation sector, you'll know that more than vehicles and warehouses are involved.

These sectors rely on systems. Complex, sprawling, global systems. Systems that let you manage data, monitor shipments, oversee fleets and more.

When systems and processes cover such a range, the need for clarity and integration is more important than ever. Too often, your right hand doesn't know what your left is doing – but unlike in other sectors, your right hand's in Portsmouth and your left's in Singapore.

By moving operations to the cloud, both managers and end users can oversee these systems with far greater ease.

Systems become more adaptable – and, crucially, more scalable. If your logistics firm takes on new customers, you can quickly scale up your resources to accommodate them.

This is a godsend in times of uncertainty. It's like running a pizzeria and buying just enough dough for the evening ahead – not a gram more or less.

This scalability cuts costs. But the savings don't end there.

If you have your data centre onsite, you're responsible for maintaining it. By moving to the cloud, you're letting someone else do the dirty work so you can focus on the operations themselves.

It's the difference between getting your electricity supplied by Bord Gáis and installing a generator in your garden. Hobbyists will love the latter – but for the majority of people, choosing option one is a no-brainer.

Additional benefits of cloud migration

The supply chain never sleeps – and neither does the cloud. This means that cloud migration can increase your service levels and reduce disruption to pretty much zero.

There are two main reasons for this. The first is that cloud solutions tend to be super-secure. You're running your operations off infrastructure owned by global players with vast resources. The chances of a security breach – and the resultant disruption – are slim.

The same goes for downtime in general. If you have your own data centre onsite, any problem is going to cause downtime. While the technician is busy getting things back to normal, you're just twiddling your thumbs.

This isn't the case with the cloud. Providers like AWS have enough resources to ensure that disruption is a matter of seconds, not days.

In an industry where uptime is vital, this benefit speaks for itself.

Finally, the supply chain and transportation sectors run on data. Increasingly, cloud solutions provide artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) services that carry out complex data analysis without you lifting a finger.

What you do with that data requires the human touch. But if you need quick, actionable insights, the cloud is your friend.

What should a cloud strategy include?

Before you migrate to the cloud, you need a plan. The alternative is to turn up at the airport without your passport, so to speak.

This plan takes time to put together. It needs to provide a comprehensive audit of:

Your current resources
What you're migrating
What's being left behind
What the time frame is
How the process will align with your business goals

This last point is crucial. If your cloud migration project doesn't further your goals, you're putting money in the shredder and then wondering where it's gone.

None of this is easy. That's why a reputable cloud consultant can make all the difference.

How a cloud consultant can help

Cloud computing isn't common knowledge. Even if you have an IT team bursting with bright sparks, you might not have the expertise needed to plan and execute a cloud migration plan that works for you.

By contrast, getting an experienced cloud consultant with a proven track record of success means you hand them the technical reins and get on with the rest of your to-do list. It ups your chances of getting a cloud-based solution that works for you and helps you grow.

Are you looking for a cloud migration partner? At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we've managed more than 400 migrations and counting. Get in touchtoday for a no-obligation consultation.