Migrating away from VMware in the manufacturing space: Case Study

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, staying ahead of technological advancements while managing costs is crucial. For a large manufacturing company, escalating costs of VMware necessitated a shift to a more cost-effective infrastructure solution. This case study explores how IT Select provided comprehensive market analysis, vendor comparison, and seamless migration support, saving the company both time and money.

Background

The manufacturing company, deeply integrated with Microsoft technologies, faced substantial price increases from VMware. They needed an immediate and efficient solution to migrate their infrastructure to a more economical yet equally reliable platform. Enter IT Select, an agnostic IT consulting firm specializing in pre-vetting vendors and providing detailed assessments tailored to client needs.

Problem

The primary challenge was to migrate away from VMware without disrupting the manufacturing processes, while ensuring compatibility with their existing Microsoft environment. The company required a thorough market analysis to identify a suitable private cloud provider that could meet their needs for features, pricing, and seamless integration with Microsoft products.

Solution Provided by IT Select

IT Select took on the task of conducting an exhaustive market analysis of the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) landscape. The goals were clear:

1. Identify a Suitable Private Cloud Provider: IT Select scoured the market to find providers that could offer similar or better functionalities than VMware at a lower cost.
2. Provide Comprehensive Comparisons: Detailed comparisons were made on features, pricing, and potential savings.
3. Ensure Microsoft Integration: Given the company’s reliance on Microsoft, compatibility and integration were paramount.
4. Act as an Extension of the Internal Team: IT Select collaborated closely with the company’s IT team, providing insights and challenging ideas to ensure the best solutions were implemented.

Implementation

IT Select’s approach included:

• Market Analysis: Analyzing the IaaS landscape to identify potential private cloud providers.
• Vendor Vetting: Pre-vetting multiple vendors to ensure they met the necessary criteria for features, pricing, and Microsoft integration.
• Detailed Comparison Reports: Providing the manufacturing company with exhaustive reports comparing different providers on all critical aspects.
• Collaborative Approach: Working hand-in-hand with the internal IT team to understand their specific needs and constraints, ensuring a tailored solution.
• Cost and Time Efficiency: Offering these services without any upfront costs, thus ensuring the company could allocate resources effectively without financial strain.

Outcome

The manufacturing company successfully migrated from VMware to a more cost-effective private cloud solution, chosen from a range of vetted options provided by IT Select. The benefits included:

• Significant Cost Savings: Reduced infrastructure costs by moving to a less expensive provider.
• Seamless Microsoft Integration: Ensured all systems worked harmoniously within the existing Microsoft framework.
• Time Efficiency: The internal IT team saved countless hours that would have been spent on market research and vendor comparison.
• Enhanced IT Strategy: IT Select’s collaborative and challenging approach led to the implementation of robust and efficient IT strategies.