November 19, 2024 • 3 min read

Cloud Migration and DevOps Support for a B2B Platform

by Artelogic
Year: 2020
Industry: eCommerce
Region: USA
Status: Ongoing

Client: Crik-IT

End Users: Sales reps

Project Overview

Crik-IT, a major CRM platform for manufacturers and wholesale distributors subscribed to by numerous businesses, had encountered significant operational challenges affecting customer satisfaction. This B2B web application provides sales representatives and customers with vital information on warranty claims, order processing, sales reporting, and customer communications.

The platform required a robust solution to improve reliability and scalability to support its growing user base and ensure a seamless experience. Artelogic’s DevOps team was engaged in handling the comprehensive migration to cloud infrastructure and providing ongoing DevOps support to maintain top-tier performance.

Challenge

Before Artelogic’s involvement, the CRM platform was running on an on-premise infrastructure, leading to multiple critical issues:

  • Frequent Downtime: Downtime instances were common, affecting the end-user experience and reducing the platform’s reliability.
  • Performance Constraints: The existing infrastructure could not effectively support the platform’s operational load, causing slow performance, which was highly noticeable during peak usage.
  • Client Dissatisfaction: The impact of performance issues directly correlated with lower client satisfaction, as distributors and manufacturers relied on the platform for crucial business functions.

The DevOps team faced a significant challenge in rapidly migrating to the cloud. The tight timeline necessitated efficient planning and coordination to ensure a smooth transition without disrupting business operations. Moreover, a comprehensive set of services had to be migrated, requiring meticulous management of dependencies, data integrity, and application configurations.

I’m satisfied, and people love the work that we deliver through Artelogic. I’m impressed with their quality, as well as Artelogic’s honesty and brilliance, honestly. They’re very bright.
Stephanie Allemann, President

Solution

Artelogic’s DevOps team identified Microsoft Azure as the optimal cloud platform for migration due to its scalability, reliability, and seamless integration with a wide range of services. The following steps were taken to ensure a smooth migration and a robust infrastructure setup:

  • Infrastructure Assessment and Planning: A thorough assessment of the existing on-premise infrastructure was conducted to identify dependencies, critical services, and potential bottlenecks. This laid the groundwork for a systematic migration strategy, prioritizing minimal end-user disruption.
  • Data and Application Migration to Azure: Utilizing Azure’s tools and services, Artelogic’s engineers transitioned the CRM platform’s data and core applications to the cloud, ensuring all processes ran smoothly. The DevOps team optimized data integrity checks and backup protocols to prevent data loss during migration.
  • Deployment of Azure’s Auto-Scaling and Monitoring Tools: To address scalability, the team implemented Azure’s auto-scaling strategy, allowing the CRM platform to dynamically scale up during peak times and down during low-demand periods. Azure’s monitoring tools were also configured to give real-time insights into system performance, enabling the team to address any emerging issues proactively.
  • Continuous Integration and Deployment Pipelines: The team introduced CI/CD pipelines, streamlining development and deployment workflows. This allowed rapid updates, patch releases, and feature deployments without disrupting the CRM’s ongoing operations.

Results

The migration to Microsoft Azure was completed successfully without significant issues, marking a seamless transition to a more reliable and flexible infrastructure. Key outcomes included:

  1. Improved System Performance: Post-migration, the CRM platform saw substantial performance improvement. Downtime that had previously plagued it was eliminated, and latency issues were significantly reduced.
  2. Enhanced Client Satisfaction: The platform’s improved stability raised user satisfaction sharply, with clients appreciating the smoother, more responsive experience.
  3. Scalability for Growth: The platform can now handle a growing client base and manage increased demand without risking performance degradation. Azure’s auto-scaling capabilities have enabled the platform to expand confidently, adjusting infrastructure resources based on real-time demand.
  4. Streamlined DevOps Support: Artelogic’s DevOps team continues to provide active support, ensuring the platform’s stability and enabling frequent updates through CI/CD pipelines.

By transitioning the CRM platform to Microsoft Azure, Artelogic delivered a scalable and resilient solution that not only addressed immediate performance challenges but also positioned the client to scale and innovate more effectively in the future.

#Cloud#devops

Don’t want to miss anything?

Subscribe to keep your fingers on the tech pulse. Get weekly updates on the newest stories, case studies and tips right in your mailbox.