Developing a cloud migration strategy is an important undertaking. For companies that have long-relied on enterprise solutions such as JD Edwards, a transition to Oracle Cloud Applications makes a lot of sense—and cents. According to a new report by Nucleus Research, cloud technology deployments provide more than four times the ROI of on-premise solutions.

The study also shows that companies see results much faster. After reviewing 101 case studies, Nucleus determined that organizations recovered the cost of their initial investment 2.5 times more quickly with cloud applications than with on-premise technology. From reducing TCO costs to eliminating information silos to automating manual tasks, the benefits of the cloud abound.

And according to our latest ebook, Is JDE to Oracle Cloud Applications Your Next Logical Upgrade? preparing your organization for the transition is essential to success. Answer these critical questions before you embark on your digital transformation journey—and you’ll get to your end goal faster of being on the cloud that much sooner.

1. What is your executive vision?

Transitioning to the cloud is far more than an IT project. It’s a transformational event that will impact every aspect of the business, increasing competitiveness, efficiency, and even profitability. For these reasons, executive leadership must understand the drivers behind the migration and contribute to a cloud migration strategy that addresses the entire organization.

2. Are you ready for a transition to Oracle Cloud Applications?

There’s a lot that goes into planning for a move to Oracle Cloud Applications. Whether you’re starting small with a few applications or doing a wholesale transition of all your systems, planning on the front end can eliminate headaches during the process. Understanding your business objectives is an excellent place to start. Partner with an experienced implementor such as Argano to develop an implementation roadmap and execution plan. That way, when it comes time to implement, you’re ready.

3. What is the impact on your people?

Consider how cloud applications may automate tasks and reduce the manual workload for specific roles or departments. The time savings may open up opportunities for higher-level activities. Also, evaluate what the change means for people early on—what training do the new systems require? Does the shift impact one team more than others? Do people have concerns that you can address early on? Ask questions and gather feedback early, and you’ll garner more support from the people who will use the software.

4. Where are the greatest opportunities for improvement?

A key component of cloud readiness is understanding how your organization uses technology now and what the current processes and workflow entail. Look for areas that could benefit from increased visibility, such as in your finance or supply chain functions. Also, examine processes that could be accelerated, tasks that would benefit from improved data accuracy, or complexities that you could eliminate with a cloud-based solution.

5. What is the business value of a cloud migration?

As noted, your cloud migration planning should begin with business objectives—and connect the functionality of your future cloud suite to those objectives. To build a business case for the transition, determine how any potential improvements translate into business value. For example, the transition may accelerate the financial close process by multiple days or automate AP and AR functions to ultimately improve your cash position. In other instances, time saved may reduce the need for additional headcount, or reduced IT support may save a significant amount of IT expenses.

6. What resources and budget will the cloud migration require?

From pre-implementation planning through design and launch, you’ll want to know what resources your cloud transition will demand. The technology costs are one component — and many times, the ultimate TCO may even decrease with a move to the cloud. Consider the human capital required for a smooth transition, including partnerships with implementation consultants, employee training, and managed services you want post-launch.

7. What does success look like when moving to the cloud?

As the saying goes, begin with the end in mind. Establish KPIs early so that you can track your progress toward your end goal—and course-correct early in the process if anything comes up. Importantly, garner buy-in on the success vision from key stakeholders across the organization and provide them with ways to evaluate progress as well.

The case for migrating to the cloud is growing stronger every day. Prepare your organization for this game-changing move, and you’ll tee up a smooth cloud migration that yields exponential returns.

Discover why the cloud should be your next move. Download our eBook today!