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replatforming verstehen: Was ist it und wie funktioniert it ?

Geschrieben von
Carla Hetherington
Veröffentlicht am
31. Mai 2024
Aktualisiert am
24. September 2024

What can you do when your existing software architecture is oudated and cannot accommodate your evolving needs? The answer is simple: replatform. Replatforming is a key aspect of digital transformation that involves upgrading digital infrastructure such as applications, servers, databases, or websites from its existing infrastructure to a new, cloud-based platform. The goal of replatforming is to enhance performance, agility, security, and scalability while reducing operational costs. Keep on reading to delve into what replatforming is, how it works, its relevance in cloud migration, when it should be considered, and the potential risks involved.

What is replatforming?

Replatforming is the process of migrating an application or system from one platform to another with minimal changes to the codebase. Unlike a complete overhaul or rebuilding from scratch, replatforming focuses on moving the existing code to a new infrastructure and reshaping it while retaining the bulk of the structure and without altering the core functionality or features of an application. The goal of replatforming is to enable the adoption of new platform features, improved performance, and enhanced scalability.  

How does replatforming work?

Replatforming involves several critical steps to ensure a smooth transition. The replatforming process begins with assessment and planning, where the current system is evaluated, the need for replatforming is identified, and a new platform is chosen. This is followed by architecture design, which involves designing the new architecture while considering the features and limitations of the selected platform. Next, code modification is undertaken to ensure the application's compatibility with the new platform. Data migration then takes place, transferring existing data to the new platform while maintaining data integrity and security. Thorough testing is conducted to ensure the application functions correctly on the new platform. Finally, the application is deployed on the new platform, and its performance is monitored to ensure everything runs smoothly.

What are the different types of replatforming?

1. Lift and shift replatforming: This approach involves moving applications and workloads from one environment to another without significant modifications. It is often used to migrate applications to the cloud and it is a quick and cost-effective solution for legacy systems needing immediate modernization.

2. Containerization: Containerization involves encapsulating applications and their dependencies into containers, which can be deployed consistently across various environments. This method is commonly used for cloud migrations and microservices architectures since it improves resource utilization and isolation and facilitates continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD).

3. Refactoring: Beim Refactoring wird die bestehende Codebasis modifiziert, um die Leistung, Skalierbarkeit und Wartbarkeit zu optimieren, ohne das externe Verhalten zu ändern. Dies wird häufig durchgeführt, um die Vorteile der Cloud-nativen Funktionen voll auszuschöpfen, Anwendungen für die neue Plattform zu optimieren und die langfristige Wartbarkeit und Leistung zu verbessern.

4. Re-architecting: This approach involves redesigning the application architecture to better align with the new platform’s capabilities and business goals. It is often used for significant technological shifts, such as moving from monolithic to microservices architectures.

5. Rebuilding: Rebuilding entails developing the application from scratch on the new platform. This approach is suitable when the existing application is outdated or inefficient, enabling complete control over the new architecture and features and eliminating legacy system constraints.

Is replatforming exclusive to e-commerce?

No, replatforming is not exclusive to e-commerce; it occurs across various industries and sectors. In the context of e-commerce, it involves migrating an online store from one platform to another to improve performance, scalability, user experience, or to incorporate new features. This complex process includes data migration, redesigning the user interface, and ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.

A real-life example is the replatforming of the British luxury fashion retailer, Burberry. In 2016, Burberry transitioned from its legacy system to Salesforce Commerce Cloud. This move aimed to enhance their digital presence, improve site performance, and offer personalized customer experiences. The transition involved meticulous planning and execution, including data transfer of product information, customer details, and order histories. The replatforming resulted in a more agile and responsive e-commerce site, significantly improving customer engagement and online sales.

What industries does replatforming play a role in?

Besides in e-commerce, replatforming can happen across several industries, for example:

Finanzindustrie: Die Banken könnten ihre Kernbankensysteme auf modernere und flexiblere Plattformen umstellen, um die Geschwindigkeit der Transaktionsverarbeitung zu erhöhen und neue digitale Dienste zu integrieren.

Gesundheitswesen: Krankenhäuser und Kliniken haben ihre elektronischen Patientenakten (EHR) zunehmend umgestaltet, um neue Vorschriften zu erfüllen oder die Interoperabilität mit anderen Gesundheitsdienstleistern zu verbessern.

Medien- und Unterhaltungsindustrie: Unternehmen könnten ihre Content-Management-Systeme umstellen, um die Verteilung und das Streaming digitaler Inhalte effizienter zu gestalten.

A notable example outside e-commerce is Netflix, which replatformed its infrastructure to Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the early 2010s. This move allowed Netflix to scale its streaming service globally, improve uptime, and better manage the vast amount of data generated by its users. The replatforming process involved migrating massive amounts of data and re-architecting applications to be cloud-native, ensuring that Netflix could deliver high-quality streaming experiences to millions of users worldwide.

What does replatforming have to do with cloud migration?

Replatforming is a cloud migration strategy that entails the modification of a legacy system to work efficiently in the cloud. As such, replatforming often involves moving applications from on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based platforms, although it is also possible with already rehosted apps and workloads. Cloud migration involves transferring data, applications, and other business elements to a cloud environment, while replatforming specifically refers to adjusting and optimizing the application for the new cloud platform.

When should you consider replatforming?

Replatforming should be considered under several circumstances:

  • Veraltete Infrastruktur: Wenn Ihre aktuelle Plattform veraltet ist und den Anforderungen moderner Anwendungen nicht mehr gerecht wird.
  • Leistungsprobleme: Wenn Ihre Anwendung Leistungsengpässe aufweist, die mit der vorhandenen Plattform nicht behoben werden können.
  • Skalierbarkeitsbeschränkungen: Wenn Ihre aktuelle Plattform nicht effektiv skaliert werden kann, um das Unternehmenswachstum zu unterstützen.
  • Kostensenkung: Durch den Wechsel zu einer neuen Plattform können die Betriebs- und Wartungskosten erheblich gesenkt werden.
  • Compliance-Anforderungen: Wenn gesetzliche Vorschriften oder Compliance-Anforderungen eine Änderung der Infrastruktur erfordern.

What are the risks of replatforming and how to overcome them?

While replatforming offers numerous benefits, it also comes with potential risks that need to be managed. For example, ensuring that the application works seamlessly on the new platform can be challenging due to compatibility issues. Additionally, there is a risk of data loss during migration if not handled carefully, and the transition process may lead to downtime, affecting business operations. Unexpected issues during replatforming can also result in cost overruns. Furthermore, new platforms may introduce unknown security vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.

These risks, however, can be mitigated by having a robust integration solution in place that supports scalability and real-time data processing, maintaining performance and responsiveness during and after the replatforming process.

Find out how the Alumio iPaaS simplifies replatforming here →

Schlussfolgerung

Replatforming is a strategic move for businesses looking to leverage modern platforms for improved performance, scalability, and cost efficiency. By understanding the process, recognizing when it’s needed, and being aware of the associated risks, businesses can make informed decisions to successfully transition their applications and systems to new, more capable platforms. Many businesses are increasingly embracing replatforming to stay ahead in the competitive digital landscape and ensure their technological infrastructure is aligned with your business goals; Don’t lag behind!

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Portrait von Leonie Becher Merli , Vertreter für Geschäftsentwicklung, Alumio , zeigen Sie mit beiden Händen nach rechts – innerhalb eines weißen, kreisförmigen Hintergrunds.

Holen Sie sich ein kostenloses demo der Alumio Plattform

um die Vorteile der Geschäftsautomatisierung zu erleben!