Cloud Cost Mitigation

The Customer

A global leader in alcoholic beverage sales

The Project

Cloud Cost Mitigation

Overview

The project, named "Cloud Cost Mitigation," aimed to help the Customer reduce its cloud spending by migrating its database needs from MongoDB Atlas to Azure Cosmos.

The Challenge

The Customer was facing a significant challenge in managing its cloud costs. The company was spending a staggering $1.5 million per week on its database needs through MongoDB Atlas. As a globally distributed company, the Customer needed a solution that would not only reduce costs but also ensure minimal risk during the migration process.

The Solution

Improving was brought in as an expert in Azure Cosmos to assist the Customer with their cost-saving initiative. The team recommended migrating from MongoDB Atlas to Azure Cosmos using the Cosmos Mongo adapter, which would allow for a seamless transition. The focus was on achieving the cost reduction goal while ensuring stability and minimizing any potential disruptions to the Customer's operations.

To begin the project, Improving quickly familiarized themselves with the Customer's various systems, of which, one handled retail distribution for multiple mega brands. The team engaged with the Customer's architects and product lines to develop a comprehensive planning and testing strategy for the migration.

While the platform was already well-built, Improving made some additional recommendations to enhance its performance. However, the primary focus was on achieving the cost savings target in the initial phase of the project. The team emphasized the importance of claiming the win of cost reduction before diving into further performance optimization on the new platform.

The Business Benefits

The Cloud Cost Mitigation project resulted in significant business benefits for the Customer, including:

• Cost Reduction: By migrating from MongoDB Atlas to Azure Cosmos, the Customer was ableto reduce its weekly cloud spending from $1.5 million to $750,000, resulting in a substantial annual cost savings.

• Timeliness: The project was completed within a tight timeline, allowing the Customer to realize the cost savings quickly.

• Trust and Expertise: The Customer trusted Improving as an expert in Azure Cosmos, thanks to their previous successful collaboration with Microsoft. This trust relationship played a crucial role in the project's success.

Lessons Learned

The Cloud Cost Mitigation project highlighted the importance of monitoring cloud costs and making strategic decisions to achieve cost savings. It demonstrated that sometimes it is more beneficial to prioritize cost reduction over immediate performance optimization. The Customer's decision to focus on cost savings in the initial phase allowed them to claim a significant win while still leaving room for future performance improvements.

Why Improving?

Through the Cloud Cost Mitigation project, Improving successfully helped the Customer reduce its cloud spending by migrating from MongoDB Atlas to Azure Cosmos. This migration resulted in substantial cost savings, with the Customer reducing its weekly spending by half. The project's success was built on trust, expertise, and a strategic approach that prioritized cost reduction while leaving room for future performance optimization. The Customer's collaboration with Improving and Microsoft exemplifies the power of partnerships in driving successful software development projects.