The Kitchen 

This global food manufacturer builds brands that show up in kitchens and stores around the world. In 2023, it spun off from its former parent as a fully independent business, inheriting a long list of ambitions and an even longer list of legacy technology in the process. IT leadership wanted the freedom to move faster, experiment more, and build a menu of its own, without hauling every old habit into the new kitchen. 

The Rush 

The technology behind that independence had to run at scale, no matter how bad the rush got. 

Data Platforms On-Premises. Data platforms, data lakes, and analytics capabilities had to move off premises and into the cloud. 

Legacy Operations Tooling. IT operations management tools needed to be re-platformed onto SaaS-based solutions as well. 

Aging Virtualization and Edge Infrastructure. VMware environments needed to modernize, along with an evaluation of cloud-native options for infrastructure at the edge. 

Cloud First Networking. Given such a tall order, the client saw potential in moving to AWS to improve global networking. First, though, it had to make it easier to securely move workloads across AWS Regions and on-premises environments. 

With more than a decade of AWS experience, the manufacturer saw it as the right fit for its modernization efforts. But to cook up that solution would take a sous-chef that could help it run its technology at a pace that worked for its business, without having to do the tedious prep every single time something changed. A mise en place approach, if you will. 

The Missing Ingredient 

This engagement aligned with three areas of AHEAD’s expertise. 

• Platform & Workload Modernization: Migrating data platforms and re-platforming IT operations tools onto AWS and SaaS-based solutions.
• Secure & Resilient Architecture: Building governance, disaster recovery, and high-availability practices into the new environment.
• Operational Excellence: Establishing FinOps discipline, training internal teams, and modernizing networking to support day-to-day operations. 

The work unfolded across three phases. 

Advise 

The manufacturer brought its AWS experience to the table, while AHEAD brought its modernization capabilities. Together they combined their respective expertise to create a roadmap that was grounded in the client’s operating environment and business goals. 

Why the Groundwork Mattered: The manufacturer had a single recipe for data platforms, IT operations tooling, and edge infrastructure. 

Build 

AHEAD and the manufacturer then began migrating data platforms, including data lakes and analytics, from on-premises environments to AWS. They also re-platformed IT operations management tools to SaaS-based solutions running on AWS, trimming down the client’s legacy infrastructure. AHEAD also helped to modernize VMware-dependent environments by adopting cloud-native services such as AWS Outposts where they fit the client’s needs. 

AWS security best practices were folded into the new operating model through governance frameworks and resilient disaster recovery. FinOps practices added visibility and discipline to cloud spending. And the client’s IT staff were fully trained on AWS cloud operations. Because a new kitchen only works if the people working it know where everything lives. 

Finally, AHEAD modernized the company’s global networking with a software-defined model built on the AWS backbone. This improved connectivity and traffic management and made it easier to move workloads. 

How It Came to Life: Cloud ambition was turned into a prep list for how to improve the network as data platforms were migrated, tooling was re-platformed, and infrastructure was modernized. 

Run 

The company can now launch new initiatives, provision resources on demand, and scale infrastructure up or down as demand shifts. 

How It Kept Delivering: The manufacturer could run its technology in a way that kept pace with business, without IT teams starting from scratch every time. 

Order Up 

The company now has a leaner, more capable way to run its technology. 

Better Efficiency. Teams can keep new tools running while FinOps keeps a close eye on the budget. 

Less Legacy to Carry. Retiring legacy systems and shifting toward cloud-native services reduced technical debt and vendor lock-in. 

A Sharper Operating Model. Teams have a stronger approach to resilience and security, along with more flexibility to support workloads across AWS and on-premises environments. 

“AHEAD has been an invaluable partner in our cloud transformation, helping us leverage the full potential of AWS to drive our business forward.” 

— IT Leadership, Global Food Manufacturer 

What’s Next 

The scalable AWS environment means the manufacturer can continue advancing cloud-native development and modernizing additional workloads. Don’t move technology for the sake of moving it; define the strategy first, so the move makes business more capable and flexible. AHEAD helps clients continue their cloud journeys with stronger platforms and operating models, plus the room to innovate.