Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - How Granite Construction is modernizing their Oracle ERP application (ENT221)

Summary

Granite Construction faced a data center eviction, prompting a migration of their JD Edwards ERP system to the cloud.
They chose AWS over Oracle Cloud Infrastructure due to better disaster recovery options, cost, and other factors.
A new instance of JD Edwards was set up in AWS, allowing parallel operation with the old system to minimize business impact.
The migration included an upgrade to JD Edwards release 23 and a shift to 64-bit architecture.
Vendor selection was based on RFP responses, with ERP Suites chosen for their expertise.
AWS Terraform was used to build the cloud infrastructure efficiently.
Performance optimization focused on database and enterprise server bottlenecks, with significant improvements post-migration.
Disaster recovery testing exceeded expectations, with RPO and RTO targets met and surpassed.
The project faced challenges with third-party vendor timelines and post-go-live issues but was overall successful and under budget.
The migration was completed with minimal downtime and received positive feedback from IT leadership.

The decision to set up a new cloud instance rather than migrating the existing environment allowed for a smoother transition and reduced business disruption.
The use of AWS Terraform for infrastructure setup demonstrates the power of infrastructure as code for rapid and consistent cloud provisioning.
The detailed analysis of storage and compute options on AWS, including IOPS and clock speed considerations, highlights the importance of understanding cloud resource characteristics for optimal performance.
The significant performance gains post-migration (81% average batch performance increase) indicate that cloud environments can offer substantial improvements over on-premises setups when properly optimized.
The successful disaster recovery testing underscores AWS's robust capabilities for business continuity planning.
The project's under-budget completion and positive feedback from leadership suggest that careful planning, vendor partnership, and clear communication are key factors in the success of large-scale IT migrations.
The challenges faced with third-party vendors and security hardening during the migration process serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in coordinating large IT projects and the need for flexibility in project timelines.