Manufacturing businesses in Langley and the Fraser Valley have unique IT needs: ERP systems, production-floor connectivity, OT/IT segmentation, and ruggedized hardware in environments that office IT was never designed for. So when small manufacturers consider moving to the cloud, the decision is more nuanced than for a typical office business.
Here’s a realistic, step-by-step guide to cloud migration for a small manufacturer — what to move, what to leave on-premise, and how to phase the transition.
What you can (and should) move to the cloud
- Email and collaboration: Microsoft 365 (almost always the right choice for manufacturing because of integration with industry software).
- File storage: SharePoint or OneDrive for office documents; specialized engineering data may need different solutions.
- Office productivity: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams — all cloud-based.
- Backup of critical data: Daily backup to Azure or AWS for ransomware protection and disaster recovery.
- Communication systems: Cloud-based VoIP phones (3CX, RingCentral, Microsoft Teams Phone) replacing on-premise PBX.
What stays on-premise (or hybrid)
- ERP system: If you’re running Sage 100 or 300, Microsoft Dynamics on-prem, or another non-cloud ERP, the migration to cloud-native ERP (NetSuite, Dynamics 365, Acumatica) is a major project — a 6-12 month initiative on its own.
- Production-floor systems: PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and the OT network supporting your shop floor stay on-premise. These should be physically and logically segmented from your IT network.
- CAD/CAM and engineering data: Large engineering files often perform poorly over cloud storage; specialized PDM systems (PTC Windchill, SolidWorks PDM) typically remain on-premise or in a private cloud.
- Legacy equipment software: Software that controls older production equipment often can’t be virtualized or moved.
The phased migration approach
Phase 1: Email + collaboration (1-2 weeks)
The lowest-risk, highest-value migration. Move from on-premise Exchange or another email provider to Microsoft 365. Deploy Teams for messaging and meetings.
Phase 2: File storage (2-4 weeks)
Move office documents from on-premise file servers to SharePoint and OneDrive. Engineering files may stay where they are. This is also when you set up proper access controls and document classification.
Phase 3: Backup (1 week)
Implement cloud-based backup for ERP, production data, and any remaining on-premise systems. Test the restore process before you depend on it.
Phase 4: Phone system (2-4 weeks)
Move from on-premise PBX to a cloud-based phone system. This is often the most disruptive phase and requires careful planning around extension migrations and call routing.
Phase 5: Network and security (4-8 weeks)
Implement OT/IT network segmentation, deploy modern endpoint security, set up MFA across all systems, and document the network architecture.
Phase 6 (optional): ERP migration
If your business case supports it, evaluate migrating to a cloud-native ERP. This is a major project — do not bundle it with Phases 1-5.
Common pitfalls
- Trying to do everything at once. Phased migration is slower but dramatically reduces risk.
- Not budgeting for change management. Your shop-floor staff and engineers need training. Plan for it.
- Underestimating bandwidth needs. Cloud-everything means more dependence on your internet connection. Verify your ISP can deliver business-grade reliability.
- Forgetting about offline operation. If your internet goes down, can you still ship? Plan for outages.
Realistic timeline and budget
For a 30-person small manufacturer, expect:
- Total timeline: 4-6 months for Phases 1-5
- Migration project cost: $8,000-$20,000 in professional services
- Ongoing cloud costs: increase from on-premise by ~30-50% initially, but offset by reduced server/storage hardware refresh costs over time
If you’d like a specific cloud migration plan for your manufacturing business, we offer a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll review your current setup, identify what should and shouldn’t move to the cloud, and give you a phased plan.
