Cloud update, upgrade or migration? - What are the differences?

The terms update, upgrade and migration are often confused - let's clarify:

Update

  • An update is an update within a minor release (e.g. from version 6.0 to 6.1).
  • It brings minor improvements and bug fixes - the technical intervention is usually manageable.

Upgrade

  • An upgrade means switching to a new major release of the same software (e.g. from version 6 to 7).
  • It involves significant functional innovations and is more complex than an update.

Migration

  • A migration is a complete switch to another platform (e.g. from Magento to Intershop or from on-premise to cloud). It usually involves a reorganization of the architecture, a new data structure and requires the adaptation or new development of custom code.

In practice, the boundaries become blurred - which is why we combine upgrade and migration under the term migration in order to address the full scope of your challenge holistically.

 

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From on-prem to the cloud

 

The decision to migrate existing on-premise systems to the cloud is often the first step towards a more flexible and scalable IT infrastructure. Cloud migration offers numerous benefits, including improved accessibility, flexibility in resource utilization, improved data security and potential cost savings by reducing the need to maintain physical servers and hardware.

However, before moving to the cloud, it is important to carry out careful planning and preparation. Companies should carry out cloud readiness checks to ensure their systems, processes and teams are ready for the transition. This includes assessing the existing IT landscape, understanding the data and applications to be migrated and identifying potential challenges. Let us support you!

[Translate to Englisch:] Cloud Migrationen
[Translate to Englisch:] Whitepaper Cover SAP Commerce Cloud Migration

Whitepaper: SAP Commerce Cloud Migration. From on-premise to the cloud - a step-by-step guide

The decision to migrate existing on-premise systems to the cloud is often the first step towards a more flexible and scalable IT infrastructure. Before moving to the cloud, however, it is important to carry out careful planning and preparation. An experienced implementation partner not only ensures short-term cost savings in this process, but also offers many long-term benefits. With our step-by-step guide, you have everything you need to successfully carry out your own SAP cloud migration.

 

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Your customized migration strategies - three ways to reach your goal

Every company, every system and every target platform is different. That's why we offer three differentiated migration strategies - with clear decision criteria:

1. Technical Migration

✅ Fast implementation
✅ Minimal changes to the code
✅ Low project costs

The focus is on updating technical components - without changing the business processes. Ideal if there are many customer-specific adaptations that need to be retained.

[Translate to Englisch:] Cloud Migration Entwickler im Büro

2. Functional Migration

⚖️ Balance of preservation & renewal
✅ Use of new functions
✅ Moderate project duration

Each function block is analyzed to determine what should be adopted, adapted or replaced. This allows new features of the target platform to be used without having to develop everything from scratch.

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3. Greenfield Migration

🚀 New development on a greenfield site
✅ Future-proof architecture
✅ Highest performance & flexibility

Perfect if the legacy system no longer meets today's business requirements. Processes, architecture and system are completely rethought and implemented.

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[Translate to Englisch:] Intershop Commerce Cloud Migration WP Cover

Whitepaper: Intershop Commerce Cloud Migration

Discover in our whitepaper how to successfully migrate your Intershop On-Premise platform to the Intershop Commerce Cloud. We present strategies, best practices, and common pitfalls – clearly structured and hands-on for IT decision-makers and eCommerce leaders.

 

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Successful cloud migrations - a look into our practice

From SMEs to international retail groups - numerous companies rely on our expertise for their cloud migration. Whether replatforming, system consolidation or a greenfield approach: our references show how we efficiently migrate complex eCommerce landscapes to modern cloud architectures - quickly, scalably and future-proof.

[Translate to Englisch:] KION Group Logo

KION Group: Migration to SAP Commerce Cloud

As part of the project, all system environments were systematically migrated to the cloud - including database migration, media handling via Azure Blob Storage and adaptation of the build and deployment processes. Thanks to the structured migration approach, extensive cloud readiness checks and close collaboration with SAP, the transition was secure, efficient and without interrupting business operations. KION now benefits from a scalable, low-maintenance cloud infrastructure with greater flexibility and improved performance. To keep everything together in the cloud, the project team relies on a Kubernetes cluster.

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fischerwerke: Migration and operation in the Smart Commerce Cloud

SAP Commerce can be operated as an on-premise system or alternatively in the cloud. Smart Commerce migrated the SAP Commerce on-premise installation to the SAP Commerce Cloud for fischerwerke. The SAP Commerce Cloud offers fischer a secure and standardized operating environment and enables peak loads to be handled automatically.

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FÖRCH: SAP Cloud Migration

During the SAP Commerce Cloud implementation at FÖRCH, Smart Commerce completely migrated the master and transaction data from the old web store and imported it via SAP technologies such as the PIM hot folder. More than eighty interfaces were established using SAP Cloud Integration to transfer business-critical data between SAP ERP S4, Cloud and other internal systems.

 

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PBS Logitek: Migration to the cloud to maintain update capability.

As part of the "Preserve Value, Optimize Update Capability" initiative, Smart Commerce supported PBS Logitek and its partner companies in preserving the update capability of their extensive installations of Intershop eCommerce solutions by means of a cloud migration. Smart Commerce ensured that updates did not become large, expensive undertakings, but remained manageable. To ensure efficient upgradeability for in-house developments based on the Intershop Commerce Suite, Smart Commerce migration rules were applied and the solution was successfully migrated.

 

[Translate to Englisch:] Success Story Cover fischer in der Smart Commerce Cloud

Success Story: Holistic operation of fischerwerke in the Smart Commerce Cloud.

The fischerwerke relaunch project in 2017 focussed on the findability of the product range, usability and value-adding functionality for users as well as the creation of a customised operating model. Since the go-live of the new platform in the Smart Commerce Cloud, the reliable infrastructure and efficient operating processes have been key success factors for fischerwerke. Find out more about the project and the ongoing collaboration in our success story!

 

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3 Cloud-Migrationphases

At Smart Commerce, we divide your migration project into three phases: 1. plan phase - 2. migration phase - 3. go-live phase

[Translate to Englisch:] Digital Consulting Experten am Laptop zeigen mit Finger darauf

1st planning phase - The foundation for a successful migration

The planning phase is the strategic prelude to every cloud migration - this is where the framework for the project's success is laid. Together with the customer, we analyze the existing system landscape, define the target architecture and select the appropriate migration strategy - whether technical, functional or greenfield. Workshops with our experienced consultants result in

  • a clear assessment of cloud readiness
  • An initial product backlog with all migration requirements
  • Realistic effort and cost estimates
  • A reliable project roadmap

The aim of the planning phase is to identify technical risks at an early stage, take optimum account of business processes and develop a transparent, feasible migration path - tailored to your business objectives.

2nd migration phase - Agile to the new system world

The actual implementation takes place in the migration phase - structured, iterative and transparent. The project is divided into two-week sprints in which sub-functions are developed, tested and gradually merged. By using the agile Scrum framework, you benefit from

  • High transparency through daily coordination (daily stand-ups)
  • Plannable implementation through clear sprint goals and regular reviews
  • Continuous improvement through retrospectives and backlog optimization

Each sprint delivers a functional system increment - in other words: ongoing, verifiable results instead of a long standstill.

[Translate to Englisch:] Digital Consulting Experten lachend am PC
[Translate to Englisch:] Digital Consulting Experten geben sich ein High Five

3. go-live - smoothly into productive operation

The transition to the new system is controlled and structured. In the go-live phase, we bundle all prepared measures:

  • Data migration with tested and automated processes
  • End-to-end tests to test business processes realistically
  • User training to get your teams up and running immediately
  • System acceptance for final quality and functional testing
  • Go-live with clear process planning and minimal downtime

The go-live is followed by a structured lessons learned workshop to secure the knowledge gained and make it usable for future optimizations.

[Translate to Englisch:] Whitepaper Smart Migration Factory

Whitepaper: Smart Migration Factory

The Smart Migration Factory combines proven process models with our many years of experience. It is an optimized and coordinated combination of methods and tools for eCommerce migration projects and uses proven best practices and templates from Smart Commerce SE. Find out more in our whitepaper!

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We accompany you step by step during your migration to the cloud

[Translate to Englisch:] Smart Commerce Mitarbeiterin

Whether public, private or hybrid, AWS, Azure or an individual cloud solution - we provide technology-independent advice. Your goals are decisive: more agility, better time-to-market, cost transparency, technological independence or freedom to innovate.

We not only support the technical implementation, but also the cultural change. Because cloud also means: new processes, new thinking, new roles. With us, you get an IT landscape that grows with your requirements instead of slowing down your growth.

Start your cloud journey with us now - strategically planned, properly implemented and geared towards your sustainable success.

Our services at a glance

Digital Consulting

Discover our unique consulting approach for your online success.
 

Digital Experience Platform

Maximise your eCommerce potential with our Digital Experience Platform - personalised experiences, seamless integrations, more conversions!

eCommerce

We develop & implement customised e-commerce systems for you with leading technology partners.

PIM

Optimise your product management with our PIM services - centralised, efficient, error-free. More consistency, less effort!
 

Cloud Operations

Modern public cloud solutions with maximum automation for operating efficient e-commerce systems. 

Artificial Intelligence

Use artificial intelligence for your online success - smarter processes, personalised experiences, more sales. Future-proof and efficient!

We are happy to assist you!

Asking questions costs nothing! Can we assist you with a problem? Or are you interested in collaboration? Or do you have any remaining questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out to us! We are here to help!

Phone Number:
+49 711 18 42 01 00

E-Mail:
hello@smartcommerce.de

Contact our experts directly:

Albrecht Messner, Head of DevOps

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