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ASK Chemicals enables Cloud-First

Successful Cloud Migration with Arvato Systems

Introduction
Customer benefits
Customer quote
Project overview
About ASK Chemicals

Cloud-first strategy: Comprehensive Cloud Migration for ASK Chemicals

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In view of the challenges of digitalization, there is hardly any way around the cloud. ASK Chemicals recognized this and, with the help of Arvato Systems, migrated its entire IT infrastructure to the cloud in ten months: a cloud-first approach.

In total, 78 systems at ASK Chemicals were part of the project scope of the major cloud migration. Arvato Systems simply transferred 56 systems via lift and shift, 15 were replaced with new solutions or re-designs during the migration, and seven systems ultimately remained where they were. After the 2020 migration had just begun, the Corona pandemic broke out. ASK Chemicals' home office requirement could only be met with appropriate concepts, bandwidth and cloud technology.

Thanks to good planning, it was just a matter of accelerating the cloud migration. Office 365, for example, was rolled out within just twelve weeks - for the more than 20 companies of ASK Chemicals, in all 20 countries. The use of Microsoft Teams, which was not originally planned, proved to be a great advantage for (international) collaboration under the pandemic conditions. All in all, Arvato Systems successfully migrated 158 servers, 21 SQL databases and 15 SAP systems alone from ASK Chemicals to the cloud within ten months.

Customer benefits

Bundled competencies in AWS, Microsoft 365 and SAP
Comprehensive application managed services
Positive cost effects and flexibility
Better protection against cyber attacks
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"Flexibility through rightsizing and pay-as-you-go is one thing. But our cloud-first strategy is also the basis for new, digital business models."

ASK Chemicals

Project overview

Initial Situation

Since 2015, ASK Chemicals had been using a private cloud for which a provider in North Carolina had taken over hosting and application managed services. However, the data path to the USA resulted in long latency, access and storage times for users in Europe and Asia. There was too little scalability, flexibility and innovation. In addition, protection against cyber threats was limited.

Vision

ASK Chemicals wanted a consistent cloud-first strategy. A globally operating hyperscaler was to improve performance, reduce compute costs and provide the flexibility needed for digitization.

Solution

At the end of 2019, the detailed planning for the comprehensive migration to Amazon Web Services and Office 365 began - supported by the multi-cloud specialists from Arvato Systems. In 2020, the project was implemented in just ten months. Thanks to good planning, cloud-native digital readiness was already achieved in spring 2020 - when the Corona pandemic forced employees into home offices. In parallel, an ERP migration to SAP BW/4 HANA took place in 2020.

About ASK Chemicals

ASK Chemicals, headquartered in Hilden near Düsseldorf, is one of the world's largest suppliers of foundry chemicals and materials. The chemical group employs around 1,500 people in its subsidiaries in Europe, North and South America, and Asia.

Your Contact for Questions about Our Solutions

Achim Reupert
Expert for the Manufacturing Industry