Challenges

A global leader in pharmacy-driven patient engagement solutions sought to modernize its data infrastructure. With a focus on delivering individualized patient experiences, the client's current data warehouse was nearing end of life (EOL), prompting a need to migrate to a modern solution. The client faced several challenges related to their legacy system. Some of these included:

• End-of-life system and rising costs: Their IBM Netezza data warehouse required support renewal, with costs set to increase by 20%-30% next year as it neared decommissioning.
• Complex on-premises infrastructure: The client's existing on-premises infrastructure was highly complex and had multiple dependencies across various systems, resulting in significant operational overhead.
• Lack of flexibility and innovation: Relying on a traditional on-premises data center did not align with the client's high innovation strategy, hindering their ability to scale and adapt quickly.

Searce Solution

Our team of solvers led a seamless migration to Google Cloud's BigQuery, optimizing the client's data platform, positioning them for future innovation:

• Lift & shift approach: Due to the complexity and scale of the data workloads, the initial migration was performed using a lift & shift approach to ensure minimal disruption.
• Phased modernization: After the initial migration, a phased modernization approach was adopted to enhance the infrastructure, ensuring alignment with the client's evolving data needs.
• Workload migration details:
  • 950 Unique Jobs
  • 4,004 Distinct Tables
  • 19TB of Historical Data

Business Impact

Our solution delivered measurable business outcomes that directly impacted the client's efficiency, cost savings, and future readiness:

• Cost savings: Migrating from IBM Netezza to BigQuery resulted in direct savings of approximately US $160K per year, which could be reinvested into the client's innovation strategy.
• Modern data ecosystem: The migration provided access to a continually evolving and scalable data ecosystem, aiding the client's business transformation into a data-driven organization, particularly in patient care.
• Innovation enablement: The modernized platform allowed the client to shift resources and focus on high-value innovation initiatives that align with their vision of becoming a leader in patient engagement.

The Searce Edge

Throughout the migration and modernization process, we worked to bring additional value to the client:

• Consultation: We provided expert guidance on selecting the right technology stack for the client’s evolving needs, particularly Google Cloud’s BigQuery.
• Innovation: We implemented future-ready architecture that empowered the client to explore and invest in data-driven solutions for patient care and operational efficiency.
• Phased approach: The phased approach ensured minimal disruption to operations while allowing for continuous optimization and innovation.

Our team successfully migrated the client from their legacy IBM Netezza platform to a modern, scalable cloud data ecosystem with Google Cloud BigQuery. The solution not only resulted in significant cost savings but also positioned the client for continued growth and innovation in the healthcare space, particularly in data-driven patient care.