Modernising Legacy Systems with Cloud Intelligence
A prominent financial institution embarked on an ambitious digital transformation initiative, aiming to migrate several line-of-business applications to the cloud. At the heart of this effort was a particularly complex challenge: a critical application built as a monolith, riddled with release inefficiencies and development bottlenecks.
The rigid architecture made testing and releasing new features cumbersome, severely limiting the number of production changes possible in any given cycle. Additionally, fragmented ownership between infrastructure and application development teams created confusion and hindered coordinated delivery. This complexity, combined with multiple service lines intersecting at different points of the release journey, made change not only slow but risky.
Our Approach
SPG was brought in to bring clarity, speed, and strategic direction. The project demanded both technical insight and the ability to navigate organisational dynamics. Here’s how we approached it:
Rapid Insight & Iteration
Using our proprietary Lightning Insight methodology, we used AI to help quickly assess the client’s technology landscape and provide actionable feedback through an iterative process. This significantly shortened the lead-time to value.
Cloud Readiness & Feasibility
We conducted an AI-led, comprehensive evaluation of the legacy architecture, identifying key limitations and assessing compatibility with modern cloud platforms. Before making any recommendations, we analysed the feasibility of migrating services to the cloud, comparing all major cloud vendors.
Commercial Viability & Business Case Support
One of the client’s principal concerns was cost. A move to the cloud would be unviable if it exceeded the existing on-premise operating expenditure. To address this, we prepared a detailed Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) estimate, using AI tooling, comparing cloud and on-prem scenarios, which was then used to support the internal business case for change.
Results
A Strategic, Not Tactical, Shift
The engagement delivered more than just a migration – it enabled a transformative re-engineering of legacy technology, moving away from a simplistic “lift and shift” mindset.
Confidence in Future Planning
Despite initial uncertainty, the client walked away with a clear, well-articulated roadmap for modernisation.
Vendor Clarity & Cost Confidence
With SPG’s support, the client was able to select a cloud platform with full confidence in its technical suitability, service model, and long-term cost-effectiveness.
“We simply couldn’t have done it without SPG.”
— CIO, Investment Bank
This project showcased the impact of insight-led, cloud-native engineering. Rather than forcing a legacy system into a modern platform, SPG helped reshape the narrative – enabling the client to make an informed, strategic leap to the cloud with clarity, cost control, and confidence. The outcome wasn’t just a technical win, but a fundamental shift in how change is approached across the organisation.