SoftwareOne delivers a seamless migration experience with Azure Arc

May 9, 2025

By all accounts, cloud architecture is a game changer. The cloud can offer organizations more flexibility, better security, more agile environments, and the ability to work with AI workloads. But companies with on-premises estates are often reticent to make the switch with so many unknowns. How much will it cost? Can I guarantee my data will stay safe? Is my legacy system compatible with modern cloud platforms? That’s where a hybrid environment can become a strategic solution—helping organizations maintain their servers and take advantage of the best of both worlds.

Enter SoftwareOne. A leading Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and Microsoft partner for over 30 years, they offer advisory services, migration, implementation, and support for organizations looking to modernize their work environments and move workloads to cloud-first environments in more than 90 countries. Having earned all six Solutions Partner designations and multiple specializations, SoftwareOne offers Azure migrations, Microsoft 365 integrations, and also supports over 7.6 million active users around the globe in their cloud journeys. They, in fact, worked with the Microsoft Datacenter Optimization (DCO) team and onboarded 9 partners to their motion—a collaboration that speaks to their cloud migration capabilities. Their work has led to multiple Partner of the Year Award wins, including 2024 awards for Business Transformation – Copilot for their Indonesia branch and Country Partner of the Year for Hong Kong.

SoftwareOne credits much of their success to the power, agility, and customizability of Microsoft technology. Cleber Bueno, Channel Sales Director at SoftwareOne Brazil, said of the partnership, “SoftwareOne exists today because of Microsoft.”

By combining Microsoft technology and their flywheel optimization approach, SoftwareOne drives modernization and adoption by underpinning implementations and migrations with a human-centric approach to change management. They center their clients’ understanding and act as advisors to help with the transition—and give their clients the tools to truly understand and manage their new solutions.

Going beyond “lift and shift” with Azure Arc

SoftwareOne worked with key Olos stakeholders across functions—finance, operations, and technology—to determine the best approach. Olos made it clear that their legacy SQL servers were important to maintain but that they wanted to tap into the benefits of cloud computing, so SoftwareOne proposed developing a hybrid environment using Azure Arc.

They chose Azure Arc for its simplified management capabilities and the ease with which it could transition Olos from a Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) model to a more agile, usage-based CSP model. This change in their licensing structure meant Olos could maintain their on-premises infrastructure without migrating workloads––while also reducing cost and improving operational efficiency. Rodrigo Eleoterio, Head of Global Channel Program at SoftwareOne, described Azure Arc as the “bridge” for Olos to connect their legacy server SPLA model to the new reality of the hybrid world through CSP licensing with Azure Arc.

They launched a 30-day pilot covering just a small portion of servers. Once stakeholders saw the potential of a full migration, SoftwareOne implemented their flywheel approach to support the Olos IT team with the migration—ultimately giving them the tools to perform the migration themselves.

Eleoterio explained, “The SoftwareOne technical team worked with [the Olos team] to reinforce their skills, prepare them for implementation, and help them with their journey.” Ultimately, he continued, that was one of the biggest value-adds of the SoftwareOne solution: helping Olos adapt to and ultimately own their new reality. This transformation was made possible in part by the Microsoft DCO program, which provided targeted guidance and global support to help Olos break through legacy constraints and transition to a modern hybrid model.

Combining human and technology transformation for success

Ultimately, it’s the SoftwareOne focus on their clients—putting the human experience first—that leads to success, especially in the case of the Olos migration. Bueno explained why the SoftwareOne approach is so important: “We are constantly standing by to provide support, because there is a human element to a change that big, even when the people are themselves tech-savvy. Even if it is an easy transformation, there are still growing pains, and our goal is to minimize those pains and help our customers thrive.”

That mindset paid off. Olos almost immediately saw measurable improvements after the migration: reduced costs, faster onboarding for their own customers, and real-time cost transparency that eliminated the operational friction caused by SPLA licensing. With Azure Arc in place, they’ve shifted from manual monthly audits to automated, hourly usage-based billing—freeing up internal resources and increasing profitability. Using Azure Arc has opened them up to the possibilities inherent in a hybrid approach and immediately had a positive impact thanks to the switch to a CSP licensing model—without the need for technical migration of massive workloads. This solution balanced respect for the Olos legacy on-site infrastructure with the greater efficiency, quality, and security from Azure-based workloads. Critically, Azure Arc allowed Olos to make a licensing transformation without the associated disruption to their infrastructure, positioning them to offer modern cloud capabilities and advanced technologies to their own customers.

Eleoterio said, “[Azure Arc] provides improved environmental transparency, efficiency, and reduced costs. It lets us modernize and bring them into the new reality while respecting [the Olos] legacy.”

Looking ahead, SoftwareOne sees this as just the beginning. With Azure Arc already enabling SQL server modernization, they’re eager to expand the model as Microsoft rolls out support for additional workloads. The combination of flexible licensing, hybrid compatibility, and a people-first implementation approach means that more companies like Olos can take their first step into the cloud—on their own terms.