“The Cloud400 Team Went Out Of Their Way To Make The Whole Process Seamless. They Walked Me Through Every Step.”
Background
Design/Craft Fabric Corporation is a distinguished value-added converter of fabrics, rooted in a legacy that spans generations. Originating in the 1940s as a family-owned enterprise, Design/Craft remains steadfast in its commitment to service, quality, and design. Located in Glenview, Illinois, within a sprawling 27,000 square foot facility, Design/Craft offers a versatile array of prints, woven, healthcare fabrics, trims, and fasteners, catering to both commercial and retail clients.
End of Life Notification Forces Decision
Irwin Weiner, took over the Management Information Systems position when Ken Nagel retired in June 2023. Ken had been the IS Manager at Design/Craft for many years.
Prompted by Source Data Product’s notification about the impending end of life for their IBM 8202-E4D on V7.3, Design/Craft faced a pivotal decision post-Ken’s retirement.
Irwin says, “Ken Nagel was the one with the thorough AS400 background. When he retired, we debated whether we needed another full-time AS400 technician and started looking into our available options.
“Last year, Source Data advised us that we were nearing the end of life of our machine. We began gathering more information and regularly speaking to Penny Pearce at SDP, debating whether to continue with our current on-premise physical box or move to the cloud.”
Hosting Versus New On-Premise Server
Assessing the viability of hosting versus investing in a new on-premise server, the Design/Craft team found hosting with Cloud400 to be not only cost-competitive but also a gateway to peace of mind. With Cloud400 offering comprehensive IBM i administration, consistent backups, and system management, they were assured of expert oversight and redundancy, mitigating operational risks.
Irwin continues, “We decided to go to the cloud so that we didn’t need to worry about the day-to-day IBM i administration needs.
“The financial aspect of moving to Cloud400 was an important consideration for us. When we discovered after breaking down the costs, that they were about the same price, we were surprised. We had anticipated it would cost much more.”
Swift, Seamless Migration
While initially apprehensive about the testing and migration process, Irwin Weiner soon discovered the simplicity and seamlessness of transitioning to Cloud400. Facilitated by the cooperative and knowledgeable Cloud400 team, Irwin embarked on a swift testing phase, with comprehensive checklists and proactive support.
With a turnaround time that exceeded expectations, Design/Craft swiftly transitioned to Cloud400, including a refined backup strategy aligned with their evolving needs.
“The Cloud400 team went out of their way to make the whole process seamless. They walked me through every step.”
“They received the tape and were prepared to test it in just two days — I wasn’t even prepared for testing, it happened so quickly!”
Overcoming Backup Obstacles
During the migration process, Design/Craft encountered a minor hiccup related to their backup system. A simple system issue on their end caused obstacles in their backup procedures. The Cloud400 team helped to identify and assist in resolving the issue, showcasing their proactive support and technical expertise. This collaborative effort ensured minimal disruption and reinforced Design/Craft’s confidence in Cloud400’s capabilities.
“There were a few bumps in the road on our end that the Cloud400 team assisted us with, and once they helped us with it, the backup was successful.
“When the upgrade process took longer than I expected, I got nervous. The Cloud400 team was aware of my lack of AS400 expertise, so they took the reins. They were responsive and communicated every step of the way, explaining what they were doing to expedite things and reassuring me that everything was still on track.”
Valuable Cloud400 Security, Resilience
With a robust hosting solution in place and the dedicated support of the Cloud400 team, Design/Craft has already experienced the value of Cloud400 security and resilience.
Irwin shares, “It’s a pleasure that the hassle of managing backups, and the responsibilities of the security are now automated and not something we need to worry about.
“We had a power outage last week, and previously I would have had to come in and deal with rebooting the AS400, and handle all of the error messages. This time, I didn’t have to deal with any error messages—the system was up and ready to go.”
Irwin Weiner Recommends Cloud400
“I would highly recommend Cloud400, even if you don’t have an extensive knowledge of the AS400 system. They make the experience of moving to Cloud400 painless.”