Speeding the analysis of a FTSE 250 firm’s apps using expertise and AI
Steamhaus initially worked with the FTSE 250 firm to solve authentication issues on their trading platform, leading to a cloud platform built on Amazon Web Services (AWS). A key process in such a transformation required migrating the firm’s 1,600+ apps from on premises to the cloud. The Steamhaus Modernisation Intelligence for AWS assessment process was used to analyse apps and plan for their modernisation.
- Modernised the cataloguing of on-premises apps using GenAI tools on Amazon Bedrock
- Transformed modernisation processes into Steamhaus Modernisation Intelligence (SMI), reducing analysis paralysis
- Enabled a pilot project mapping 75 applications in real time, cutting collection and analysis times by 95%
- Streamlined processes for determining the most efficient path to AWS optimisation
- Extended SMI to more applications, which total over 1,600, with ongoing development of templates to accelerate migration of on-premises workloads to AWS
Laying the foundations to go cloud native
The FTSE 250-listed firm has a long-held tradition of staying ahead of the innovation curve. But driving innovation was becoming more difficult with their network of data centres, which houses their workloads and thousands of applications. And it was taking up to two weeks to resolve issues in the applications when developers raised tickets.
The company had begun working with the AWS cloud but wanted to fully modernise and optimise its AWS implementation. The firm turned to their AWS account manager, who suggested they work with Steamhaus because of our strong record of working with financial institutions. The company asked Steamhaus to remediate the platform issues as an initial trial before tackling development issues. Building a roadmap for such a modernisation required technical innovation and outside-the-box thinking.
Discovering and optimising accumulated apps
From the outset, Steamhaus took a leadership role in building collaboration across different and previously siloed teams, including for platforms, security, development, and architecture. By encouraging this approach, Steamhaus helped to break down departmental barriers, creating a more integrated and collaborative approach to development. The first engagement was intentionally small and designed to build trust and assess whether Steamhaus was a good fit for the FTSE 250 firm. The success of the trial project laid the foundation for a deeper collaboration: to set up a stable, scalable, secure, and reusable multi-tenant platform on Amazon EKS.
To ensure project alignment and keep risks to a minimum, Steamhaus instituted a structured collaboration model, which has reduced the amount of input required from each team. For example, a granular planning approach allowed for detailed project specifications to be reviewed, then ratified rapidly across multiple departments and management layers.
As part of the move to building a robust, cloud-based platform, the FTSE 250 firm asked Steamhaus if we could help analyse and modernise the more than 1,600 on-premises apps that they had accumulated over the years. The company wanted to identify opportunities to cut unneeded apps and libraries, optimise performance, and migrate the apps to AWS as well. Central to that work was Steamhaus Modernisation Intelligence for AWS (SMI), a GenAI-powered modernisation assessment process.
New tools, led by an experienced team, deliver speedy, actionable insights
The FTSE 250 firm’s applications were running on premises and had been accumulated over years. Migrating and optimising the company’s systems to run efficiently on AWS would require cataloguing the applications that existed, analysing how they worked, and then planning a way forward that would eliminate unneeded apps, consolidate others, and ensure that the system was designed for the future.
Manually collecting and analysing apps is a slow process that can handle about 1.3 apps per week. Steamhaus chose to modernise the process, using an assortment of tools, including a range of GenAI models and tools on Amazon Bedrock. The pilot project selected 75 apps spread across several divisions of the FTSE 250 firm, including APAC, EMEA, and the UK. Selecting a diverse group of apps was intentional, to see if the tools and processes that Steamhaus was developing would work across the organisation.
The tools and processes developed, which combine technology and the skills of expert staff, has evolved into Steamhaus Modernisation Intelligence (SMI) for AWS, a GenAI-powered modernisation assessment designed to avoid the analysis paralysis that can bog down projects. The project has been objective and data-driven, helping the FTSE 250 firm to work with Steamhaus to develop a clear path towards migrating their apps while avoiding waste and redundancy. The project has created a knowledgebase that documents capabilities, identifies gaps, and will make future development easier.
The SMI process maps the organisation’s application landscape in real time, helping move from outdated systems to modern platforms. As a result, apps can be moved to the cloud, eliminating the need for on-premises implementations. During the process, the application portfolio can be rationalised. There is also the opportunity to move from legacy monoliths to microservices.
Steamhaus was able to cut the time needed to collect and analyse the 75 apps in the pilot project by 95 percent, compared to what doing the work manually would have taken. This has eliminated guesswork and helped the FTSE 250 firm take a focused, strategic approach to planning.
The Steamhaus Modernisation Intelligence for AWS is now available to other Steamhaus clients to help in building cloud transformation strategy by applying business priorities and objectives informed by SMI.
A FTSE 250-listed financial services company headquartered in London operates across multiple continents. The firm’s comprehensive trading platform serves retail investors, offering them access to over 19,000 investment markets, including spread betting, stock trading, futures, and derivatives. The company aims to make trading accessible to everyday investors by making it easier to trade, offering a personalised service, and providing educational resources. Their forward-thinking approach helps them to stay competitive in the growing fintech market.Location
London, UKIndustry
Financial Services
Services
Data & AIAWS PlatformsShare
Further transforming the developer experience
All the groups that worked with Steamhaus on the pilot project were impressed with the insights they gained. This has informed their future development plans. They are looking forward to applying SMI to more applications.
The FTSE 250 firm and Steamhaus are now working on identifying and prioritising groups and functions to undertake in the next wave of app collection and analysis.
To help developers take advantage of this better understanding of apps, Steamhaus will design 15 application templates to meet different development patterns across the FTSE 250 firm’s technology landscape. This approach will help to accelerate the migration of on-premises workloads, ensuring consistency and adherence to best practices.
As the underlying templates are updated over time, changes can be automatically applied to all applications built using them, helping to further reduce the need for manual intervention. The knowledgebase developed through SMI will serve as a guide to ensure that further development is faster and easier. As SMI helps to modernise more of the FTSE 250 firm’s application landscape, the benefits will continue to grow.
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