Get Instant Access
to This Blueprint

Applications icon

Switch Email Platforms

When saying goodbye to an old friend becomes necessary.

  • Small enterprises on Exchange 2003 are seeking alternatives to upgrading to the complex multi-server Exchange architecture introduced in 2007.
  • Many organizations are abandoning their original Novell GroupWise and Lotus Notes email platforms and are faced with email migration for the first time in their history.
  • Numerous cloud-based email options are available, providing organizations with new and sometimes confusing email choices.
  • Organizations of all sizes are experiencing growth in the cost of supporting their legacy email platforms.
  • Older email platforms are incapable of satisfying modern integration requirements, such as integrating with CRM, ERP, content management and workflow, archiving and compliance systems, information security systems, and smartphones.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

  • Email is a mission critical system. Switching platforms can disrupt an organization as much as an ERP or CRM platform migration.
  • While Microsoft Exchange dominates with 79% market share, more small enterprises are switching away from Exchange than are switching to it, due to a perception of higher TCO and the complexity of migrating to Exchange 2007/2010.
  • Cloud-based enterprise email solutions are mature. However, organizations need to extend on-demand versus on-premise TCO comparisons to 5-6 years, the average lifetime an email platform remains in service. Typical 3-4 year TCO comparisons are not sufficient.

Impact and Result

  • Understand the business reasons for switching email platforms: to reduce costs, support modern business collaboration demands, and satisfy compliance and security needs.
  • Review new email application delivery and licensing options to choose the right solution for your organization’s individual email scenario.
  • Create a migration plan to ensure the smoothest transition for one of the most painful technology migrations an organization can undergo.

Switch Email Platforms Research & Tools

1. Understand the business reasons for switching email platforms

To reduce costs, support modern business collaboration demands, and satisfy compliance and security needs.

2. Review new email application delivery and licensing options

To choose the right solution for your organization’s individual email scenario.

3. Create a migration plan

To ensure the smoothest transition for one of the most painful technology migrations an organization can undergo.

Switch Email Platforms preview picture

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Talk to an Analyst

Our analyst calls are focused on helping our members use the research we produce, and our experts will guide you to successful project completion.

Book an Analyst Call on This Topic

You can start as early as tomorrow morning. Our analysts will explain the process during your first call.

Get Advice From a Subject Matter Expert

Each call will focus on explaining the material and helping you to plan your project, interpret and analyze the results of each project step, and set the direction for your next project step.

Unlock Sample Research

Authors

Timothy Hickernell

Derek Silva

Brianne Dreyer

Contributors

  • University of Melbourne
  • Williams Engineering Group
  • Skagit County Public Utility
  • Collège Boreal
  • rtraction
  • 6 other organizations contributed information to assist with the development of this solution set. Due to the sensitivity of the information, these contributors requested confidentiality.

Search Code: 16563
Last Revised: November 19, 2010

Visit our IT Cost Optimization Center
Over 100 analysts waiting to take your call right now: 1-519-432-3550 x2019