Uber FinOps: Cloud Migration and Cost Optimization

Uber’s challenge: on-prem speed bumps and traffic jams

In the fast-paced world of rideshare, global leader Uber faced a critical juncture. Their legacy IT infrastructure, rooted in on-premises tech, was becoming a bottleneck. High operational costs, limited scalability, and reduced flexibility were not just inconveniences; they threatened Uber's capacity to innovate and grow.

At the heart of the challenge was an outdated IT infrastructure that no longer met Uber's dynamic needs. As they scaled, so did their costs and complexity. The need for a transformation was evident – a transformation that would not only modernize their infrastructure, but also optimize their IT spending.

Enter Launch, a company known for expertise in cloud technologies and FinOps. Our Cloud & Infrastructure Studio's focus on using data to drive the approach—not just a blanket tactic— and experience in navigating the complexities of cloud migration are why Uber chose us as the ideal partner for their ambitious overhaul.

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Shifting gears to accelerate transformation

Working together, we created a smart, comprehensive cloud migration strategy that would optimize their cloud architecture for cost efficiency without sacrificing performance. Here’s what the project included:

• Migrating to the Cloud: Uber's move to the cloud, using Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Oracle, was a game-changer. This move provided much-needed scalability and flexibility, essential for Uber's growing global presence.
• Optimizing Data Management: The Launch Data & AI Studio's intervention in streamlining data management meant optimized storage, transfer, and processing – a direct path to cost reduction.
• Infrastructure Overhaul: Working closely with Uber’s teams, Launch designed an agile cloud infrastructure. This including right-sizing resources, optimizing network setups, and implementing storage solutions that were both cost-effective and efficient.
• FinOps Implementation: Establishing governance frameworks and financial operations practices ushered in a new era of informed decision-making, precise budget tracking, and continuous cost optimization.

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A wide-open road toward a bright horizon

This cloud collaboration has led to the kind of outcomes every business wants:

• Cost Optimization: Strategic interventions by Launch led to significant IT cost savings, allowing Uber to reallocate resources more effectively.
• Operational Efficiency: The cloud migration wasn't just a technical upgrade; it revolutionized Uber’s operational capabilities, offering scalability and agility.
• Enhanced Data Management: Streamlined data practices not only cut costs but also enhanced accessibility and simplified management.

This case study isn’t just about technological transformation; it's a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and forward-thinking solutions. Today, Uber stands on the brink of new possibilities. Already an AI-enabled business, their systems are now ready to reckon with the load and performance needs an AI-first business must embody to thrive in the next few years.

With a future-ready cloud infrastructure courtesy of their work with Launch, Uber is more agile and prepared than ever to meet market demands and continue to make their mark in the transportation industry.

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AI isn’t waiting for companies to keep up. Are your people, tech, data, and strategy aligned for the workplace and market transformations that are coming, like Uber's are now? Take the AI Readiness Self-Assessment to find any gaps so that you, too, are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities of applied AI.