Switch from server based to cloud based OpenText Exstream

Dzoni90

Hello all,

I have a question regarding upgrade of Exstream server based to cloud based.

Currently, we are using server based 21.3 (and we are planning to upgrade to 23.3), but we are also looking into options for cloud based one. So, my question is, what are the main differences between server and cloud based Exstream, but in technical terms, not in commercial terms? I saw on website commercial side of cloud based, but I am interested in more technical details:

1. Is it possible to upgrade from server based to cloud based without losing current configurations and templates from Communication Builder? We have a lot of StoryTeller processes in our projects; we have SAP connect installed for communication with SAP, we are using external archiving via Alfresco; we have emailing system for customer communication. How could we migrate all of that to cloud?
2. What are the applications that will replace Communication Builder and Control Center?
3. Currently, we are receiving XML files from SAP as our inputs via Delivery Manager. If we move to cloud does XML files can still be used as input files and does SAP developers need to do some changes in creation of XML files (maybe to simplify data structure in it), because as I understood in cloud version of Exstream, complex logic that has been done on Exstream side now needs to be moved on some other place (SAP side, or some application in the middle)?
4. We have some really complex StoryTeller documents/templates with Repeaters, scripts, data templates etc., how will all of that will be transformed into cloud version?
5. Current server based Word output format has some problems with opening in Word Online (SharePoint), formatting is lost, tables and sections are messed up. Is it any better in the cloud version? I read that in cloud version it is possible to edit Word files in Exstream which was not the case before.

I hope someone can answer me on those questions and thank you in advance for any information that you can share.

Kind Regards,

Nikola

Vyv

Hi there, the differences between Exstream (StreamServe) and OpenText Communications (Exstream Cloud Native) are in the engines used. You will need to migrate - is the short answer.

You should get in touch with OpenText for more information before taking any decisions.

Of the systems that I am familiar with where customers have moved their business applications to the cloud, they have left their CCM solutions behind on-premise for many reasons. (Project scope, phased cloudification tactics, required access/data from network, access to local network printers and other needs). Yet many of these issues can be solved with process flow automation software quite elegantly.

To your questions:

1. Upgrade:
   1. StoryTeller processes can be migrated to OT Communications with an external migrator package. Scripting is converted to JavaScript by AI yet may also loose context (and so may require reimplementation).
   2. SAP Connectivity will have to change as well to API / HTTPS or Cloud Object Storage. You could also implement some event streaming here for fun.
   3. Archiving may require a simple change - I would imagine that remains quite similar.
   4. The same email server can be used if available from where you are running from - otherwise you could switch to an alternative provider (quite cheap).
2. The fat clients are replaced by development editors within a web-browser (Communications Designer / Content Author). This is a very nice development.
3. You will have to provide the SAP XML data in some way to your Cloud system - there are many alternatives here.
   1. Your point about the XML transformation is valid. You may wish to do prior to send or with an XSLT filter upon arrival into Orchestrator.
4. This is the magical question…. it will most likely need to be re-implemented. OT Communications does not have repeaters, data templates or XPath. You have to go looping in loops a lot.
5. I too have heard that MS Word files are better in the Exstream - but I have no proof.

This is just me answering here and I may be very wrong or outdated about some parts - so read this with a pinch of salt and let’s hope that someone else also answers.