Microsoft Events presents Levi’s IT transformation journey at Ignite 2025, featuring speakers Maria Bledsoe, Shawn Harris, and Michael Womack’s insights on migrating and modernizing Levi’s global estate with Azure.

Levi’s Global IT Transformation: Migration and Modernization with Azure

Speakers: Maria Bledsoe, Shawn Harris, Michael Womack

Microsoft Ignite 2025 session BRK156

Overview

This session details Levi’s extensive IT transformation, focusing on migrating and modernizing their global infrastructure by leveraging Azure services. The journey includes moving major enterprise workloads—Windows Server, SQL Server, SAP, Oracle, and more—to Azure, utilizing both data and application modernization strategies and infrastructure re-platforming for improved agility, scalability, and cost efficiency.

Key Topics and Timeline

  • 0:00 – Transition to live presentation
  • 4:26 – Levi’s history and innovation background
  • 5:15 – Challenges with legacy data centers, decision-making for public cloud migration
  • 12:31 – Cloud journey kickoff and defining migration success criteria
  • 12:59 – Approach to starting small, upskilling teams for cloud migration
  • 21:06 – Integrating AI workflows for technicians and engineers
  • 23:00 – Lessons learned on grouping applications for effective migration
  • 24:20 – Q&A: Migration scale, team size, cloud services adopted
  • 31:42 – Establishment of FinOps for centralized cloud cost management

Migration and Modernization Approach

  • Migrated workloads from legacy data centers to Azure (Windows Server, SQL Server, SAP, Oracle)
  • Used Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Azure SQL for scalable modernization
  • Combined data and application modernization with infrastructure re-platforming
  • Centralized cloud cost management program (FinOps)
  • Focused on agility, scalability, and measurable cost savings

Technical Insights

  • Defined clear migration keys to success
  • Built internal cloud skills within Levi’s teams
  • Carefully grouped applications for phased migration
  • Integrated AI to optimize technical workflows

Lessons Learned

  • Importance of upskilling existing teams on Azure
  • Strategic grouping of apps enhances migration outcomes
  • Centralized cost management (FinOps) is critical
  • Starting small and scaling up helps with risk management
  • Early integration of AI into workflows yields higher operational efficiency

Resources

Conclusion

Levi’s modernized their global IT estate through a multi-phase migration to Azure, realizing improved scalability, agility, and cost savings by leveraging cutting-edge Azure services, including AKS, Azure SQL, and AI-driven workflows.