DXP Region Migration

Why Migrate to a Different Region?

There are several reasons why moving a DXP solution to a different region might make sense. One key factor, which has gained a lot of attention recently, is the growing emphasis on carbon-free energy in the IT sector. For instance, if your client is located in the Nordics and you start a new DXP project, Optimizely will by default set up the resource group in the Northern Europe region, which corresponds to Northern Ireland. While this is functional, it may not be the best option in terms of sustainability. This focus on sustainability was also emphasized during NDC Oslo, where discussions centered around the increasing need for green energy in tech infrastructure.

Microsoft Azure also has data centers in Sweden Central and Norway East, which opened in 2021 and 2019 respectively. The important point here is that the data center in Sweden Central operates on 100% carbon-free energy. This means that moving your DXP solution from Northern Ireland (where energy is only 31% renewable) to Sweden Central can significantly reduce your environmental impact.

At Epinova, we also offer a Sustainability X-ray (sustainability review) to help businesses measure and optimize their websites' environmental impact. This review provides clear steps to reduce the carbon footprint of your digital infrastructure by analyzing website performance, technical solutions, and hosting choices.

Another compelling reason for such a migration is legal requirements or company policies. For example, another client of ours wanted to migrate their data from Optimizely’s servers in Ireland to servers in Norway. The goal was to ensure continuity of service delivery, local data storage, and compliance with national laws and regulations. This included all business-related data, such as customer data, business applications, files, and documents. Moving to a local data center can offer peace of mind in ensuring data sovereignty and compliance with specific legal frameworks.

Why Energy Consumption Matters

Data centers are energy-intensive operations, and their environmental impact largely depends on the energy mix in the region where they are located. Carbon intensity, a measure of how much carbon dioxide is emitted per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced, is a key indicator of a data center’s environmental footprint. High carbon intensity implies a greater reliance on fossil fuels, while low carbon intensity indicates cleaner energy sources like wind, solar, or hydropower.

Electricity Maps: Making Informed Decisions

To make an informed decision about the energy consumption of different regions, you can consult platforms like Electricity Maps, a Danish startup that provides real-time data on the carbon intensity of electricity in various regions. Their visual maps clearly display whether the electricity is being sourced from fossil fuels or renewable energy. For instance, as you can see from the image below, Northern Ireland’s data center has a carbon intensity of 367 g CO2/kWh, whereas Sweden Central has a remarkably low carbon intensity of just 14 g CO2/kWh, with 100% of the energy coming from low-carbon sources.

Client Case Study: Improving Website Carbon Footprint

I recently completed a region migration for one of our clients, IVA.se. To assess the environmental impact of this migration, I used the Website Carbon Calculator to measure the website’s carbon footprint before and after the migration. This tool estimates the carbon dioxide emissions generated every time a user visits a webpage, based on the energy mix and efficiency of the hosting data center.

• Before Migration:
  IVA.se was initially hosted in the Northern Europe Azure region, where the Website Carbon Calculator gave it a carbon rating of E. The page produced 0.83g of CO2 per visit, making it dirtier than 69% of all websites globally.

• After Migration:
  After migrating to the Sweden Central Azure region, which runs on 100% carbon-free energy, IVA.se's carbon rating improved to C, producing only 0.39g of CO2 per visit—cleaner than 58% of websites globally.

Conclusion

As businesses become more conscious of their environmental impact and regulatory obligations, migrating your DXP solution to a region that aligns with these priorities is no longer just an option—it's a forward-thinking strategy. Whether you're aiming to reduce carbon emissions by leveraging data centers powered by renewable energy or ensuring that your data complies with local storage laws, region migration is a practical solution to these challenges.

The decision to move to a region like Sweden Central allows you to contribute to a sustainable IT infrastructure, while also meeting business-critical needs like data sovereignty and service continuity. With the right approach, your migration can deliver long-term value, both for the environment and your organization.