Climbing the Platform Engineering Cliff: A Journey to Innovation and Efficiency

Introduction

Organizations must focus on operational efficiency in the fast-paced technical landscape to accelerate development processes and streamline ongoing cloud operations. Rackspace Technology® has a wealth of experience working with customers who need to adopt the cloud fast — and one of the game changes for enhanced business efficiency is using internal development platforms, like Backstage from Spotify.

However, is it as simple as installing Backstage and watching the magic happen? Not quite. Let's dive into the realities of implementing a robust platform engineering solution — and why it's worth the initial investment.

The promise of platform engineering

Platform engineering offers immense value to organizations looking to speed up their development cycles, improve collaboration and reduce the cognitive load on developers. Providing a centralized platform with standardized tools and processes empowers teams to focus on what they do best — build great products.

The hidden complexity

However, the journey to a fully functional platform engineering solution is more complex than many realize. It's not just about installing Backstage or any other out-of-the-box solution. The real work lies in customizing and operationalizing the platform to fit your organization's unique needs.

This process involves:

1. Building custom templates tailored to your tech stack
2. Installing and configuring relevant plugins
3. Integrating with existing tools and systems
4. Establishing governance and best practices
5. Training teams and driving adoption

The platform engineering cliff

The time and resource investment can be visualized as a cliff organizations need to scale. Initially, you might see a dip in productivity as teams adjust to new processes and tools. This is the valley at the base of the cliff. As you invest in building out your platform, you begin the climb. It can be steep and challenging, requiring dedication and resources.

However, once you reach the top of the cliff, the payoff is substantial. Your organization will operate at a significantly higher level of efficiency, with streamlined processes, improved collaboration and accelerated development cycles.

The Rackspace guide for scaling the cliff

While the climb may seem daunting, you don't have to go it alone. As an experienced technical leader in platform engineering, we've helped numerous companies successfully navigate this journey. Here's how we can assist you:

1. Assessment: Evaluate your current infrastructure and identify key areas for improvement.
2. Strategy: Develop a tailored roadmap for implementing platform engineering solutions.
3. Implementation: Guide the setup of core components, including custom templates and essential plugins.
4. Integration: Ensure seamless integration with your existing tools and workflows.
5. Training: Empower your teams with the knowledge to leverage the platform effectively.
6. Optimization: Continuously refine the platform based on feedback and your evolving needs, accomplished through amplified feedback loops

The value of experience

Having a guide who's helped others scale the platform engineering solution cliff can significantly reduce the time and resources needed to reach the summit. With expert guidance, you can avoid common pitfalls, make informed decisions and accelerate your journey to a highly efficient, platform-engineered organization.

If you’d like a guide on your platform engineering journey, reach out to us today. We can provide an initial assessment of your environment and discuss how your organization can begin your platform engineering journey.