Posted by: Mike Isaacs
19 September 2025
Knowing exactly what you’re paying for in a CMS migration makes all the difference. Cost transparency means no hidden fees, predictable budgets, and confidence that your investment is setting you up for future growth.
Leaders want to know:
- Will our migration budget stay predictable?
- Can we avoid hidden costs after go-live?
- How do we model long-term ROI with confidence?
At a glance
- Definition
- Why it matters
- How Growcreate applies cost transparency
- Outcomes
- Comparisons
- Third-party validation
- ICP mapping
- Call to Action
- FAQs
Definition
Cost transparency in CMS migrations is the practice of scoping and sharing a full picture of project costs at the outset. This includes all migration tasks, dependencies, integrations, hosting, and ongoing support. Forrester highlights that technology leaders rank predictable IT spend among their top three budgeting priorities.
Why it matters
Without transparency, migrations risk scope creep, hidden support costs, and budget tension across teams. Harvard Business Review shows that organisations with transparent budgets shorten approval cycles and increase stakeholder trust.
Transparent cost models also reduce “hidden” post-migration expenses like emergency support or rework. McKinsey & Company reports that enterprises adopting transparent cost models cut unexpected IT spend by up to 30%.
Cloud infrastructure providers are also moving this way. Microsoft Azure sets the standard for transparent, usage-based pricing – an approach that builds long-term trust with finance leaders.
How Growcreate applies cost transparency
We embed transparency through Secure → Enhance → Evolve:
- Secure – Detailed scoping with costed tasks, dependencies, and contingency
- Enhance – Optimise delivery costs using Azure-native automation and integration tools
- Evolve – Build total cost of ownership models that forecast future infrastructure and support spend
Outcomes
- 25–30% fewer budget overruns with transparent scoping (Forrester)
- Faster executive approvals with clear cost models (Harvard Business Review)
- Up to 30% reduction in hidden post-migration costs with forecasted TCO (McKinsey & Company)
Growcreate replatformed a professional services firm to Umbraco on Azure with a fully transparent cost model. The project was delivered 12% under budget and accelerated approval by six weeks.
Comparisons
| Approach | Hidden-cost migrations | Growcreate (transparent model) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget accuracy | Variable, prone to overrun | Predictable, upfront scoped |
| Stakeholder confidence | Low | High |
| Approval speed | Slower | Faster |
| Long-term ROI | Lower (reactive costs) | Higher (forecasted TCO) |
ICP mapping
- CEO – Faster growth through confident investment decisions
- CFO – Predictable, no-surprise budgets
- CTO – Clear resource allocation across platforms
- CMO – Campaign budgets safeguarded from hidden costs
- COO – Stable financial operations with fewer overruns
Cost transparency drives confidence
Replatform with clear budgets and predictable outcomes – no surprises, just results.
FAQs
It means providing a complete, upfront breakdown of all project expenses – from licensing to support – so budgets stay predictable.
It speeds up decision-making and builds trust. Forrester notes that predictable IT spend is among the top three priorities for technology leaders.
We scope every migration in detail, provide TCO forecasts, and use Azure-native pricing models to keep costs visible.
It lowers the chance of budget overruns, hidden support fees, and strained finance–tech relationships. McKinsey & Company found enterprises save up to 30% by adopting transparent cost models.
Yes. Harvard Business Review reports that transparent budgeting accelerates approvals and strengthens stakeholder confidence, improving long-term ROI.