AzureSaaSMulti-TenancyFinOpsAPI DesignMonetization.NET CoreTerraform

TL;DR

A major enterprise acquired a legacy application that wasn't cloud-ready, scalable, or monetizable.

I led the full transformation — from architecture redesign to SaaS operating model and revenue strategy.

The result: a secure, multi-tenant Azure platform with automated provisioning, clear subscription tiers, reduced costs, and a new recurring-revenue model aligned with business goals.

SaaS Transformation Architecture

Modernizing an Acquired Application into a Cloud-Native, Monetizable SaaS Platform

A technical and business-focused transformation led end-to-end

Azure
Cloud Platform
Multi-Tenant
SaaS Model
Recurring
Revenue Model
Automated
Provisioning

Impact Summary

  • Time-to-market reduced by ~45% by modernizing deployment, architecture, and tenant provisioning
  • Operational costs lowered by ~35% through Azure-native services, elasticity, and FinOps optimization
  • New recurring-revenue stream created through subscription tiers and usage-based pricing
  • Customer onboarding time cut from weeks to hours via automated provisioning and identity integration
  • Product customization accelerated through API-driven architecture and LCNC extension options

Client Context

A global enterprise acquired a legacy application previously built by a competitor. Although the product had strong functionality and an active customer base, it lacked: modern architecture, extensibility, compliance, brand alignment, and—most importantly—a monetization strategy.

The client needed to transform the app into a secure, cloud-native, multi-tenant SaaS platform that followed their architecture principles, enabled new revenue streams, and integrated into their existing product ecosystem.

The Challenge

From both a technical and business perspective:

  • The system was a .NET monolith deployed on aging infrastructure
  • No containerization, no automated CI/CD, no cloud-native design
  • No support for multi-tenancy or subscription-based licenses
  • No API catalog or integration framework
  • No governance: weak IAM, missing audit trails, inconsistent security
  • High TCO and poor elasticity
  • No clear business model → zero recurring revenue, difficult upsells
  • Clients demanded customization → causing code forks and slow delivery

The organization needed modern architecture, product discipline, and a revenue-first strategy.

Cloud Architecture Diagram

My Role & Approach

As Principal Enterprise Architect, I led the technical modernization, operating model definition, and business transformation.

1. Technical Assessment & Architecture Blueprint

Technologies & Tools Used:

Azure App ServicesContainer AppsAzure SQLSQL Elastic PoolsAPIMKey VaultEvent GridAzure ADTerraformBicepGitHub ActionsAzure DevOpsReactTypeScriptPower PlatformLogic Apps

Key Outputs:

  • Full architecture assessment (code quality, scalability, API maturity, data model)
  • Cloud readiness scorecard
  • Security gap analysis (IAM redesign, network segmentation, Zero Trust alignment)
  • Defined the future-state Azure-native architecture, including:
    • • Containerization (Linux containers, .NET Core services)
    • • Event-driven components
    • • Centralized secrets management
    • • Automated provisioning via IaC
    • • Observability stack (App Insights, Log Analytics)

2. Modern Application Composition Layer

To allow faster innovation and customer-specific customization without code forks, I designed an extensibility framework combining:

Micro-frontends & React Component Library

  • • Reusable components packaged as independent modules
  • • Independent deployments aligned with domain ownership
  • • Brand-aligned UI/UX through a shared design system

API-driven Backend Modernization

  • • Refactored core functionality into REST/GraphQL endpoints
  • • Published APIs through Azure API Management
  • • Introduced authentication via Azure AD OAuth2 / OIDC

Low-Code/No-Code Enablement (LCNC)

  • • Created custom connectors for Power Apps
  • • Business users could build mini-apps, automation flows, and dashboards safely
  • • Added event triggers through Logic Apps for workflows

GenAI Augmentation (Optional Layer)

  • • Natural-language query generation and insights
  • • Enhanced dashboards via Azure OpenAI + Power BI Embedded

This combination offered enterprise governance with business agility.

3. SaaS Operating Model Design

A crucial deliverable: turning the platform into a profitable SaaS business.

Key Areas I Defined:

  • Multi-tenancy model: DB-per-tenant pattern using SQL elastic pools
  • Automated tenant provisioning: ARM/Bicep/Terraform templates
  • Subscription management: Role-based tiering and feature gating
  • Usage metering & cost transparency (FinOps)
  • API marketplace for partners and integrators
  • Tenant-aware versioning & safe rollout through CI/CD rings

This aligned technology with revenue predictability and scalability.

4. Monetization Strategy & Business Alignment

A C-level priority was ROI, so I worked closely with Product, Finance, and Sales.

I Contributed To:

Pricing Strategy

  • • Designing pricing tiers: Basic → Pro → Enterprise
  • • Mapping features and API limits to each tier
  • • Building the unit economics model

Financial Modeling

  • • Cost-per-tenant analysis
  • • Margin targets
  • • Subscription revenue forecasting

Go-to-Market

  • • GTM enablement plan
  • • Sales playbooks
  • • Customer onboarding flows

KPI Definition

  • • Time-to-onboard
  • • Cost-to-serve
  • • Tenant churn
  • • Active user growth
  • • Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR)

This ensured the modernization wasn't just technical—it delivered real business value.

The Outcome

Within the first year, the client gained:

A modern, secure, cloud-native platform running on Azure
A fully defined SaaS operating model and monetization strategy
Multi-tenant provisioning with automated deployments
Stronger security posture aligned with industry frameworks
A composable and extensible front-end architecture
Custom integrations through secure APIs and LCNC tooling
Clear ROI visibility and recurring revenue potential
A strategic foundation for future AI-driven features

The project transformed a legacy acquisition into a scalable, profitable SaaS product—aligned to corporate standards and ready for enterprise customers.

What This Means for Future Clients

I bring a blend of:

  • Deep technical modernization experience (Azure, .NET, APIs, DevOps, micro-frontends)
  • Strong product thinking (roadmaps, feature rollout, customer experience)
  • Clear business acumen (ROI, pricing, monetization, cost modeling)
  • Ability to translate business needs into technical execution
  • A structured, collaborative approach that aligns engineering, product, and leadership

If you need to transform an application—legacy or newly acquired—into a scalable cloud-native SaaS platform that brings real business value, I can help you make it happen.

This transformation shows how a legacy application can evolve into a scalable, secure, revenue-generating SaaS platform when architecture, business strategy, and modernization align.

Client Feedback

"Iulian quickly understood both our business pressures and the technical limitations of the legacy product we had acquired. He provided a clear modernization strategy, aligned multiple teams, and delivered a roadmap that turned the application into a scalable SaaS platform. His ability to connect architecture with commercial outcomes was exceptional."
Chief Technology Officer
Global Enterprise Client

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