How to Get Content Migration Right

So you have decided to upgrade to a new content management system. Perhaps you are worried about support for SharePoint 2013 or other legacy systems coming to an end. Perhaps you are concerned about compliance issues from poor document management. Whatever the reason, if you considering a content migration then chances are you are aiming to put your documents in the cloud, for example in Microsoft 365. Such a move can offer important benefits in terms of cost reduction and business agility.

It is important to bear in mind that content migration is not a trivial affair. It is not unusual for mid-market organisations to begin a migration and then realise they had underestimated the scope and seriousness of the task, causing significant business disruption. What then are your options when it comes to updating your content management systems? Here are four main options from our recently published guide , The keys to successful content migration for mid-market enterprises.

Keep existing systems going

This easiest of options is also the least optimal. If you think you need a new content management system today, just imagine how much worse the need will be if you delay for another year or so. To try continuing to use increasingly outdated technology platforms will not only be costly but could also expose your organisation to significant cyber risks as it becomes harder to patch and secure your systems.

Invest heavily in state-of-the-art tools

There are tools on the market that are designed to help large enterprises carry out complex content migrations. Such tools will probably have all the capabilities you need—and many you don’t. It is likely that mid-market organisations will not get a good return on investment from spending too heavily on migration tools, unless the content involved is unusually complex.

Rely on in-house resources

Most mid-market IT teams are already stretched and asking them to undertake a content migration is likely to put a strain on their ability to service core systems and processes. As noted above, migration projects are rarely as straightforward as they seem. Another challenge for in-house teams is that optimal content migration often requires specialist skills and knowledge that are not usually present in mid-market organisations.

Employ a specialist

Bringing in a third party to handle your content migration may seem like a luxury but in most cases will end up being the most effective and efficient way of getting the job done. At Deltascheme, for example, we have carried out migrations for a wide range of mid-market enterprise and public sector clients and so we know what to look out for and what pitfalls to avoid.

We can also undertake value-added tasks such as configuring Microsoft 365 to optimise the value of content once it is hosted in the cloud. Above all, we can help ensure your migration goes ahead without a hitch and with minimal impact on your daily operations. To find out more, download your free guide  to The keys to successful content migration for mid-market enterprises now.