Microsoft SharePoint Online is growing in popularity as more companies move their operations to the cloud. Over 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies, along with more than 250,000 smaller businesses, use SharePoint as part of MS Office 365.
It’s not hard to see why SharePoint Online is gaining popularity. With SharePoint Online, businesses can take advantage of the scalability and decreased IT costs of the cloud while still having access to the latest features and capabilities from Microsoft.
However, not all SharePoint Online migrations are successful, especially those that are done without professional assistance. Half of all SharePoint migrations are not well connected to other systems, according to an AIIM study, and another study discovered that nearly 2 out of 3 SharePoint migrations are delayed.
The good news is that with careful planning involving IT personnel, business teams, and executive leadership, most of the most common causes of migration failure can be avoided. To ensure a smooth transition to SharePoint Online, read on for our top five recommendations.
1. Closely Assess & Analyze Your Content Value to Your Business
Before spending hours moving large amounts of company data, you should first assess the business value of your current content by answering the following three questions:
- Should this information be moved to SharePoint Online, or can it be archived for less money?
- Does this content’s organization help the company?
- Should we rearrange library holdings, redesign our web presence, or tinker with our security settings?
It is noteworthy to mention that making these choices in advance of the migration will save time, cut long-term IT costs, and help your company achieve its business goals by improving its information management. A piece of advice from us is that it is extremely unusual for an IT team to respond to such inquiries without the participation and input from primary stakeholders. Therefore, having input from the executive tea and business representatives is essential in this regard.
2. Recognize Possible Technical Challenges
SharePoint 2010/2013 and SharePoint Online both refer to the same underlying software. However, moving from on-premise to the cloud can be more challenging than expected due to fundamental design differences. Here’s an illustration:
- The size and number of files that can be stored in SharePoint Online may be different from those of the on-premises version. Before beginning the migration, it is important to investigate the potential consequences for your business.
- It is possible that non-standard code will not transfer cleanly to SharePoint Online. Collaborate with operational groups to devise a backup strategy for carrying out essential business functions without resorting to customization, such as by using Microsoft add-ins.
- Having more available bandwidth will expedite the SharePoint Online migration process. However, the opposite is also correct. Before you migrate, make sure you talk to your service provider about any potential bandwidth restrictions that could slow down your operations.
3. Pressure-Test Your SharePoint Migration Plan
The single most important thing you can do to ensure a smooth transition to SharePoint Online is to create a comprehensive migration plan. Your organization’s nuances and SharePoint’s specifications should both be considered in the planning stage.
The best way to cover all of your bases is to put together a diligent migration team made up of IT experts and company representatives. This team ought to be supported by a professional and reputable consultant or team of consultants from third-party sources with extensive experience in leading SharePoint Online migrations in your sector of the market. A great example could be Code Creators Inc. which is serving the market for 10+ years and providing seamless migration functions to companies all across the globe.
4. Get Your Company Ready for the Change
Employees’ reactions to the migration to the new system are likely to run the gamut of emotions, as is the case with any major organizational change. While some people will embrace the change wholeheartedly, others will actively push back against it.
Create a change management action plan that involves business teams and has sturdy executive support to head off potential roadblocks to user adoption. Educating users (through demonstrations, showcases, posters, etc.), training them, and providing post-migration support are all important steps to take before launching a new system.
5. Pick A Reliable SharePoint Migration Company
Hiring a Microsoft Trusted Implementation Partner increases the likelihood of a smooth SharePoint migration. For instance, Code Creators Inc. is a Microsoft Certified Partner and a highly regarded organization for planning and executing SharePoint migrations.
Contact Code Creators Inc. today to learn how we can maximize your company’s migration to SharePoint Online from SharePoint 2010.
