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6 strategies and tactics for Migration

What is Migration strategy?

Every great achievement starts with a well-thought-out plan. It can be the launch of a new product, expanding into new markets, or just trying to increase efficiency. You'll need a delicate combination of strategies and tactics to ensure that the journey is smooth and effective.

Finding the right Migration strategy can seem daunting, particularly when you're focused on your daily workload. For this reason, we've compiled a selection of examples to fuel your inspiration.

Copy these examples into your preferred app, or you can also use Tability to keep yourself accountable.

How to write your own Migration strategy with AI

While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI generator below or our more complete goal-setting system to generate your own strategies.

Migration strategy examples

You will find in the next section many different Migration tactics. We've included action items in our templates to make it as actionable as possible.

Strategies and tactics for migrating staff to Windows 11

  • ⛳️ Strategy 1: Plan the migration

    • Conduct a hardware compatibility check for all 1500 staff machines
    • Create a detailed migration timeline with key milestones
    • Ensure all necessary licences and software are acquired
    • Develop a risk assessment and mitigation plan
    • Identify and train a project team to handle the migration
    • Create a communication plan to inform staff of the migration
    • Prepare documentation and training materials for staff
    • Set up a helpdesk or support team for post-migration issues
    • Determine backup procedures for data protection
    • Acquire additional resources if needed for successful migration

  • ⛳️ Strategy 2: Deploy in stages

    • Divide staff into manageable groups for phased deployment
    • Start with a pilot group to identify potential issues
    • Schedule migration sessions during off-peak hours
    • Monitor the pilot group’s transition and gather feedback
    • Adjust the migration plan based on pilot feedback
    • Roll out the migration to subsequent groups one at a time
    • Provide on-site support during each group’s migration
    • Ensure data and application consistency after each phase
    • Update progress and issues daily with the project team
    • Collect post-migration feedback from each group for continuous improvement

  • ⛳️ Strategy 3: Ensure post-migration support

    • Implement a post-migration helpdesk to handle immediate issues
    • Schedule follow-up training sessions for staff
    • Monitor system performance and user satisfaction continuously
    • Regularly check for and install Windows 11 updates
    • Conduct regular team meetings to discuss ongoing issues
    • Document common problems and solutions for reference
    • Arrange for ongoing technical support from the software vendor
    • Encourage staff feedback on the new OS experience
    • Regularly review and improve internal IT processes
    • Plan for periodic audits to ensure compliance and efficiency
migrationwindows-11project-managerit-support-specialistit-support-teammigration-project-team
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Strategies and tactics for migrating users and environment from Server 2010 to Office 365

  • ⛳️ Strategy 1: Plan the migration

    • Conduct an inventory of all users, e-mails, and files
    • Assess current server usage and data volume
    • Create a timeline for the migration process
    • Determine compliance and security requirements
    • Identify key stakeholders and migration team members
    • Select the Office 365 subscription plan and licenses
    • Establish communication channels for updates
    • Document the migration strategy and procedures
    • Set up a contingency plan for unexpected issues
    • Inform all users about the migration process and timeline

  • ⛳️ Strategy 2: Execute the migration

    • Set up Office 365 tenant and configure basic settings
    • Create user accounts and assign necessary licenses
    • Migrate e-mails using Exchange Online or third-party tools
    • Transfer files to OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online
    • Test migrated data to ensure integrity and functionality
    • Configure Office 365 services like SharePoint and OneDrive
    • Install and configure Microsoft Teams for all users
    • Provide training resources on new platform functionalities
    • Monitor the migration process and address any issues
    • Communicate with users throughout the migration

  • ⛳️ Strategy 3: Post-migration optimisation

    • Verify that all data has been successfully migrated
    • Configure Office 365 security settings and policies
    • Optimise Office 365 services for performance and usability
    • Train users on Office 365 and Teams features and best practices
    • Consolidate feedback from users and address concerns
    • Implement productivity and workflow improvements using Office 365 tools
    • Regularly update and maintain the Office 365 environment
    • Encourage collaboration using Teams and SharePoint
    • Monitor usage patterns and adjust resources accordingly
    • Plan for periodic reviews and updates to the Office 365 setup
migrationoffice-365it-administratorproject-managerit-departmentsupport-team
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Strategies and tactics for automating third-party migration

  • ⛳️ Strategy 1: Develop and implement a user-friendly migration toolkit

    • Research common integration challenges faced by 3rd party users
    • Design an intuitive user interface for the migration toolkit
    • Incorporate automated data validation checks within the tool
    • Develop comprehensive user guides and tutorials
    • Integrate a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement
    • Pilot the toolkit with a selected group of 3rd party users
    • Adjust the toolkit based on pilot feedback
    • Ensure cross-platform compatibility of the toolkit
    • Train support staff to assist users during migration
    • Launch the toolkit with a marketing campaign to increase awareness

  • ⛳️ Strategy 2: Create a comprehensive self-service knowledge base

    • Gather FAQs and common issues from current 3rd party migrations
    • Develop step-by-step guides for each stage of the migration process
    • Incorporate video tutorials for visual learners
    • Implement a searchable database for ease of information retrieval
    • Provide regular updates with new information and solutions
    • Encourage user contributions to the knowledge base
    • Establish a community forum for peer-to-peer support
    • Monitor common queries to identify areas needing more detailed guides
    • Incorporate AI to suggest relevant articles based on user queries
    • Promote the knowledge base through regular communications

  • ⛳️ Strategy 3: Enhance API capabilities for seamless integration

    • Audit current APIs for performance and potential optimisations
    • Work with 3rd party developers to identify necessary API features
    • Implement robust security measures for data integrity
    • Provide comprehensive API documentation with examples
    • Offer sandbox environments for API testing and experimentation
    • Introduce versioning to manage and maintain API updates
    • Implement webhook support for real-time integration updates
    • Develop SDKs in popular programming languages to facilitate ease of use
    • Monitor usage metrics and identify potential bottlenecks
    • Iterate on API enhancements based on user feedback and industry trends
automationintegrationdevelopersupport-staffapi-teamuser-experience-team
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Strategies and tactics for preparing for go live: migrating accounts to new portal

  • ⛳️ Strategy 1: Conduct a thorough audit

    • Review current accounts and data integrity
    • Identify and document discrepancies in account information
    • Verify account completeness and accuracy
    • Flag accounts with incomplete or problematic data
    • Organise meetings with stakeholders to discuss audit findings
    • Compile a comprehensive audit report
    • Create a plan to address audit findings
    • Assign tasks to team members to rectify discrepancies
    • Ensure all relevant data is backed up
    • Re-audit accounts post-rectification

  • ⛳️ Strategy 2: Ensure data readiness

    • Set up data migration tools
    • Perform test migrations with sample data
    • Check data mapping and transformation accuracy
    • Conduct penetration testing to ensure data security
    • Plan for data synchronisation during the migration
    • Create a rollback plan in case of migration issues
    • Schedule data migration during off-peak hours
    • Inform users of possible downtime
    • Clear data migration logs to monitor issues
    • Validate data post-migration for consistency

  • ⛳️ Strategy 3: Train and communicate with stakeholders

    • Develop training materials for new portal features
    • Schedule training sessions for staff
    • Provide FAQs and support documents to users
    • Create an escalation path for issues
    • Send regular updates to stakeholders about go-live progress
    • Gather feedback from test users
    • Resolve any issues raised by test users promptly
    • Ensure communication channels are open and responsive
    • Activate customer support for migration queries
    • Review and update training materials based on feedback
data-migrationauditproject-managerdata-analystit-teamcustomer-support-team
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Strategies and tactics for migrating users from Windows 10 to Windows 11

  • ⛳️ Strategy 1: Communicate and plan

    • Announce the migration plan to all users via email and intranet
    • Schedule meetings with department heads to discuss migration timelines
    • Create a migration FAQ document and distribute it
    • Establish a helpdesk for migration-related queries
    • Notify users about the features and benefits of Windows 11
    • Set up a migration timeline with milestones
    • Identify and list critical applications that need testing
    • Inform users about any potential downtime
    • Provide clear instructions for backup and data preservation
    • Create a feedback loop for users to report issues and suggestions

  • ⛳️ Strategy 2: Test and prepare

    • Select a pilot group of users to test the Windows 11 migration
    • Ensure critical applications are compatible with Windows 11
    • Configure a test environment to simulate the migration
    • Document any issues encountered during the pilot phase
    • Adjust migration plans based on pilot feedback
    • Prepare a step-by-step guide for the migration process
    • Create a checklist for post-migration tasks
    • Gather resources such as software keys and drivers
    • Ensure all hardware meets Windows 11 requirements
    • Develop a contingency plan for unexpected issues

  • ⛳️ Strategy 3: Execute and support

    • Initiate the migration process department by department
    • Perform regular check-ins with users during their migration
    • Provide on-site and remote support for any technical issues
    • Monitor the migration progress and update the timeline as needed
    • Ensure users' data is successfully transferred and accessible
    • Train users on Windows 11 features and functionalities
    • Keep communication channels open for troubleshooting
    • Collect feedback from users post-migration
    • Address any reported issues promptly
    • Evaluate the overall success of the migration plan and document lessons learned
migrationefficiencyit-managerhelpdesk-support-specialistit-support-teamuser-training-team
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Strategies and tactics for introducing Application Quality Metrics

  • ⛳️ Strategy 1: Measure functionality metrics

    • Identify all functionality provided by the application, including core and additional features
    • Classify functionalities into categories (e.g. report creation, performance assessment, notifications)
    • Conduct user need assessments to determine relevance of each functionality
    • Survey users to evaluate the conformity of features to their needs
    • Create a scoring system to measure feature suitability
    • Review user feedback regularly to identify new functionality requirements
    • Prioritise development efforts to address mismatched functionality
    • Use analytics tools to track usage of each functionality
    • Conduct workshops or focus groups to validate the necessity of new features
    • Regularly update documentation to reflect available features and their suitability

  • ⛳️ Strategy 2: Enhance usability metrics

    • Create a thorough user onboarding process to reduce learning time
    • Develop user training materials and video tutorials
    • Conduct usability testing sessions with new users to measure learning time
    • Implement user surveys to gauge ease of use
    • Analyse survey results to identify usability pain points
    • Streamline commonly used workflows to reduce the number of clicks required
    • Implement A/B testing to compare different user interface designs
    • Regularly review and update user interface based on usability feedback
    • Provide an in-app help feature for real-time assistance
    • Track and analyse user session data to find opportunities for usability improvements

  • ⛳️ Strategy 3: Optimise performance metrics

    • Perform baseline performance testing to determine current response times
    • Set target response times for critical user actions
    • Implement monitoring tools to track response times continuously
    • Conduct load testing to determine application throughput under various conditions
    • Optimise code to enhance throughput capabilities
    • Use profiling tools to identify and address bottlenecks in resource utilisation
    • Implement caching strategies to improve response times
    • Review and optimise database queries and access patterns
    • Regularly update hardware and software to maintain optimal performance
    • Document performance trends and improvement measures

  • ⛳️ Strategy 4: Ensure reliability metrics

    • Log all system failures and analyse root causes
    • Implement redundancy and failover mechanisms to increase MTBF
    • Schedule regular maintenance checks to preemptively address potential failures
    • Develop a fast and effective system repair protocol to reduce MTTR
    • Maintain a comprehensive knowledge base for troubleshooting common issues
    • Train team members in quick diagnosis and repair techniques
    • Implement continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to reduce risk of failure during updates
    • Monitor system availability metrics continuously
    • Automate system health checks to ensure high availability
    • Regularly update and test disaster recovery plans

  • ⛳️ Strategy 5: Improve maintainability metrics

    • Conduct code reviews to ensure high code readability standards
    • Implement coding standards and guidelines to maintain consistency
    • Use static code analysis tools to measure and manage code complexity
    • Refactor code regularly to simplify complex sections
    • Maintain comprehensive documentation for the codebase
    • Use automated testing frameworks to identify and fix bugs promptly
    • Track fix times for bugs and aim to reduce this metric over time
    • Implement a version control system to manage code changes effectively
    • Encourage pair programming to improve knowledge sharing and code quality
    • Conduct technical debt assessments and prioritise addressing high-impact areas

  • ⛳️ Strategy 6: Ensure portability metrics

    • Test application compatibility across different platforms (web, iOS, Android)
    • Implement a modular architecture to enhance platform compatibility
    • Document platform-specific requirements and adjustments needed
    • Use cross-platform development frameworks where appropriate
    • Develop platform-specific testing protocols to ensure consistent behaviour
    • Monitor user feedback on different platforms to detect compatibility issues
    • Create a detailed migration plan for moving to new platforms
    • Perform pilot migrations to identify and solve potential issues
    • Maintain a repository of compatibility and migration issues
    • Regularly review and update portability plans based on new platform developments
quality-metricsapplication-improvementsoftware-engineerquality-assurance-analystdevelopment-teamuser-experience-(ux)-team
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How to track your Migration strategies and tactics

Having a plan is one thing, sticking to it is another.

Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to keep your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.

A tool like Tability can also help you by combining AI and goal-setting to keep you on track.

More strategies recently published

We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.

Planning resources

OKRs are a great way to translate strategies into measurable goals. Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the OKR framework:

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