Steer Clear of These Mistakes When Migrating to MICROSOFT 365
Still using that old Microsoft Exchange server (either on premise, or hosted by somebody else) for your email? It’s probably time for a change, even if the Hafnium virus hadn’t already convinced you to migrate to Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365). Migrating to Microsoft 365 is generally an easy project, but if you’re not careful, you may find yourself facing problems that can keep you from getting the most out of this comprehensive suite of productivity tools. We’ve listed some of the common issues organizations encounter when migrating to Microsoft 365 and how you can avoid them.
Not having enough bandwidth
Migrating your files and systems over to Microsoft 365 requires a large amount of bandwidth, which can result in slower internet speeds during the migration process. If the migration is carried out during business hours, you and your employees might struggle with online tasks, such as sending emails and holding video conferences. To avoid this problem, schedule the migration after regular business hours or on a weekend.
When the Ashton team performs a Microsoft 365 migration, we generally schedule it for a Thursday evening, after business hours. This offers much less distraction and downtime. It also allows us to be onsite on Friday morning to walk everybody through the new solution. And, it means that we have a weekend in case there are any larger unforeseen issues. It’s all about limiting disruption to the business.
Also, if you are already noticing slow speeds and service interruptions before deploying Microsoft 365, note that these issues will likely get worse after implementation. This is because Microsoft 365 services require a large amount of bandwidth. We can work with your internet service provider to determine existing network connection to ensure that it can handle the migration and the day-to-day operations of Microsoft 365.
Lack of end-user involvement and buy-in
User involvement is key to the success of any IT project, including migrating to Microsoft 365. Make sure your end users know what to expect during every stage of the migration process. For one, let them know how long migrating to Microsoft 365 will take and how it will affect their tasks. Starting the migration without informing users that their files and email will not be accessible during the process can lead to productivity loss and resentment toward the new platform.
And to ensure you get your employees’ buy-in, train them on how to use the new platform. Like upgrading to a new version of Windows, moving to a new email platform (from say, Gmail) is always going to cause consternation and confusion. Introduce Microsoft 365’s apps and features, and explain how these can help users enhance their productivity and efficiency. This will ensure that everyone is familiar with the Microsoft 365 environment, preventing any disconnect or confusion, and help to pave the way for a seamless migration.
Rushing the process
While it’s tempting to try and migrate all of your data at once, it would be foolish to do so. Successful migrations take planning, preparation, and execution. They are best done in stages. If you’re migrating your email accounts, for instance, it’s recommended that you move your emails to Exchange Online before gradually rolling out other apps. This way, all the data you need will be carried over to Microsoft 365 without any loss or corruption.
Stuffed mailboxes and large files
If your users have too many emails in their inboxes or have a lot of large files, the migration process could slow down significantly. Encourage your staff to archive their inboxes and delete large, unnecessary files to ensure that the process goes smoothly.
Doing the process yourself
On paper, migrating to Microsoft 365 seems like a simple and straightforward process. This leads many businesses to believe that they can do it on their own. However, without proper guidance from experts, you may run into problems that can harm critical business operations.
Ensure an error-free migration by partnering with Ashton Solutions. We’ll show you the proper way of migrating your business’s systems to Microsoft 365 without affecting your day-to-day operations.
If you are looking for help migrating to 365, contact Ashton Technology Solutions at 216-397-4080.
