Ben is the VP of Product at ShareGate.
A recent company survey of 650 IT professionals in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany and France revealed that 80% of organizations are planning or navigating a merger, acquisition or divestiture within the next 12 to 24 months. These initiatives represent more than technical challenges for IT leaders; they also affect workplace culture during organizational change.
Data Migration Creates Cultural And Technical Strain
The survey also found that 48% of organizations are migrating from Google Drive and Gmail, highlighting the cross-platform complexity many teams face.
The stakes are high. IBM reports that the global average cost of a data breach is $4.88 million, while Big Panda states that unplanned downtime averages $14,056 per minute—rising to $23,750 per minute for large enterprises.
Yet the primary challenge isn’t just technical—migrations are closely tied to company culture.
How Migrations Transform IT
Migration projects shift IT teams from reactive support to strategic roles. Teams accustomed to fielding tickets suddenly find themselves responsible for high-visibility initiatives with executive oversight. Everything depends on these teams, yet they often lack insight into how work actually flows through the organization.
IT professionals must evolve from ticketing system management to strategic planning, measuring value delivery rather than just system uptime. The pressure comes from meeting tight deadlines while aligning the entire organization around the migration roadmap.
The technical challenge is compounded by the “RMR” framework—deciding what to remove, migrate as-is or rebuild. This assessment phase requires mapping an organization’s entire digital workflow, and each decision impacts collaboration, making IT choices inherently cultural.
Why Remote Work Creates Hidden Migration Risks
Remote work limits informal alignment opportunities, like hallway conversations that immediately ensure clarity and address course correction. Digital tools were intended to bridge these gaps but often create information silos.
Communication breakdowns can undermine project alignment and cultural cohesion, especially as employees interact primarily within their immediate teams. ShareGate’s survey confirms that user adoption and change management rank among the top challenges during M&A transitions. Building clarity requires understanding how work actually flows through an organization, then designing systems that support rather than hinder those patterns.
Building Effective Digital Workplace Teams
Successful migrations require cross-department expertise. Forward-thinking organizations form dedicated teams blending IT, HR and communications knowledge:
• IT provides system expertise but may need support with messaging
• HR understands cultural dynamics but may not grasp technical constraints
• Communications can craft narratives that resonate across audiences but require technical and cultural input
This collaboration is particularly valuable during acquisitions, where two cultures and infrastructures must integrate. Treating technology migration and cultural integration as complementary strategies reduces friction and enhances adoption.
Managing Security Without Friction
Security and compliance are top migration pain points, reflecting tension between protection and productivity. The biggest risks during these transitions come from internal factors:
• Incorrectly configured permissions
• Accidental broad content sharing
• Sensitive information exposure via new AI tools
• Complex permission mapping from simple to multilayered systems
Organizations must balance security best practices with business efficiency, using out-of-the-box solutions like Microsoft Purview with automation policies, then building on that foundation. The goal is seamless security that requires minimal user understanding.
Driving Adoption Through Training And Guardrails
Successful migrations require users to adopt new tools. Survey respondents cited training investments as essential, but traditional training approaches often fail.
Effective change management identifies champions throughout the organization who drive adoption within teams. Guardrails guide users toward correct actions without requiring deep technical knowledge, enabling self-service success.
Laying The Foundation For AI Success
Despite the hype around generative AI, most organizations still run small pilots rather than transformative deployments. Technology-first approaches often fail because they don’t align with how people work.
Migration projects provide an opportunity to organize information strategically, establishing a foundation for AI and other technologies. Thoughtful transitions ensure that infrastructure supports collaboration and innovation rather than replicating old systems.
Turning Transition Challenges Into Strategic Advantage
The most successful M&A migrations create digital environments where employees want to collaborate. HR and IT leaders working together early understand how infrastructure choices impact workplace experience and cultural integration. When these partnerships succeed, migrations enhance cultural cohesion instead of causing frustration.
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