Streamlining Communications When Migrating to Microsoft 365

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Migrating to Microsoft 365 from any source cloud, such as Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Slack, etc., is a significant undertaking for any organization, requiring careful planning, coordination, and execution.

One critical factor that can significantly impact the migration success is streamlined communication. Effective and efficient communication channels and practices play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless and secure transition to Microsoft 365.

By following the steps outlined below, organizations can ensure transparent communication with the migration service provider throughout the migration process.

1. Identify and Involve Key Stakeholders from the Beginning

From the start, ensuring key stakeholders’ involvement is crucial in achieving effective and streamlined communication during the migration process.

Every business will have different migration requirements when migrating to Microsoft 365. So, determine the key stakeholders within your organization who will be involved in the migration process and serve as contact points for communicating requirements with the migration partner.

Involving stakeholders from the beginning will ensure that you and the migration vendor’s team are on the same page throughout the entire process and the migration project is aligned with the organization’s business objectives.

2. Discuss the Budget and Timeline of the Project in Detail

A clear timeline keeps your migration to Microsoft 365 moving forward steadily, while budget estimations help determine the project’s overall cost.

Collaborate with your migration partner:

  • To create a detailed project timeline that outlines the different phases of the migration process, from migration planning to execution and testing. Regularly review and update the timeline to ensure the project stays on track.
  • To create an SOW agreement with pricing for the tool to migrate specific users and data and avail of other services based on your preferences. Creating an SOW also helps clients and vendors to stay aligned and reach their project goals together.

3. Start by Working with the Dedicated Migration Team

During your journey toward Microsoft 365 migration, unforeseen challenges may arise. A dedicated migration team develops the right strategies through effective communication, efficiently addresses challenges, facilitates collaborative planning, and ensures a smooth transition.

Schedule regular progress reviews with your migration team to assess the migration status and address any issues or roadblocks.

4. Set Up Regular Communication Channels

Decide on the most effective channels for communication with your migration partner. This can include email, phone calls, or video conferencing. Set a regular time frame for communication, whether it’s daily, weekly, or bi-weekly meetings, to keep everyone updated on the migration progress and address any issues or concerns.

Apart from the scheduled timings, there are chances where you might need to communicate with the migration vendors. Such situations can be handled by setting up a dedicated help desk where your IT team can get 24/7 support.

5. Learn About the Migration Vendor’s Support/Troubleshooting Services

When communicating with the migration service provider about their available support services, make it a priority to learn if and what type of partnership they share with Microsoft. For example, globally recognized and trusted migration vendors like CloudFuze leverages its Microsoft Gold Partnership to provide their business customers with top-tier support services during migration and post-migration.

6. Continue to Communicate Post-Migration

Having streamlined communication with the migration partner post-migration is crucial for several reasons, including addressing any post-migration issues and the data gaps through delta migration to ensure complete data migration.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-community-blog/streamlining-communications-when-migrating-to-microsoft-365/ba-p/3851216 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-community-blog/streamlining-communications-when-migrating-to-microsoft-365/ba-p/3851216 2023-06-20 15:00:00Z