SharePoint is a powerful platform for collaboration, document management, and business process automation.
As organizations grow and evolve, they often need to migrate their SharePoint environments to newer versions or move to the cloud to leverage the benefits of SharePoint Online.
SharePoint migration projects are complex undertakings that require careful planning and execution.
As a SharePoint Development Company, we often assist clients with extensive experience in SharePoint Online transitions.
Although each customer’s situation is unique, we have observed recurring patterns in various projects. To ensure your migration process goes smoothly, we want to share some common SharePoint migration pitfalls that you should steer clear of.
Also, we will examine the importance of SharePoint migration services and SharePoint migration tools.
Let’s begin.
- Inadequate Planning
One of the most critical mistakes organizations make during SharePoint migration is inadequate planning. Commencing a successful migration project entails conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the current environment, encompassing site inventories, libraries, and customizations. A migration plan that comprehensively addresses all essential components is difficult to formulate without a precise grasp of the existing state.
To avoid this mistake, organizations should consider engaging SharePoint migration services. These services have experienced professionals who can assess the current environment, identify potential issues, and create a detailed migration plan. They also provide guidance on selecting the appropriate SharePoint migration tools for the job.
- Ignoring Pre-migration Testing
Skipping pre-migration testing is another common mistake. Organizations often underestimate the importance of testing their migration process in a controlled environment before attempting the actual migration. Without proper testing, unexpected issues can arise during the migration, leading to data loss or downtime.
To mitigate this mistake, it is crucial to perform pre-migration testing. This involves running a trial migration of a subset of data and evaluating the results. Any issues or discrepancies should be addressed before the full migration. SharePoint migration tools often offer testing and validation features to assist in this process.
- Absence of a Governance Strategy
Developing a governance strategy at the outset of your migration process is absolutely crucial. Based on our prior experiences with SharePoint intranets, one glaring problem that repeatedly emerges is the absence of effective governance across the entire environment. When there is no oversight over site creation, convoluted user permissions, and a proliferation of documents scattered everywhere, it inevitably results in a subpar user experience.
A well-structured SharePoint governance strategy establishes rules and procedures, enabling effective collaboration and defining user boundaries. It serves as the foundation for this purpose. Devoid of such a strategy, your SharePoint environment is susceptible to descending into chaos, which is certainly not what we aspire for, is it?
- Underestimating Migration Complexity
SharePoint environments can be highly complex, especially in large organizations with extensive customizations, workflows, and third-party integrations. Underestimating the complexity of migration can lead to delays and unexpected challenges.
Prior to initiating a migration project, it is imperative to evaluate the intricacies of the environment. SharePoint migration services can aid organizations in comprehending the extent of necessary tasks and in making informed choices regarding the utilization of SharePoint migration tools, third-party connectors, or customized solutions to fulfill specific requirements.
- Lack of User Training and Communication
Migration projects often focus on technical aspects, but neglecting user training and communication can lead to user resistance and productivity issues. Users may struggle to adapt to the new environment, resulting in frustration and reduced efficiency.
Organizations should prioritize user training and communication throughout the migration process. Providing clear instructions, conducting training sessions, and creating user-friendly documentation can ease the transition and ensure a smoother adoption of the new SharePoint environment.
- SharePoint is Integral to the Microsoft 365 Ecosystem
A common misconception is regarding SharePoint as a self-contained solution within the Microsoft suite. It’s vital to recognize that SharePoint isn’t a solitary entity; its full potential is realized when it collaborates with other applications such as Microsoft Teams, Office 365, Viva, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI.
Wrapping Up
Are these migration errors occurring with you?
SharePoint migration projects are complex undertakings that require careful planning and execution. Engaging SharePoint migration services and utilizing appropriate SharePoint migration tools are essential components of a successful SharePoint migration project. Properly executed, a SharePoint migration can lead to improved collaboration, enhanced productivity, and better information management within an organization.
Happy Reading!