A Technology Migration Doesn’t
Have To Be An Unpleasant Event. Technology migrations are among the most labor- and
time-intensive operational initiatives a company can undertake. These projects often grow
in scope as they progress, introducing additional challenges and issues that must be
addressed swiftly in order for the migration to succeed.
Migration projects are potentially the most disruptive to
the workplace, as end-users encounter unexpected changes and displacement and IT staff
suffer from complaints of lost data and lost functionality. Failure to communicate the
message of IT change will slow — and possibly doom — adoption and acceptance.
CoreTech treats migrations
differently
CoreTech Consulting Group® takes a unique
approach to technology migrations, treating them as business events rather than merely
technical projects. CoreTech crafts communications plans to involve users in what’s
happening. By taking time to understand the client’s business needs and carefully
assess the impact and value of the business event, CoreTech has consistently performed
migrations on time and under budget without major disruption to the user community.
CoreTech believes technology migrations should:
- Be centered around business value and impact to the user
- Be executed within budget
- Contain no surprises — for users, IT staff or
management
- Deliver all new functionality
- Maintain all components needed by the user
- Integrate transitional support seamlessly into permanent
support
"A CoreTech migration is a
non-event." — CIO, Towers Perrin
CoreTech’s fundamental mission is to help
companies maximize the benefits of new technology while minimizing the risks. This
approach is summed up in our exclusive TOPPSM discipline — representing the Technical, Organizational,
Process and People implications of any client engagement we undertake — an organic
part of the way CoreTech does business. Everyone at CoreTech subscribes to the TOPP
approach and, as a result, we’ve been able to consistently anticipate and mitigate
the hidden "gotcha’s" that arise as projects evolve.
CoreTech has expertise and experience planning, designing
and deploying a variety of migration initiatives, including the following common examples:
- Desktop Migration - Change to a 32-bit operating
system
Messaging Environment - Change to Microsoft
Exchange® or Lotus Domino®
Network Operating System - Change to Novel®
v4.1
Software Upgrade - Change to a new Sales Force
Automation system
During a technology migration, disruption to the user
community is a constant hazard. CoreTech takes great pains to communicate migration plans
and progress so there are no surprises along the way. With the deployment complete, we
provide training and supplemental help desk support to ensure users are entirely
comfortable on the new system. We assign "coaches" to work side-by-side with
them and deliver personal attention to top-level executives as needed.
Another key element in CoreTech’s technology migration
approach is our commitment to team building — selecting individuals to work in
productive groups that bring out each person’s talents. A primary reason CoreTech has
thrived is that we always keep our clients’ interest as our Number One priority,
without exception. Our consultants interface closely with their client counterparts and
client management to ensure objectives are being met satisfactorily. This also helps us
respond to new issues as quickly and effectively as possible.
CoreTech provides project documentation to client
management throughout the migration, not just at the end. We effect a complete knowledge
transfer so that our clients aren’t left with a technology system they don’t
understand. We ensure that Standard Operating Procedures are in place, that Help Desk and
Desktop Support are familiar with procedures, and that all engineering and infrastructure
changes have been communicated and documented.
How We Do It
CoreTech implements a tactical migration while focusing on
long-term strategy. Our recipe for a successful migration combines our proven migration
methodology with a disciplined approach developed from years of experience and technical
expertise. The CoreTech methodology is comprised of four phases, each of which involves
the specific tools and techniques that address the technology being delivered. Clients can
engage CoreTech at any point in the methodology, contracting for us to perform the full
migration or only select components.
Over the course of our experience, we’ve learned that
technology migrations can’t be managed like other types of IT projects. CoreTech
identifies individuals who have demonstrated certain strengths — superior
organizational skills, the ability to adapt and respond to the unexpected, outstanding
client relations skills — and trains them specifically on migration management. These
CoreTech professionals leverage their specialized talents to foster successful migrations.
Take The Risk Out Of Technology Migrations
Since 1991, CoreTech has been helping companies of all
shapes and sizes execute effective technology migrations. Our methodology, backed up by
the unique CoreTech TOPP DisciplineSM and an unparalleled commitment to client satisfaction, ensures that
we’ll deliver an integrated solution that comes in on time and on budget. |
