Integration and data migration programmes adding control and not chaos

Multiple acquisitions can build rapid growth, but also increasingly complex operations unless businesses create integration and data migration strategies. We delivered a post-acquisition integration and data migration programme for a global trust and corporate services provider.

The challenge

Our client, a global trust and corporate services provider based in Jersey, had achieved tremendous growth through an aggressive acquisition strategy. This meant multiple integration and data migration projects were running simultaneously, and at the time of our appointment, the client was engaged in three acquisitions and six data migrations from three different platforms.

The changes across the client’s businesses were wide-spread and fundamental and without a sensitive but robust governance strategy and change management programme operations would become increasingly complex and difficult to maintain.

Our approach

Our experience of large scale acquisition and change programme management is, quite simply, second to none. It is why the client appointed us and what guided the entire programme from commencement to completion. We implemented a vigorous governance programme to engage the client’s teams spread across several jurisdictions. We set realistic milestones and communicated those details to all stakeholders. So, everybody involved knew what to do and by when.

Even more significantly, we strengthened the skills within existing teams helping the client ‘blueprint’ best practice for future acquisitions and subsequent integration programmes. Finally, we drew on our strong relationships with technology vendors. This amplified the collaboration we had engendered and improved the project planning across system changes and data migrations.

Our impacts

We achieved six data migrations across three platforms and several jurisdictions within seven months. Each was completed on time and under budget. We resolved legacy data quality issues by building an interface as part of the migration strategy. This interface delivered automatic reconciliation of transactions, enhancing the client’s accounting process and, significantly, reducing post migration issues.

We embedded project lifecycle standards for project initiation, planning, execution and evaluation, leaving our client with first-class, reusable tools for all future acquisitions and integration programmes.

Note: This case study was first published by Catalyst prior to the Sionic merger