Understanding the Complexity of Migration
Migration from one intranet solution to another, especially when dealing with a plethora of pages and documents, often conjures images of intricate processes and potential data loss. The complexity is generally attributed to:
- Volume of Content: Migrating numerous pages, documents, and other data while ensuring integrity and security.
- Content Relevance: Determining which content remains pertinent to current operations and which can be archived.
- User Experience: Maintaining or enhancing the user interface and experience during and after the migration.
- Customization and Configuration: Adapting custom-built solutions, workflows, and configurations to the new environment.
Hot Content vs. Cold Content: A Strategic Approach
A strategic approach to migration involves discerning between ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ content:
- Hot Content: These are documents or pages that are recently created or frequently accessed by employees. It includes essential data, ongoing project details, and other critical information that is regularly utilized in daily operations.
- Cold Content: This refers to outdated or seldom-used information that may not be immediately necessary for the organization.
Best practices suggest a selective migration, focusing primarily on hot content to ensure that vital, regularly-used data is readily available in the new intranet environment. Cold content, on the other hand, can be archived and accessed when necessary, ensuring that the migration is efficient and non-disruptive.
Migration within the SharePoint Ecosystem
When the migration is from a native SharePoint intranet or a 3rd party solution based on SharePoint, the process is somewhat streamlined:
- Content Location: The content remains within the same environment (the M365 customer tenant), which eliminates the need for massive data transfers between different platforms.
- Page Redesign and Rebuilding: The primary focus shifts to how many pages need to be redesigned or rebuilt in the new intranet solution. Some pages might be migrated as-is, while others might need a revamp to align with the new platform’s capabilities and design aesthetics.
- Data Integrity: Since the data remains within the M365 environment, the integrity and security of the content are inherently maintained.
Conclusion
Migrating to Powell Intranet from SharePoint or ISV solutions based on SharePoint can be a strategic move towards enhancing organizational communication and data management. With a meticulous approach towards content migration, focusing on maintaining the availability of hot content, and a streamlined process within the SharePoint ecosystem, organizations can ensure a smooth transition. The migration not only preserves the integrity and accessibility of critical data but also opens avenues for leveraging the advanced capabilities of Powell Intranet, thereby fostering a more collaborative, efficient, and innovative digital workspace.
