fme AG
fme SRL
Why Your Migration Needs a Reality Check First
When you’re gearing up for a digital transformation, it’s tempting to jump straight into platform selection and implementation. You’ve picked your new system: everything else will just fall into place, right? Or better yet, let’s push the messy parts to Phase 2… or 3… or maybe 2028.
But here’s the reality check: in complex, regulated environments, transformation is never a simple “lift and shift.” Ignoring the migration side of the equation doesn’t just delay progress, it multiplies your workload. Now, instead of just launching a new system, you’re also stuck maintaining the old one. That means paying maintenance fees, meeting outdated security policies, and keeping someone on staff just to keep the lights on in a system you were trying to leave behind.
So, while you thought you were fast-tracking to the future, skipping migration planning means you’ve just signed up to deal with two systems, not one. Too. Much. Fun.
fme has spent over two decades helping clients navigating technology transformations, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: the biggest (and most expensive) migration problems usually existed long before the implementation even kicked off. Everyone’s so focused on where they’re headed, they forget to look back and check if there’s anything in their rearview mirror… like a major data issue.
And it’s not just the data itself; it’s the system it lives in. We take a hard look at the source system’s technical stack: how it was built, how accessible it is, what’s custom, what’s obsolete, and how long it’s realistically going to take to get clean, validated data out of it. Because that “one-click export” you were promised? It rarely works like that or it’s easy, but only your current vendor can do it at a hefty cost.
Hidden Issues Don’t Stay Hidden for Long
By the time a go-live date is on the calendar, you want everything working together: the system, the workflows, the people, and, critically, the data. But legacy systems often contain outdated formats, inconsistent structures, redundant or missing data, and almost always, gaps in metadata that make downstream mapping and validation difficult.
And if you’re assuming your new system vendor will take care of data preparation? Think again. Most vendors expect the client to come to the table with clean, validated data and a migration strategy in hand. If that doesn’t happen, project teams end up scrambling under pressure, reworking tasks, and putting compliance at risk.
Enter fme’s Migration Readiness Evaluation
The Migration Readiness Evaluation (MRE) is designed to solve these problems before they start. Whether you’re preparing for a major platform migration or just beginning to think about what comes next, the MRE helps you get a clear picture of your data and system readiness—without overburdening your internal team.
You’ll get:
- A comprehensive inventory of your content and data systems
- A Readiness Report that outlines the true state of your legacy content
- Risk mitigation recommendations to guide decisions and avoid project derailers
- A Migration Strategy aligned with your business and regulatory priorities
The process is designed to be lightweight (typically 3–6 weeks), with minimal disruption to your day-to-day work. And whether you’re evaluating one new platform or ten, the output is actionable for what you need to consider before you’ve decided, and aligned with your broader business goals.
See, and solve, the problem – before having to work the problem.
Clients come to us with different priorities, but the challenges we uncover tend to follow familiar patterns. Legacy systems are often the first hurdle with proprietary structures, siloed applications, and unclear metadata make it incredibly difficult to plan a clean, compliant migration. Then there’s the data itself: redundant, outdated, and often missing the context needed to make informed decisions. It’s no surprise that teams hit a wall halfway through their projects because that’s usually when the real data issues surface. By that point, everyone’s already eyeball-deep in a thousand other decisions around configuration, integration, validation… so dealing with legacy data suddenly becomes tomorrow’s problem. Except the go-live date? That’s set in stone. Which means you’re on track to launch a brand-new system that’s packed with the same old messy data.
That’s where timing becomes everything. By the time migration finally gets prioritized, internal teams are maxed out and there’s no bandwidth left to stop, assess, or course-correct. That’s why we can step in way ahead of time. fme takes the lead on the heavy lifting: evaluating your systems, surfacing the risks no one’s talking about yet, and making sure everyone understands what’s really in scope, before it becomes a fire drill.
And it’s not just about what needs to be moved. It’s about making sure everyone involved from the business, to IT, to leadership is working from the same playbook from the very beginning. That’s what the Migration Readiness Evaluation delivers: clarity, alignment, and a real plan built on your actual landscape, not assumptions.
Start Smart. Finish Strong.
If you’re heading into a migration or large-scale system upgrade, don’t wait for surprises to appear mid-project. The Migration Readiness Evaluation gives you the insight to plan with confidence, stay aligned with regulatory expectations, and protect your budget and timeline.
Download the datasheet below to learn the details and benefits of fme’s Migration Readiness Evaluation, and to discuss your upcoming migration initiative.
