Changing your core business software—also known as an ERP—might only happen once every eight years, but when it does, it can feel daunting. And for good reason: a poorly executed migration can be costly, time-consuming and disruptive. Once bitten, twice shy.
Yet, businesses often reach a tipping point where sticking with the status quo is no longer sustainable. The decision to move to new software is usually driven by a combination of pressing issues:
Operational inefficiencies that prevent your team from working effectively.
Frustration at being held back from executing on growth or digital strategies.
Disjointed workflows and inconsistent data across sales channels and touchpoints.
Security concerns from outdated systems that are no longer supported.
But here’s the good news: changing software doesn’t have to be a gamble. With the right process and the right partner, you can de-risk your move and position your business for long-term success.
The migration and onboarding were probably the most important reason for the success we had moving to Wine Hub. We cleaned our past data, which was a mess. It gave us the opportunity to rethink our business and implement a good strategy – who are our clients, how do we want to reach them, what more could we provide. It’s probably the most important time you can spend for your business.
The key to a smooth transition is following a proven playbook. Here’s the tried and tested migration process that will work for your wine business:
1. Choose Software Built for Your Industry
Opting for a platform designed specifically for your market makes all the difference. It reduces the need for custom development or in-house tech expertise, and it vastly increases the likelihood of a quick, successful transition. You don’t want to start from scratch—you want a solution that understands your business from day one.
2. Get Your Team On Board
Change management starts with communication. Make sure your team understands why the business is switching platforms, why now, and what it means for them. Outline the risks of not moving as clearly as the benefits of doing so.
3. Audit Your Data Strategically
Before migrating, assess the quality and completeness of your data. This is the perfect time to clean things up—clients, suppliers, order history, stock holdings, pending orders—so you’re only bringing across what’s accurate, useful, and up to date.
4. Plan for Iteration, Not Perfection
Data migration is an iterative process. You’ll export data from your legacy system, run automated checks (that’s our part), and review everything with human oversight (that’s both of us). This loop ensures nothing is left to chance.
5. Train in a Realistic Test Environment
Wine Hub creates a test environment that mirrors your live setup, using your actual data. Training your team in this sandbox builds confidence and familiarity, and ensures they’re ready to hit the ground running once you go live.
6. Refine and Finalise
Once the test phase is complete, apply any lessons learned, refresh your data and prepare the final migration into a clean, fully integrated live environment—connected to all your channels and third-party systems.
Moving from Sage to Netsuite had been more painful for the business, with Wine Hub much more intuitive. Consequently the data migration went smoothly, the business transition was quite straightforward with some adjustment to new ways of doing things. There were no moments of panic.
It might sound involved, but most migrations are completed in under three months—and the payoff is significant. When your data is accurate from day one, and your team is trained and ready, the system is embraced, not resisted. People feel empowered when they see the tools they use making their jobs easier and more efficient.
So yes—trust the process. Partner with a software provider that understands your industry, supports your team, and delivers a structured, proven migration. That’s how you make change not only possible, but successful.