Michelle: System migration: One size doesn’t fit all
4 min
- Michelle Lau
Here's something most people won't tell you about system migration: It's not actually one thing. The migration journey for a start-up selling their first thousand orders looks nothing like the journey for an enterprise processing millions. And understanding that difference? That's the key to getting it right. We've seen this play out across thousands of businesses, and the data tells a clear story: Migration complexity doesn't just scale with your business—it multiplies exponentially. Let me break down what that actually means for you.
For new and growing sellers
New and growing sellers have a massive, often under appreciated advantage: a clean slate. You don't have 10 years of legacy processes that you've duct-taped together. You're not dealing with workflows that worked really well in the past but are now failing as you grow in operational complexity, listing complexity, or team size.
Here's what starting fresh actually gives you:
Speed. You can be up and running in half the time a larger enterprise requires, and be using it from day 1.
Simplicity. With 1-2 decision makers who understand the entire business, you can move fast. No endless stakeholder meetings. No change management committees. Just smart decisions, quickly executed.
Future-proofing from day one. You can choose systems built for where you're going, not where you are. That means when you scale from 100 orders a day to 1,000, your systems scale with you.
The mistake we see? New sellers choosing platforms based on today's needs, then hitting a wall 18 months later. Choose for tomorrow, implement for today.
For mid-size businesses
We often see mid-size sellers using tools in ways they weren't designed for. For example, using a shipping software to handle more complex warehouse tasks like advanced automation and routing and advanced fulfillment.
For these businesses, moving to a new system can actually be quite straightforward because you're finally formalizing things you've patched together, perhaps not very well, because your current tools weren't designed for those use cases.
Here's where it gets interesting. If you're doing $1M-$10M in revenue, you've probably outgrown your tools—but you might not realize how much.
We consistently see mid-size sellers using shipping software to run warehouse operations, or stretching basic inventory tools to handle complex multi-channel routing. It sort of works, until it doesn't.
Here’s the thing. Mid-size businesses often find migration easier than expected. Why? Because you're finally formalizing all those workarounds you've been living with and replacing the patchwork with purpose-built solutions.
The key insight: You're not just changing systems. You're formalizing operations that have been held together with spreadsheets and manual processes. That's powerful.
For large operations
This is where migration gets really complex. We typically see two scenarios:
Scenario 1: You're running a comprehensive ERP that requires custom development for any change. Everything's integrated, but everything's also rigid. Making changes feels like turning an aircraft carrier.
Scenario 2: You've assembled a Frankenstein stack over the years. Different tools for shipping, order routing, listings, inventory, with an ERP handling just accounting. It worked as you grew, but now the cracks are showing.
The numbers tell the story: 6-12 months for migration, 10+ stakeholders to coordinate, but when done right, 211% ROI with 8-month payback periods. That's not incremental improvement—that's transformation.
For enterprises, it's not about changing processes. It's about system architecture. You need to:
Evaluate which tools should be better integrated versus replaced.
Map where data flow must be complete and accurate (versus "good enough").
Look at costs - sometimes that patchwork solution was affordable when you were small, but doesn't make sense as you ramp up order volume.
My recommendation
Here's what I always tell sellers: Take it one step at a time. Don't try to do a "big bang" launch where you switch everything - shipping, listings, inventory, and warehouse operations - all on the same day.
Yes, phased takes longer, but you know what else it delivers? Higher success, higher satisfaction, lower risk.
Start with shipping. Hook it into your existing tech stack. Get comfortable. Then, over 3-9 months, evaluate whether to migrate inventory and listings. Sometimes you'll discover there's still a role for existing systems—just with tighter integration.
This isn't about being cautious. It's about being smart. Every seller's workflows are unique—driven by SKU complexity, catalog size, team experience, warehouse layout, even physical constraints like multi-level facilities requiring specialized equipment.
The bottom line
Remember, it's not always all or nothing. Dip your feet in, validate, then scale. Reduce the risk, maximize the return, and build systems that grow with you. System migration isn't one-size-fits-all because businesses aren't one-size-fits-all. Your revenue, your complexity, your team, your workflows—they all matter. The key is matching your migration approach to your reality, not someone else's playbook.
