Software

Hands on IT Systems Migration

Hands on IT Systems Migration

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The client

CP Electronics is a UK manufacturer of lighting controls and energy-saving products. When Legrand acquired the business, CP Electronics needed to move its IT systems onto Legrand’s network and infrastructure, while continuing to design, build and ship products as normal.

The challenge

CP Electronics had built up its own IT estate over many years: legacy email, on-premise file systems, a CRM, and bespoke software that supported key parts of the business. All of it had to move onto Legrand’s architecture. It had to happen with minimal downtime, no lost data, and staff who could carry on working throughout.

Legrand needed someone hands-on who could work as part of the IT team, understood both the old systems and the new environment, and could manage the many moving parts of the migration.

What I did

I joined the team as a hands-on systems migration specialist and took responsibility for migrating all the IT-related systems:

  • Email. Migrated legacy email to Microsoft Office 365, moving mailboxes, contacts and calendars with minimal disruption to users.
  • File systems. Moved company file shares onto the new infrastructure, preserving folder structures, permissions and access.
  • CRM. Migrated the CRM and its data so sales and customer service could carry on without interruption.
  • Bespoke software. Moved and reconfigured the business’s custom applications so they ran correctly on the new architecture.
  • Servers. Replaced legacy servers with new virtual machine (VM) servers within the Legrand environment.
  • Suppliers and support. Acted as the main point of contact between CP Electronics, Legrand’s IT support teams and third-party software suppliers, coordinating changes, access and cut-over dates.

The Approach

Every system was planned, tested and migrated in stages, with cut-overs scheduled to keep disruption to a minimum. Data was checked before and after each move. Users were supported through the changes, so the business kept running while its IT was replaced underneath it.

The result

CP Electronics was successfully migrated onto Legrand’s network and infrastructure, with email in Office 365, systems running on modern virtual servers, and its CRM and bespoke software working in the new environment. The business gained a more secure, supported and standardised IT platform, fully aligned with its new parent company.

Core components: Microsoft Office 365, virtual server infrastructure, file system and permissions migration, CRM and bespoke application migration, and coordination with Legrand IT and third-party suppliers.

Project Tasks

  • SysPro ERP

  • Project Management
  • Act CRM
  • Windows Servers
  • Microsoft Sql Server
  • Avaya IP Telephony
  • Cisco Networking
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Project Details

Moving an acquired business onto its new parent’s network, without disrupting the day job.

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Client

  • I was introduced to James through a long-standing professional relationship when I was promoted to Group IT Manager. James had already successfully delivered several high-profile projects across the group over many years, and it quickly became clear that they would be a key player in the success of our future integration and infrastructure programmes.

    One of the major advantages from the outset was his deep understanding of how our group systems operated, combined with the strong working relationships he had already established with key IT personnel across multiple international locations. These relationships proved invaluable, as they were collaborating with overseas teams on a daily basis throughout the project lifecycle.

    The acquisition project itself was particularly challenging. At the time of acquisition, the business had no dedicated IT Manager, and there was a significant knowledge gap surrounding several critical operational systems already deployed within the organisation. Following an initial scoping and discovery phase, it became apparent that the scale and complexity of the work required was far greater than originally anticipated.

    Despite the challenges, James approached the project with professionalism, technical expertise, and a highly organised project management methodology. His hands-on technical capability, combined with strong leadership and communication skills, ensured the project remained structured, controlled, and ultimately highly successful.

    The programme covered a broad range of critical infrastructure and business system transformations, including WAN and LAN implementation, telephony upgrades, server consolidation, ERP/MRP/CRM migrations, file and folder services, SharePoint migration, and Office 365 deployment. Throughout each stage, James maintained a clear focus on minimising operational disruption while ensuring the business could continue functioning effectively during transition periods.

    What impressed me most was his ability to bridge both technical delivery and stakeholder management. He was equally comfortable working with senior management, operational users, and technical teams, always communicating clearly and ensuring expectations were managed appropriately.

    I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending James for any senior IT leadership, technical project management, infrastructure migration, or systems integration role. They consistently demonstrate the professionalism, technical depth, and determination required to deliver complex projects successfully.

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    Cristian