DXP migration strategy & timeline: A practical guide to get up and running fast

Support resources

Before we dive into the migration plan, remember that a successful project isn’t just about reaching go-live, it’s about setting your teams up for lasting success. These resources will help you understand the benefits of a complete DXP and guide you in choosing the best next step for your organization:

• Guide: “Less complexity, more impact: The complete guide to enterprise DXPs”
• Guide: “Upgrading your website: what to consider”

Now, let’s break down what this implementation would look like step by step.

Step 1: Platform setup and governance

Laying the right foundations for a smooth transition

The first step is all about foundations adapted to your organization’s size, structure, and goals. This is where you create the technical environment, set expectations, and align the right people behind a shared plan. Without this step, projects can drift, with technical teams spinning up environments without governance, content teams starting migrating without clear priorities, and risk factors going unnoticed until it’s too late.

At this stage, Squiz works closely with you to:

• Align goals and success metrics. We clarify what “good” looks like, whether that’s faster publishing, better accessibility, or improved user journeys.
• Prepare content for migration. Through a content readiness audit to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and structural improvements before migration. This ensures that when content moves into Squiz DXP, it’s optimized from day one.
• Stand up the DXP environment. Together, we configure the core workspace, permissions, and publishing workflows so your teams can work securely and confidently from day one.
• Establish shared governance and alignment. Everyone knows their role, from content authors to IT, with clear points of contact across strategy, delivery, and project management. This stage often includes a joint kickoff to confirm timelines, responsibilities, and next steps.

By the end of step one, you want to be confident that:

• Everyone agrees on the goals and success metrics
• Which part of your content is ready for the migration
• The DXP environment is provisioned and secure
• Risks are identified and documented
• Stakeholders are aligned and know their roles

Step 2: Team onboarding and training

Empowering your people to use the DXP with confidence

Technology alone won’t guarantee success. Once your platform foundations are in place, the focus shifts to people, giving teams the knowledge and confidence to use the DXP effectively from day one. Every organization has a different mix of skills and roles, so this phase is tailored to how your teams actually work.

At this stage, Squiz works alongside you to:

• Equip core users. We identify who will use the platform day-to-day, from content authors and site managers to developers and IT, and ensure everyone understands their role in the new environment.
• Deliver focused onboarding. Training is designed around your team’s needs, introducing the key tools and workflows they’ll rely on most. Advanced capabilities like personalization or experimentation can be layered in later once the basics are embedded.
• Establish governance rhythms. Together we define how content moves from draft to publish, what approval steps are required, and who is accountable for each stage.
• Create feedback loops. Regular check-ins and early user feedback sessions keep the migration on track and highlight any adjustments needed before launch.

By the end of phase two, you want to be confident that:

• Core teams know how to use the platform
• Roles and workflows are clear
• Training has been tailored to the needs of different stakeholders

With people and processes aligned, the next phase focuses on evolving your content at a pace and depth that suits your organization’s priorities.

Step 3: Content migration

Evolving your content to perform from day one

Step three is where most migrations hit their toughest phase: moving content from legacy systems into the new DXP. The goal is to turn your existing content into a foundation for long-term performance. Migration isn’t just about moving pages, it’s about refining, optimizing, and aligning content so it delivers value the moment your new DXP goes live.

Squiz provides tailored migration support based on the complexity of your site, from structured workshops to packaged migration services, so high-value content is moved first and validated quickly.

By combining migration and optimization into a single continuous phase, teams launch faster and smarter.

At this stage, Squiz helps you:

• Prioritize what matters most. We work with you to identify the content that drives the most impact (service pages, key user journeys, and high-traffic assets), so they’re migrated and optimized first.
• Refine as you migrate. Instead of simply transferring content, we help you enhance structure, metadata, and accessibility along the way, ensuring your new environment performs better from the start.
• Build for future scalability. We ensure your new templates, tagging, and component structures are ready to support ongoing content creation and personalization.
• Keep improving post-launch. Optimization doesn’t stop on go-live day. Early analytics and search insights guide small, high-impact adjustments that strengthen engagement and SEO in the weeks that follow.

By the end of phase three, you want to be confident that:

• High-priority content is migrated and tested in the new DXP
• Content governance rules are in place (ownership, review cycles) so content stays current and accountable
• Your migration and optimization workflows are established, allowing teams to keep improving content quality even after launch

Step 4: Go-live prep and testing

What should we check before flipping the switch?

The final step is about stability and confidence. You’ve set up the platform, trained your teams, migrated the core content and created a framework for ongoing optimization. Now it’s time to validate everything, minimize risk, and prepare for launch.

This stage aligns closely with Squiz’s quality “checkpoints,” designed to ensure clarity and confidence before launch. From scope sign-offs to QA validation, these repeatable milestones ensure no surprises at go-live.

At this stage, Squiz helps you:

• Test with confidence. Together we review functionality, accessibility, and performance to make sure everything works as intended across devices and audiences.
• Finalize readiness. Key stakeholders sign off on design, content, and governance milestones so everyone knows what success looks like on day one.
• Plan for stability. A structured rollout plan and clear communication keep the transition smooth, minimizing disruption for internal teams and end users.
• Embed continuous improvement. After launch, we stay engaged, helping you review analytics, fine-tune search results, and identify quick wins that strengthen performance in the first weeks.

By the end of phase four, you want to be confident that:

• All critical content and functions have been tested
• Accessibility and compliance requirements are taken into account
• Stakeholders are prepared for launch and post-launch support

Ongoing enablement: unlocking what’s next

Go-live marks the start of a longer partnership to help your teams explore what’s possible with Squiz DXP.

Post-launch, we offer a range of enablement pathways designed to help customers build confidence and capability across their digital ecosystem. As no two journeys look the same, our cross-functional teams can shape enablement around your goals, whether that’s scaling content operations, activating new features, or exploring future capabilities.

This ongoing enablement model ensures your DXP continues to grow with you, turning your launch into the foundation for a lasting digital maturity.

Next steps: Ready for a smooth and swift migration to Squiz DXP?

Migrating to a DXP doesn’t need to be a long, risky process. With a clear roadmap, you can reduce complexity, align stakeholders, and deliver a smooth, secure launch that positions your teams for innovation.

Book a 30-minute call with one of our Squiz consultants to discuss your organization’s goals and map out a migration strategy tailored to your needs.