How do you train and support your staff and stakeholders during and after cloud migration?

1 Assess your needs and goals

Before you start migrating, you need to have a clear vision of why you are doing it and what you want to achieve. This will help you define your scope, timeline, budget, and success criteria. It will also help you communicate with your staff and stakeholders about the benefits and expectations of cloud migration. You should involve them in the planning and decision-making process, as well as solicit their feedback and input. This way, you can identify their needs, concerns, and preferences, and address them accordingly.

2 Choose the right cloud provider and service model

There are many cloud providers and service models to choose from, each with their own features, advantages, and limitations. You need to do your research and compare them based on your needs and goals. You also need to consider the compatibility, integration, and migration options of your existing applications and data. You should consult with your staff and stakeholders, especially the technical ones, to get their opinions and recommendations. You should also review the terms and conditions, service level agreements, and security policies of the cloud provider and service model you choose.

3 Develop a training and support plan

Once you have chosen your cloud provider and service model, you need to develop a training and support plan for your staff and stakeholders. This plan should include the skills and knowledge they need to use the cloud-based platform effectively and efficiently, as well as the resources and tools they can access to learn and practice. Additionally, the schedule and format of the training sessions should be determined, whether online, in-person, or hybrid. Furthermore, roles and responsibilities of the trainers, mentors, and coaches should be outlined to guide and assist them. It is also essential to include feedback and evaluation mechanisms to measure progress and performance, as well as support channels and procedures to report and resolve any issues or difficulties.

4 Implement the training and support plan

After developing the training and support plan, you need to implement it according to your schedule and format. You should ensure that the training sessions are engaging, interactive, and relevant to your staff and stakeholders. You should also provide them with ample opportunities to practice and apply the new skills and knowledge in realistic scenarios. You should monitor and track their attendance, participation, and completion of the training sessions. You should also collect and analyze their feedback and evaluation results to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

5 Follow up and reinforce the training and support plan

The training and support plan does not end with the completion of the migration. You need to follow up and reinforce it to ensure that your staff and stakeholders are comfortable and confident with the cloud-based platform. You should provide them with ongoing support, such as refresher courses, tips and tricks, FAQs, help desks, forums, and newsletters. You should also encourage them to share their experiences, challenges, and best practices with each other. You should also update and revise the training and support plan as needed, based on the feedback, evaluation, and performance data you collect.

6 Celebrate and reward the training and support plan

Finally, you need to celebrate and reward the training and support plan to acknowledge and appreciate your staff and stakeholders for their efforts and achievements. You should recognize and praise their progress and performance, as well as their contributions and feedback. You should also provide them with incentives and rewards, such as certificates, badges, bonuses, or gifts. You should also celebrate the benefits and outcomes of cloud migration, such as improved productivity, efficiency, security, and innovation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?