Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are exciting for growth, but they come with challenges, especially when it comes to IT integration. One of the most critical aspects of post-merger integration (PMI) is the alignment of digital tools, systems, and processes. When you’ve got two sets of systems, digital tools, and processes clashing, it’s a mess waiting to happen. And if you’re running Atlassian tools like Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket, it’s mission-critical to get it right. Efficiently merging these tools after a merger is key to unlocking value and avoiding disruptions.
We’re breaking down how to merge Atlassian tools as part of a broader post-integration IT strategy. You’ll get best practices to make sure your organization benefits from a unified, efficient IT landscape– without the chaos of a complex migration.
Post-Merger Integration (PMI) is the process of combining two or more organizations into a single, cohesive entity. This involves integrating various aspects such as IT systems, processes, and company cultures to ensure a smooth transition. The goal is to maximize the value of the merged company while minimizing disruptions. A successful PMI requires meticulous planning, execution, and management to ensure the new entity operates efficiently and effectively. Think of it as harmonizing a symphony in which every instrument must play in sync to create beautiful music.
Before getting lost in the details of merging (or separating) Jira or Confluence instances, let’s step back. An IT strategy post-merger isn’t just about merging systems—it’s about aligning technology, workflows, and, more importantly, people. If your teams can’t function smoothly together, the whole merger can go off the rails.
Enterprise architecture plays a vital role here, helping you streamline your IT landscape while improving collaboration. By integrating systems, simplifying tools, and enhancing decision-making, you set the stage for a successful PMI.
By focusing on these areas, businesses can ensure a smooth transition and unlock the merger's full potential.
Related: Building A Strong ITSM Foundation for Pharmaceutical Companies
Without a strategy, some organizations take years to fully integrate IT systems after a merger or acquisition, resulting in chaos and frustration in every department. Managing disparate systems creates technical debt, security risks, siloed work, and communication breakdowns between technical teams and leadership. This results in lost revenue and costly staff turnover. An efficient integration strategy mitigates these risks and allows teams to get back to the work that matters most.
Take 3E, for example. They were facing the same post-merger chaos; siloed systems and misaligned teams. By integrating Jira for project tracking, Confluence for documentation, and Bitbucket for code repositories, they built workflows that foster collaboration and innovation across the board.
A strong post-integration strategy focuses on:
Want to see how this works in real life? 3E’s case study shows how seamless integration drives efficiency.
Before you can successfully merge your Atlassian tools, you need to figure out what you’re working with. How are Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket used in each organization? How many instances are there? Are there other project management and Enterprise Service management tools in use? What overlaps, gaps or custom setups could complicate things? An audit is the first step to make sure you know exactly where to focus your efforts.
Here’s how you do it:
When you’re done, you’ll have a clear picture of where things stand, guiding your consolidation strategy.
Jira is the backbone of many teams’ project management processes, particularly in agile environments. When merging Jira instances from two organizations, you need to ensure that project tracking remains uninterrupted and that teams can continue their sprints and workflows with minimal disruption.
Steps to Merge Jira Instances:
Key Considerations:
For inspiration, check out how a leading satellite TV and entertainment company handled its Jira consolidation and enterprise visibility post-merger.
Confluence is your knowledge-sharing hub, and keeping documentation accessible after a merger is critical. Merging two Confluence instances requires careful planning to avoid duplicate content while ensuring that all teams can easily access and contribute to shared knowledge.
Steps to Merge Confluence:
Key Considerations:
Need help? The Confluence migration assistant is a great tool for ensuring seamless data merging.
For dev teams, Bitbucket is the source code command center. Merging Bitbucket instances takes careful planning, so you don’t disrupt development cycles leading to a better developer experience.
Steps to Merge Bitbucket Repositories:
Key Considerations:
Check out our guide for more on whether to merge or separate instances during a cloud migration.
Merging two companies' IT systems can introduce significant security and compliance risks, especially when handling sensitive customer data or proprietary information. As you merge Atlassian tools, it’s crucial to ensure that security policies, user access controls, and compliance protocols are rigorously followed.
Want to make sure your data stays safe? Atlassian’s security practices offer a robust solution.
You can have the best tech, but if your people aren’t on board, it won’t work. Change management and employee training ensure your teams are ready to embrace the new tools and workflows, especially during an Atlassian Cloud Migration.
Having a clear migration process is crucial to ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruptions.
A successful migration not only enhances operational efficiency and security but also enables organizations to leverage cloud advantages while minimizing disruptions and resource strain on their teams.
Cloud migration is a pivotal component of IT integration, especially during mergers and acquisitions. Moving to Atlassian Cloud offers a plethora of benefits that can streamline the integration process and enhance operational efficiency. Here’s how:
By migrating to Atlassian Cloud, organizations can streamline their IT integration, improve collaboration, and enhance operational efficiency, ultimately driving business success. Learn more about whether to merge or separate instances during a cloud migration.
Merging Atlassian tools like Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket isn’t just about avoiding chaos—it’s about setting up an ecosystem that lets teams collaborate, innovate, and drive value from day one. By following these steps, you’ll ensure your IT systems are aligned, continuity is maintained, and your merger realizes its full potential.
Selecting an appropriate migration method is crucial. Assessing factors such as complexity, compliance, and user numbers will help determine the best strategy, and engaging with a third-party solution partner may be beneficial for complex migrations.
Careful planning, clear communication, and the right mix of tech and people are what it takes to build that ecosystem. Looking for more guidance? Check out our M&A IT checklist to stay on track.