We are currently seeing more and more companies wanting to change their UEM model. The reasons for this vary: scarce resources, increasing security requirements, changed licensing models, cost pressure. As experts in various UEM systems, we recommend comparing the respective functions and license costs very carefully and checking them in detail.
Once the decision has been made in favor of a new UEM system , , the change should go as smoothly as possible—but we understand the concerns of IT administrators, who have to deal with thousands of devices, different device types and usage scenarios, and complex role constructs . A UEM change can be a real test of endurance.
In this blog article, we reveal the four success factors that will keep frustration away from both your IT team and end users, and how a tool like EBF Onboarder can help.
Success factor 1: Thorough preparation
It may sound obvious, but a comprehensive inventory is the be-all and end-all of any successful UEM migration. Only once it is clear which devices are in use can the rest of the process be planned effectively.
The rule of thumb is: if it’s not recorded, it can’t be migrated or managed. That’s why all device types and usage scenarios need to be included on the list – iOS devices as well as Android, Windows, and macOS devices, regardless of whether they are purely business devices, company devices with private use, or privately owned devices used and managed for business purposes (COBO, COPE, or BYOD). At this stage, it should already be determined whether the new UEM system should manage all devices or whether there are exceptions – for example, for those that are due for replacement in the near future and for which migration is therefore no longer useful or necessary.
The next step is to create a migration plan. This ensures that not all devices are migrated at once, but in well-planned waves – tailored to network load and available support resources.
2 Pro tips:
- Define the waves according to specific criteria, e.g., by location, device type, or team priority.
- A division of approximately 500 to 1,000 devices per migration round has proven to be effective.
This prevents the help desk from being overwhelmed with too many queries at once. At the same time, valuable lessons can be learned after each run and optimizations made for the next batch.
With our EBF Onboarder, a tool for automated end device migration, a total of 2.8 million devices have already been migrated. The largest customer project involved 100,000 devices. The EBF Onboarder supports migration in waves and clearly maps the individual waves. It is the only tool of its kind worldwide.
2. Success factor: Automated communication that gets everyone on board
A migration can only run smoothly if everyone involved is informed, involved, and prepared. This also includes end users, who are often forgotten or neglected.
Early and transparent communication is crucial for end users—and IT also benefits from this.
Automated invitation letters, well-timed reminder emails, and clear instructions on how to carry out the migration create security and guidance. The right timing is important here: communication measures should be sent when the support team is available—i.e., not in the evening or on weekends.
Additional tools such as a ticket system or a compact FAQ catalog for recurring questions also reduce the burden on support. The bottom line is that professional communication reduces the burden on the help desk and paves the way for good user participation.
Only EBF Onboarder offers text templates and configuration options for the sending time.
3. Success factor: Automate migration and involve users
The less effort involved, the better: the migration process should be as automated as possible and, above all, user-friendly. This minimizes downtime and increases end-user readiness. EBF Onboarder even allows users to choose the starting point of their migration themselves within a defined time window.
Ideally, users should be able to initiate the migration themselves and complete it with just a few clicks when it fits into their daily routine.
Ideally, the actual switchover should be relatively intuitive and run almost automatically: a few clicks should be enough to automatically register the device with the new UEM system and equip it with the appropriate configurations, rights, and licenses. A major advantage of the EBF Onboarder’s remote migration is that IT does not need to physically access the devices – which in turn saves time, resources, and organizational effort.
Another advantage of the EBF Onboarder is that administration rights, such as those required for Windows devices, can be temporarily restricted. This means that they only apply for the duration of the migration and are then immediately revoked from the user. This reduces the workload for administrators and at the same time ensures that security and compliance requirements are reliably met.
IT administrators can easily perform and monitor the migration remotely with the EBF Onboarder.
4. Success factor: Maintain an overview with dashboards and data
Transparent monitoring of the entire process is also crucial to the success of any migration. A central dashboard should show at a glance which devices have already been migrated and where there may be problems. This allows IT to provide information on the migration status at any time and immediately identify where errors may occur and support is needed.
A clear dashboard helps to follow up and intervene at an early stage.
This is important because every transition phase poses a potential security risk: as long as a device is not yet fully integrated into the new UEM system but has already been removed from the old system, it remains unmanaged and therefore vulnerable to attacks.
At the end of each migration phase, it is worth taking a brief look back: Lessons learned help to record experiences across teams and make them available for the next migration wave . The final step, decommissioning the old system, should only be taken once all migration phases have been completed.
By the way: EBF Onboarder not only offers a clear dashboard, but also comprehensive reports.
Conclusion: Planning, automation, and monitoring for successful UEM migration
Sure, a UEM change is not a sure-fire success. But with a clear structure, good communication, and extensive automation, the process can be implemented efficiently and smoothly.
This has been demonstrated by hundreds of EBF Onboarder projects involving tens to hundreds of thousands of devices. It’s no surprise that requests and recommendations for our tool are on the rise. EBF Onboarder is tried and tested and available for iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows devices.
You can find all the information on our product page. Here you can find out more and request a free trial license.
