6 Enterprise Migration Mistakes to Avoid When Leaving SharePoint 2013 Workflows

Migrating away from SharePoint 2013 workflows is a critical step for many organizations, especially with support deadlines approaching. While the transition opens the door to modern tools and improved automation, it also comes with risks that can disrupt business operations if not managed properly.

Too often, companies rush into migration without a clear strategy, leading to wasted resources, compliance issues, or functionality gaps. You can work with SharePoint Migration Experts like i3solutions, and avoid these pitfalls, plan smarter, and have a smooth transition to newer workflow solutions.

Common Migration Mistakes

Mistake 1: Underestimating Workflow Complexity

One of the most common mistakes you can make when moving away from SharePoint 2013 workflows is underestimating just how complex their existing workflows really are. What often looks like a simple approval chain or document routing process can actually involve multiple conditions, exceptions, and integrations built up over years of use.

When your company fails to account for this complexity, you may risk oversimplifying the migration plan. The result is often lost functionality, broken processes, or frustrated teams who suddenly find their tools aren’t meeting business needs. This can lead to costly rework and unnecessary downtime for your operations.

A thorough analysis of existing workflows is essential to uncover hidden dependencies and customizations. You can map each process in detail, so your organization can identify which workflows should be retired, redesigned, or rebuilt with modern tools like Power Automate or Logic Apps. This step ensures the new environment supports your business as effectively as the old one.

The best way to manage this complexity is to bring in experienced guidance. When you hire SharePoint consultants from i3solutions, you gain experts who know how to break down, document, and rebuild workflows without losing critical functionality. This preemptive approach saves time, reduces risk, and ensures your migration delivers real value.

Mistake 2: Skipping a Pre-Migration Audit

Another major pitfall organizations encounter when leaving SharePoint 2013 workflows is skipping a thorough pre-migration audit. Without an in-depth review of the current environment, businesses often move forward with blind spots that later cause disruptions, delays, and unexpected costs.

A pre-migration audit is important because it uncovers the true state of your workflows. Over time, your business may accumulate abandoned processes, outdated approval chains, or unused customizations that still linger in your system. Migrating these “as-is” not only wastes resources but also clutters the new environment with unnecessary baggage.

Beyond identifying what can be retired, an audit also highlights which workflows are business-critical. Some processes may need to be modernized, while others may require complete redesigns on your end to align with your current operations. Without this visibility, your company risks overlooking workflows that employees rely on daily, leading to productivity gaps once the migration is complete.

An audit also helps surface potential compliance and security concerns. Many industries rely on workflows that store sensitive data or follow regulated approval steps. Missing these during migration can expose organizations to risk, both operationally and legally, if processes are not properly rebuilt or tracked in the new system.

That’s why it pays to bring in experienced guidance. When you hire SharePoint migration experts from i3solutions, you gain a team that knows how to conduct a detailed audit, identify what truly matters, and build a migration roadmap tailored to your business. This step can guarantee that your workflows are improved and not just carried over.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Integration Dependencies

Another common oversight during workflow migration is failing to account for integration dependencies. SharePoint 2013 workflows often connect with other applications, such as CRM systems, HR platforms, or third-party databases, that can keep your business processes running smoothly. When these connections are ignored, the migration may appear successful on the surface but leave critical processes broken behind the scenes.

For example, an approval workflow might rely on data pulled from an external HR system or trigger actions in a financial application. If these integrations aren’t identified and mapped before migration, they can fail in the new environment, disrupting daily operations and frustrating employees. In some cases, the business impact can be significant, especially when compliance or customer-facing systems are involved.

The challenge is that many of these dependencies aren’t always obvious. Over the years, organizations may have built custom connectors, relied on APIs, or used third-party plugins that are deeply embedded into workflows. Without a deliberate review, these hidden dependencies can easily be overlooked and can lead to costly rework once the migration is already underway.

If you want to prevent this, it’s essential to audit all your workflow connections in advance and plan for how they will be rebuilt or replaced in modern tools. Addressing systems integration needs early ensures your continuity in your operations and helps avoid unexpected downtime. You can prioritize dependencies, so your organization can transition to modern workflows without sacrificing the connections that keep your processes running efficiently.

Mistake 4: Inadequate Testing

One of the most frequent mistakes during a workflow migration is inadequate testing. Many organizations assume that if workflows look correct in the new environment, they will function as expected. Unfortunately, this assumption often leads to errors surfacing only after go-live, when the impact on your business operations is much more disruptive.

Testing is about more than verifying that workflows run. It requires checking edge cases, conditional logic, user permissions, and integrations to ensure the entire process behaves as intended. Without this level of rigor, your business may risk introducing broken approval chains, data mismatches, or compliance gaps that may go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Another challenge is skipping real-world user testing. IT teams may validate the technical build, but if end users don’t test the workflows in realistic scenarios, critical usability issues often emerge post-migration. This disconnect can frustrate your employees, lower adoption, and reduce confidence in the new system.

Working with a Microsoft system integration company like i3solutions ensures testing is handled thoroughly and strategically. From structured test plans to phased rollouts, our experts can validate workflows under real business conditions, uncover hidden errors, and resolve your issues before they disrupt operations. Comprehensive testing is the difference between a migration that simply “works” and one that delivers lasting business value.

Mistake 5: Poor User Training

Even the most well-planned migration can fall short if users aren’t properly trained. Another mistake you can make when leaving SharePoint 2013 workflows is assuming employees will naturally adapt to the new tools. Without clear guidance, your users will struggle to complete tasks, leading to frustration and reduced productivity.

Modern workflow platforms often introduce new interfaces, terminology, and features. If employees aren’t familiar with how to navigate these Microsoft tools, they may revert to manual workarounds or create errors that disrupt critical processes. This not only delays adoption but also undermines the value of the migration.

Effective training should go beyond basic instructions. It needs to address real-world use cases, demonstrate how to manage exceptions, and give employees the confidence to handle new workflows independently. Hands-on sessions and accessible support resources are key to ensuring smooth adoption across the organization.

Partnering with the best Microsoft SharePoint migration services firm, such as i3solutions, helps your organization in avoiding this pitfall. Our experienced consultants can deliver tailored training programs, ensuring every user can understand the new workflows and feels confident using them. Proper training is what turns a migration into long-term success.

Mistake 6: No Contingency Plan

Workflows often sit at the heart of daily operations, from approvals, document routing to compliance processes. If something breaks during migration and there’s no backup plan, your team may face downtime that directly impacts productivity and business continuity.

In regulated industries, the risks can be even more severe. with compliance breaches adding legal and financial consequences on top of operational losses. For example, in healthcare, even minor workflow failures can lead to HIPAA violations, where there are corresponding fines for repeated violations.

A solid contingency plan should include rollback options, backup environments, and clear escalation paths. This ensures that if something does go wrong, your operation can continue with minimal interruption while issues are resolved. It also provides reassurance to stakeholders that risks are being managed responsibly.

To build this level of preparedness, it’s wise to hire experienced Microsoft SharePoint developers who understand both the technical and business implications of migration. With our expert support, your organization can implement contingency measures that safeguard critical workflows, reduce risk, and keep the transition running smoothly from start to finish.

Why Hire i3solutions

When planning a migration away from SharePoint 2013 workflows, choosing the right partner makes all the difference. Here at i3solutions, we are known to be a trusted Microsoft system integration company with a proven track record of delivering flawless migrations that keep business operations running without disruption. Our expertise spans industries of all sizes, ensuring that even the most complex environments are transitioned with precision and confidence.

Recognized as one of the best Microsoft SharePoint migration services firm, we have helped organizations across industries modernize their workflows, adopt Power Automate, and implement secure, scalable solutions. Our team ensures each migration is personalized to your business needs, reducing downtime and avoiding costly mistakes.

When you hire SharePoint consultants from i3solutions, you gain access to experienced Microsoft SharePoint specialists and Power Automate developers who specialize in mitigating risks. From auditing workflows to rebuilding complex integrations, we provide the expertise needed to transition smoothly while maximizing the value of modern workflow tools.

Make Your Migration Smooth and Risk-Free With Our Help!

Avoiding common pitfalls like underestimating workflow complexity, skipping audits, or neglecting integration testing is key to a successful migration. With support deadlines approaching, there’s no room for costly mistakes that disrupt daily operations. That’s why working with our trusted SharePoint migration experts is the smartest way to ensure a smooth, secure, and sustainable transition.

As a Microsoft consulting partner, i3solutions, combines deep technical expertise with proven strategies to guide organizations through every stage of their migration. When you hire experienced Microsoft SharePoint developers from our team, you gain partners who understand how to mitigate risks, protect business continuity, and unlock the full potential of modern workflow solutions. Reach out to us now and discover how we can tailor a migration plan to your needs. Our experts are here to help you transition confidently and efficiently.