Hospitality brand, Big Table Group (BTG), was on a roll, acquiring several popular restaurant brands towards the end of 2023.
 
Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) present exciting growth opportunities, but successfully integrating IT systems between newly acquired companies can be highly complex and disruptive to everyday operations.
 
BTG needed a fine-tuned IT migration strategy to ensure a smooth transition for staff and customers. As their trusted IT partner for over five years, we were happy to help the company tackle their integration challenges.
 
This case study showcases how Atech’s expert team merged BTG’s new devices, data, software, and security into a new Microsoft 365 tenant and quickly onboarded BTG to our Managed IT Services and Security Operations Centre (SOC) –– fuelling their continued success.

The Challenge

BTG’s ambitious growth strategy hinged on integrating the new restaurants’ IT infrastructure swiftly and seamlessly. The key tasks included:

• Migrating 75 restaurants (with 2-3 devices per location) and 40 back-office staff onto BTG’s Microsoft 365 tenancy.
• Onboarding BTG’s devices to Atech’s Managed IT Services using Microsoft Intune and Defender for Endpoint.

However, Atech had to overcome two significant hurdles to ensure the project’s success, including:

• Holiday season limitations: The M&A was completed in September 2023, a month before the hospitality industry’s busy season (October to December). All IT changes had to be put on hold to ensure business continuity during the hectic holiday period.
• Tight timeframe: IT integration had to be completed by early April 2024, leaving a narrow window for execution.

The Results

With all acquired restaurants and back-office staff integrated into their Microsoft 365 environment, the company can ensure efficient access to essential tools and strengthen its security against potential cyber threats.
 
“This M&A project had to be fast-paced and involved many complex work streams. The best part of having Atech on board as our partner was their ability to share the burden of complex thinking and challenges. This allowed us to lighten the load for our internal team and gain valuable outside perspectives on best practices and potential risks. We regarded Atech as a trusted extension of our team, ensuring good governance throughout this complex journey.” – Sarah Pope, CIO of Big Table Group.
 
“Atech made everyone feel valued, not just an afterthought. They coordinated directly with the restaurants during this complex programme rather than relying on us as the third-party middleman. They were prompt, thorough, and addressed any issues directly with users, avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth. Atech’s meticulous data migration process ensured no emails were lost, which is impressive considering the constant flow of communication.” –– Devon Trew, Head of IT and Operations at Big Table Group.
 

Trust Atech for your IT integration needs

As a pure-play Microsoft partner, we leverage cutting-edge Microsoft products effectively and minimise disruption during critical business periods.
 
Our expertise in planning and executing complex IT integrations, particularly within the context of rapid M&As, makes Atech a valuable long-term partner for companies experiencing significant growth.
 
If you’re looking for similar results for your M&A or any large-scale IT migration strategy, Atech can help. Our experienced professionals can guide you through the entire process, ensuring a smooth transition and maximising the return on your investment. Get in touch with us today to discuss your specific needs.