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A successful go-live doesn’t happen by chance; it’s the result of meticulous preparation and practice. The more effort invested in these essential steps, the smoother the transition will be.

This article explores the critical role that mock cutovers and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) play in preparing for go-live, told through the perspective of our fictional company Galactic Gravity Inc.

As the team faces down the last stretch in bringing Project Pulsar to go-live, project manager Jared learns just how valuable a mock cutover can be in identifying and addressing potential roadblocks before they disrupt operations. Read on to discover why investing in preparatory activities is the key to minimizing risks and achieving a seamless go-live experience.

Pressure from Stakeholders Prompts Cutting Corners

Jared Spinner frowned as he reviewed the updated timeline for Project Pulsar’s Go Live. The Project Manager had spent the last couple of hours trying to find a way to avoid pushing the project back yet again, after their last Business Simulation Testing session had forced them to pause for 4 days.

It had been the right decision to allow the team time to adequately prepare, but now Jared was facing a deluge of pushback from people like Doug Pallegio, who was growing increasingly impatient (which Jared didn’t even think was possible to get more impatient than he’d been at the start.) According to Jared, there was only one option that would give them a chance at reaching go-live on time: forego the mock cutover.

Mock Cutover: Necessary Step or Wasted Time?

“That’s not an option,” Jesse Bowman insisted. The usually diplomatic solution architect shook his head.

“I don’t like it any more than you do, but forgoing the mock cutover session is the best option we have for making the Go Live date,” Jared argued. “Some financial data has already been migrated, such as account balances for prior periods and the current year budgets. There is also time allotted for transaction cleanup such as final order shipping and invoicing. We have our checklist for what needs to happen during cutover; I’m confident our team will be able to handle it.”

“I don’t think you understand,” Jesse pressed, running his hand through his gray hair. “Until you’ve done a bunch of cutovers, you don’t know how many things can go terribly, terribly wrong. The truth is, we need to conduct a mock cutover to ensure nothing gets overlooked on the checklist, everyone understands the dependencies, and each handoff will be seamless. This will give us clarity on the time required, allowing us to plan effectively and minimize the chances of losing critical operating time…” Jesse’s words tumbled out faster and faster as he pleaded his case. “Every time I’ve been part of a mock cutover, we uncover issues, some of which would have critically impacted go-live.”

The project manager frowned thoughtfully.

“At the very least,” Jesse concluded. “Performing a mock cutover will build valuable confidence with the users as they prepare to move to the new system.”

Jared chewed on the inside of his cheek as he weighed the arguments the seasoned solution architect presented him with. “I’m between a rock and a hard place right now, Jesse,” he sighed at last. “We need to get this project live. I’ve got people breathing down my neck, promises made to the project team, and dates finalized for go-live.”

“I hear you,” Jesse sympathized, leaning forward as if he could sense Jared softening. “But what you have to understand is that skipping the mock cutover will not guarantee reaching the go-live on time. It could result in an even greater delay during the real cutover when people are underprepared, confused, and serious issues arise.”

“The mock cutover won’t necessarily guarantee there won’t be any issues at go-live either,” Jared argued somewhat unenthusiastically.

“But it will find the most crucial ones – if there are any, at least,” Jesse amended. “Another consideration is that the mock cutover offers a strategic advantage by helping us plan User Acceptance Testing more effectively. This ensures we make the best use of our time and resources, allowing the process to run more efficiently and smoothly.”

Jared took one more look at the timeline and then took a deep breath. “Alright, we keep the mock cutover.”

The solution architect leaned back in relief.

“I hope this turns out to be the right choice,” Jared added.

“It will,” Jesse assured him.

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Critical Findings from the Mock Cutover Process

As the team performed the mock cutover, Jared felt increasingly grateful to Jesse for talking him into keeping it, even as his stress levels rose. Most of the issues were relatively small – for example, when the purchasing agent Frank asked, “Hey, why can’t I print this?” they realized the network hadn’t been connected to the printers and nobody could print as needed.

However, one issue in particular made Jared breathe a sigh of relief that they’d caught this before go-live.

When Frank began validating the data in the new system, he noticed the order line details were missing from a significant portion of the sales orders. Upon further investigation, the team realized the issue stemmed from unclear tracking of orders within the fulfillment process. Additionally, no one had been assigned to review this data before the cutover. As a result, the number of in-process sales orders was dramatically lower than anticipated, leaving the data nearly unusable.

With this issue identified, it was quick work to assign someone to review sales orders as part of the cutover process and set up a meeting to discuss the issue of migrating incomplete sales orders. The OCM Lead, Erin, adjusted the training plan and set up communications around the issue to give everyone a heads up and to assure them there was a plan in place. This close to go-live, people tended to get jumpy and prone to catastrophizing.

Overall, Jared was glad they followed through with the mock cutover.

Hands-On Experience Driving Positive Outcomes

The mock cutover significantly influenced the success of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by addressing critical issues and fostering a smoother adoption of new processes. UAT verified business process readiness for go-live, ensured data migration supported operational needs, and confirmed system configurations.

Additional benefits included the incorporation of additional business users or SMEs and the refinement of test cases and training materials after the UAT activity. As the team moved into additional training, they displayed an increased comfort level with the new system, processes, and configurations.

The team was thrilled to move forward with training, and everything was set for a smooth process, including details such as providing extra power strips, printed FAQ sheets available, and highly visible agenda and SOPs to use as references throughout the sessions. Roles have been clearly defined, and a contingency plan was in place to cover any unexpected absences or disruptions. The “what’s in it for me” message had been effectively communicated, and the OCM Lead Erin communicated the importance of continuing to deliver reassurances and reinforcing confidence with a “You’ve got this, and we’ve got your back” approach.

Training progressed as expected—successful and on track. Makeup sessions were seamlessly integrated as one-on-one support during open lab hours, which saw strong engagement as participants brought in questions and took advantage of the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the system. The engagement was truly encouraging—and the snacks certainly didn’t hurt the rising momentum!

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Building Success Through Persistent Preparation

Thorough preparation and practice are the backbone of a successful go-live process. While mock cutovers and other preparatory steps can feel time-consuming or even unnecessary, they can be vital in uncovering and addressing potential issues before they can derail a go-live and disrupt operations.

Jared’s decision to carry on with the mock cutover helped identify a critical issue and take corrective measures well ahead of the go-live date. The exercise built confidence within the team, refined their cutover strategy, and ensured each user was ready to transition effectively to the new system. Despite the pressure from stakeholders to cut corners and move quicker, this investment in preparation paid off by reducing risk, minimizing disruptions, and laying the groundwork for a smoother go-live experience.

Achieving a seamless transition in your digital transformation project requires persistent prioritization of preparation at every stage, not just at the start of the project. If you’re looking for a trusted partner to guide your team toward higher user acceptance and a seamless go-live experience, we’re here to help. Contact Victoria Fide today to discover a proven process designed to ensure your success.

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