Integration Management Office Handoff
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What is the best timing and approach to hand-off to the business once integration work is effectively complete? What is a typical timeframe post close for this handoff?
We typically take a staged approach but once acquired we quickly engage the business to start interacting with the acquired company/employees. The earlier the better. Once most of the employees are onboarded and the majority of systems IT, HR, Financial are on-line (if integrating) we begin to provide alternate contacts to fully disengage.
In my experience, the hand-off to the business typically happens as each integration workstream is completed, rather than waiting for all integration efforts to finish. We transition ownership to the relevant operational teams (IT, HR, Finance, etc.) once the systems, processes, or capabilities they’re responsible for are integrated and stable.
That said, the handoff is more of a transition than a hard stop. The integration team often remains available in a behind-the-scenes support role to ensure continuity, resolve post-integration issues, and close any lingering gaps. This shadow support can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the complexity of the integration and the maturity of the receiving team.
A key part of making the handoff successful is planning for it early. That means documenting ownership, providing knowledge transfer, confirming support procedures, and aligning on success criteria so there’s no ambiguity about when and how the transition will happen.
As for timing post-close, it really varies. Some integrations wrap in 30–60 days, while others, especially those involving system migrations or process changes, can take 6–12 months or more. But in all cases, the goal is to hand off as soon as the integration is operationally sound and the receiving team is ready to own it.
Ultimately, a smooth handoff depends on readiness, not just completion. It’s less about hitting a date and more about ensuring ownership is clear, documentation is in place, and the business is positioned to operate effectively without ongoing integration support.
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