Cloud Migration

In Summer 2025, Kroger Technology Digital (KTD) undertook a major migration from Confluence Data Center to Confluence Cloud to align with Atlassian’s end-of-life announcement for server products and leverage cloud-native features.

This was not a simple upgrade—it was a complete platform shift involving new UI paradigms, authentication flows, and integration points. The goal was to ensure a seamless user experience while minimizing disruption for thousands of internal users.

Challenges

Breaking Old Habits: Users were accustomed to Data Center’s interface and macros. Cloud introduced new paradigms like Refined Toolkit and retired features such as Scroll Viewport, impacting branding and layout consistency.

Link Integrity: Migrating thousands of pages raised concerns about broken links and macros. We developed guidelines for updating links and tested during UAT.

Personal Spaces: Handling archival of inactive personal spaces without disrupting active workflows. 

Feature Gaps: Cloud limitations (e.g., PDF export size) required alternative workflows like HTML/XML exports.

Design Approach

  • Discovery & Research

    Conducted IA audits and user interviews to understand pain points in the legacy system.

  • Training & Enablement

    Provided open sessions for live help and delivered training sessions such as Intro to Confluence in the Cloud, walking users through new editor features and page creation workflows.

  • OCM Integration

    Collaborated on the Organizational Change Management (OCM) plan, embedding UX best practices into communication and training strategies.

Solutions Implemented

  • Unified Navigation: Recommended native Confluence design for internal documentation to reduce complexity and improve searchability.

  • Quick Start Guides: Developed KTD-specific documentation and visual guides for login, space management, and content creation. 

  • Feedback Loops: Participated in post-migration Q&A sessions and guidance meetings to capture user feedback and iterate on design improvements.

Impact

  • Improved Usability

    Cloud’s modern UI combined with our IA guidance refinements reduced onboarding time and improved task completion rates.

  • Consistent Experience

     Eliminated fragmented design patterns by retiring unsupported add-ons and standardizing templates.

  • User Adoption

    Training sessions and proactive communication minimized resistance and normalized the learning curve.

Key Learnings

Normalize Discomfort: Users need reassurance during major platform changes—design and communication must work hand-in-hand.

Plan for Feature Gaps: Anticipate limitations and provide clear workarounds to maintain productivity.

Iterate Post-Migration: Continuous feedback is critical for refining UX in a dynamic cloud environment.

Notes
I was proud to be chosen to have a voice in the decision-making of this migration.
Upon request, I’m happy to share details and project feedback one-on-one.