Merging Six Agencies Without Breaking Anything

Over many years a fast growing media company acquired six other specialist agencies, each with their own ways of working and unique tech stack.

Our job was to bring everyone into centralised systems without disrupting client delivery or support teams.

The Challenge

Some groups were operating out of spreadsheets and shared inboxes, others had invested in tools that didn't talk to ours. Everyone had client relationships that couldn't afford interruption, broken financials, or lost data.

The goal was to consolidate systems as quickly as possible, without anyone having their day to day interrupted.

How We Did It

Each integration needs the same basic logic applied: put in the time needed to understand how the teams actually work. Not just how tools are configured, but what "BAU" looks like for everyone. You have to learn the business, the people, and what everyone needs to deliver.

From there we build plans for every team in the company. A simple, top level plan that acts as a storyboard, with detailed plans available those who need it.

Map the systems; how do they connect? How don't they connect? What are the pain points, what are the risks? Make these maps easy for everyone to view and understand.

Specify timelines and what success looks like, then specify what can be improved along the way. What can be automated, where are the inefciencies? By making their life at work genuinely easier, the change management piece becomes easier.

With proper planning, clear comms, simple checklists and milestones, change can be made incrementally and seamlessly.

The Result

Six agencies, all operational on a shared global system. Finance could consolidate revenue and cost reporting across the group. Leadership had a single view of resourcing, pipeline, and delivery. Client teams benefited from better processes.

The order of operations, intelligent planning and love for the work is what makes the difference.

There's always pressure to move fast after an acquisition, but moving with intention nothing breaks along the way.