# We just closed an acquisition and run two CRMs. What do we do?

Do not merge systems before you merge definitions. A merger migration needs a sandbox, an explicit dedupe and survivorship rule set, and a decision on whose stage model and segment definitions win. Consolidating records under two conflicting data models produces a system neither team trusts.

Most acquisitions fail on integration rather than deal thesis, and go-to-market systems are where that failure becomes visible. Sequence it: agree definitions, map both models to the target, dedupe with a written survivorship rule, migrate in tranches, run both in parallel, then decommission.

## Sources

- **Method** — [CRM Migration playbook — the merger fork](https://www.leanscale.team/knowledge/playbooks/crm-migration-playbook/)
- **Opinion** — [Most Acquisitions Fail Like This](https://www.leanscale.team/knowledge/podcast/chris-heller-why-most-acquisitions-fail/)

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Cluster: Crm_migration · https://www.leanscale.team/knowledge/answers/crm-migration-after-acquisition/