System migrations are often presented as technical projects, but in reality, they are some of the most complex business transformations a company can go through. Multiple systems, teams, and priorities collide – while the business is expected to keep running without disruption.
During the Balkan eCommerce Summit 2026, Lyubomir Boyanov, Managing Director at JOYA, shared a hands-on perspective from leading a high-stakes transformation: migrating multiple systems while launching new online stores at the same time. His experience spans both corporate environments like HP and entrepreneurial leadership, giving him a clear view on what actually works under pressure.
In this interview, we explore the real challenges behind large-scale migrations, why alignment matters more than technology, and the practical lessons every business leader should understand before starting a similar journey.
Lyubomir, during your joint session with Dimitar Dimitrov, “The 3 lessons we learned from migrating all our 3 systems and launching 3 new stores”, what were the main takeaways attendees gained from it?
- 3 real lessons learned
- Alignment between systems and teams matters more than the tech itself
- How to keep the business running while everything is changing
- Where most migrations fail – and how to avoid it
No theory – just what actually works.
From a management perspective, what are the biggest challenges when leading a complex transformation like system migration and multiple store launches at the same time?
Coordination is key for success. You are managing multiple teams, shifting priorities, and constant pressure. The real challenge is to keep the focus and clarity of your ideas when everything is moving at once.
Having worked in large organizations like HP and now in a more entrepreneurial setting, how does decision-making differ when it comes to high-risk projects like these?
In companies like HP decisions are slower and structured. In an entrepreneurial setup – they are fast, critical and most of the times imperfect. You learn how to make imperfect decisions on time, instead of waiting for the perfect ones too late.
What were the toughest trade-offs you had to make during this process – speed vs. quality, cost vs. scalability, or something else?
If you move too fast, things will break. If you move too slow, you are out of business. We learned that adapting the business is often faster than adapting the system.
Looking back, what would you tell other business leaders before they start a similar transformation journey? What should they absolutely get right from day one?
Get the fundamentals right at the beginning:
- clear processes
- clean data
- clear ownership
ERP doesn’t fix problems that you already have, it exposes them, so make sure you clean up first. Things will go wrong and you need to accept this, the key is how fast you will adapt and recover.
As eCommerce continues to evolve across technology, customer behavior, operations, and digital growth, conversations like these will once again be a key part of Balkan eCommerce Summit 2027, where industry leaders, brands, and innovators from across the region will come together to exchange ideas, practical insights, and real-world experience.
More information about the upcoming edition is available at balkanecommerce.com