Published via [GitHub Executive Insights](https://github.com/solutions/executive-insights "Executive insights, curated just for you")

When Wayfair set out to migrate 15,000 repositories from a self-hosted GitHub Enterprise Server to GitHub Cloud, it was clear this wouldn’t be a routine IT exercise. This was a critical infrastructure overhaul touching nearly every corner of the business, from logistics to customer experience. The stakes were high, but the rewards—a more agile development environment, cost savings, and the benefit of advanced features—were more than worth it.

The process revealed critical lessons for leaders driving organizational change. Here's how Wayfair navigated this transformation successfully and what you can learn from their experience.
## 1. Prepare relentlessly but don’t overdo it 💪
Wayfair started with meticulous preparation. 

They prioritized stakeholder engagement and identified key stakeholders early, from repository owners to business units with high churn. This helped ensure that all parties [understood the migration’s goals and challenges](https://resources.github.com/artificial-intelligence/scaling-github-copilot-across-your-organization/). They also enacted comprehensive assessments by cataloging not just code but also integrations, workflows, and dependencies to pinpoint potential friction points.

Wayfair also took a phased approach: instead of attempting a risky "big bang" migration, they divided the migration into manageable stages, beginning with low-impact repositories to test the waters.

The takeaway? Preparation is essential. Build flexibility into your plan and prioritize momentum over perfection.

![wayfair-migration](//images.ctfassets.net/wfutmusr1t3h/43vQTTxX8hzL30Kq06FnsD/6857fa2bed584bfc52004d0d9ef0a4b8/wayfair-migration.png)

## 2. Overcome resistance with transparency and trust 🤝🏽
Change often meets resistance, not out of opposition to the goal but from fear of disruption.

Wayfair addressed this by creating robust fallback strategies, ensuring teams felt safe taking calculated risks. They also enacted data-driven transparency with a tracking system that provided visibility into migration progress, fostering trust.

To build confidence in the process, Wayfair celebrated early wins, like successful low-risk repository migrations.

For leaders looking to replicate Wayfair’s success, the lesson is clear: transparency and small, tangible victories can dissolve resistance and build momentum.

---
Psst—looking to drive AI adoption at your company? 

[Check out our guide >](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/rolling-out-github-copilot-at-scale/driving-copilot-adoption-in-your-company) 

---

## 3. Prioritize the developer experience 🌎
The success of the migration hinged on [minimizing disruption](https://github.blog/news-insights/research/good-devex-increases-productivity/) for Wayfair’s developers.

To accomplish this, automated workflows were essential: the team scripted as much of the migration process as possible, transferring the burden from developers to platform teams. They also created migration guides with real-time updates to ensure that developers always had access to the latest processes and troubleshooting tips.

Importantly, they implemented an “easy button” philosophy where developers could seamlessly transition from one environment to the next with minimal friction, making the change almost invisible.

These efforts highlight the importance of [centering the user experience](https://github.blog/enterprise-software/collaboration/developer-experience-what-is-it-and-why-should-you-care/) in any transformation effort—ensuring teams can continue working effectively.
## 4. Focus on high-impact outcomes ⛰️
The migration moved repositories, but it also unlocked new capabilities and benefits.

The cost savings were significant: the migration saved $150,000 annually in hosting costs. By moving to GitHub Cloud, Wayfair also benefitted from GitHub Actions, GitHub Copilot, and advanced security features—tools that would have been costly or impossible to implement on-premises.

Additionally, the migration reallocated resources where teams were freed from managing the self-hosted system, and instead could focus on strategic initiatives like improving CI/CD systems and enhancing security.

These benefits helped Wayfair remain competitive in a fast-paced landscape and arm developers with the tools they needed to boost productivity and drive innovation. 
## 5. Iterate and fail forward ⏩
Wayfair’s phased approach allowed them to test, learn, and adapt at every stage. They embraced a “fail forward” mindset, fixing issues as they arose rather than delaying the migration. This iterative strategy ensured progress without getting bogged down in perfectionism and underscored the value of agility—progress over perfection can drive faster, more impactful outcomes.

<div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9">
<iframe title="Complex migrations: Why failing forward helps push past resistance to change" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d_CIeZe-wBs?si=VwYehT_-DXAEuEoA" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

If you’re ready to follow in Wayfair’s footsteps, get started with your [free GitHub trial today >](https://github.com/enterprise)

Want to learn more about the strategic role of AI and other innovations at GitHub? Explore [Executive Insights](https://github.com/solutions/executive-insights) for more thought leadership on the future of technology and business.


Wayfair’s migration was a masterclass in change management. Through rigorous preparation, developer-first design, and an unwavering commitment to transparency, they not only migrated 15,000 repositories but also paved the way for innovation and cost efficiency.

Resource Page for /enterprise/wayfair-enterprise-scale-migration

Moving to GitHub? Lessons from Wayfair's enterprise scale migration

Published via [GitHub Executive Insights](https://github.com/solutions/executive-insights "Executive insights, curated just for you")

We've gathered everything enterprise teams need to hit the ground running with GitHub Copilot. From initial setup to advanced features, this guide will walk you through the essential resources to make your Copilot implementation successful.

## Foundation & setup
   - [Comprehensive quickstart guide](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/quickstart)
   - [Enterprise setup instructions](https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-cloud@latest/copilot/setting-up-github-copilot/setting-up-github-copilot-for-your-enterprise)
   - [Scaling and adoption best practices](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/rolling-out-github-copilot-at-scale/driving-copilot-adoption-in-your-company)

## Team resources
   - [Step-by-step tutorial series](https://github.com/features/copilot/tutorials)
   - [Real-world examples and use cases](https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/what-can-github-copilot-do-examples/)
   - [Practical workflow integration tips](https://resources.github.com/learn/pathways/copilot/essentials/tips-for-a-successful-rollout-of-github-copilot/)

## Get the most out of Copilot
   - [Copilot Chat Cookbook for enhanced productivity](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/copilot-chat-cookbook) (find examples of prompts to use with GitHub Copilot Chat)
   - [Usage tracking with metrics API](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/rolling-out-github-copilot-at-scale/analyzing-usage-over-time-with-the-copilot-metrics-api)
   - [Latest capabilities across programming languages](https://docs.github.com/en/enterprise-cloud@latest/get-started/learning-about-github/github-language-support)

##  Tackling technical challenges
   - [Strategies for documenting legacy code and maintaining clean, efficient codebases](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/documenting-and-explaining-legacy-code-with-github-copilot-tips-and-examples/)

## Looking forward
   - [New model options including Google Gemini 2.0 Flash](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-02-05-google-gemini-2-0-flash-is-now-available-to-all-copilot-users-in-public-preview/)
   - [OpenAI o3-mini availability](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-02-06-openai-o3-mini-is-now-available-in-github-copilot-free/)
   - [Upcoming features and improvements: GitHub Copilot, The Agent Awakens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C95drFKy4ss)

Your development teams are about to experience a significant boost in productivity with GitHub Copilot. These resources will help ensure a smooth rollout and optimal usage across your organization. As Copilot continues to evolve with new features and capabilities, bookmark our "[What's Next](https://github.com/features/copilot/whats-new)" page to stay current with the latest updates and improvements.

---

Want to learn more about the strategic role of AI and other innovations at GitHub? Explore [Executive Insights](https://github.com/solutions/executive-insights) for more thought leadership on the future of technology and business.

Getting started with GitHub Copilot doesn't have to be complicated.

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Resource Page for /enterprise/essential-copilot-resources

Essential GitHub Copilot resources for enterprise teams

During the webinar, Richard Erwin, Principal Solutions Engineer at GitHub, showcased Copilot's advanced features, constant evolution, and practical applications. We’ll start with a high-level understanding of GitHub Copilot, and then dive deeper to show practical tips that can boost your productivity and improve your code quality thanks to key feature demos.

Learn more about:
- How GitHub Copilot uses an advanced language model trained on public code to assist with secure coding across multiple platforms.
- How to evaluate GitHub Copilot’s value based on developer time, potential time-saving, and overall developer satisfaction.
- Tips on installation and using Copilot for pull requests, summary notes, repository queries, and more.
- Enterprise-level features, such as how to set policies around how GitHub Copilot is used in your organization.

*https://github.blog/news-insights/research/research-quantifying-github-copilots-impact-in-the-enterprise-with-accenture/ 


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Designed and backed by the leaders in AI, GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer that helps developers write code faster and smarter. GitHub Copilot supports multiple languages across the developer workflow. GitHub Copilot’s powerful features have been proven to help developers code up to 55% faster*, accelerate the pace of software development, and enhance the developer experience. 

<div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9">
  <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/giPoDt_Ujzo" width="640" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

During the webinar, Richard Erwin, Principal Solutions Engineer at GitHub, showcased Copilot's advanced features, constant evolution, and practical applications. We’ll start with a high-level understanding of GitHub Copilot, and then dive deeper to show practical tips that can boost your productivity and improve your code quality thanks to key feature demos.

Learn more about:
- How GitHub Copilot uses an advanced language model trained on public code to assist with secure coding across multiple platforms.
- How to evaluate GitHub Copilot’s value based on developer time, potential time-saving, and overall developer satisfaction.
- Tips on installation and using Copilot for pull requests, summary notes, repository queries, and more.
- Learn about enterprise-level features, such as how to set policies around how GitHub Copilot is used in your organization.

*https://github.blog/news-insights/research/research-quantifying-github-copilots-impact-in-the-enterprise-with-accenture/ 


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Introduction to GitHub Copilot

This session will delve into real-world applications and a future where AI fortifies defenses and helps preemptively identify and mitigate emerging threats. This session is designed for developers, security experts, and executives alike.

Key takeaways:

- __Key Takeaway 1__: Turn "I don't know what I don't know" into a firm grasp of current challenges in application security.
- __Key Takeaway 2__: Walk away with an understanding of how AI and GitHub can help solve current challenges in application security.
- __Key Takeaway 3__: Learn actionable next steps to apply AI to your application security using GitHub.

AI is far from reaching its peak in application security. How GitHub applies AI to help streamline remediation and enhance alert interpretability.

<div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9">
  <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xvDzKXASPSI" width="640" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

This session will delve into real-world applications and a future where AI fortifies defenses and helps preemptively identify and mitigate emerging threats. This session is designed for developers, security experts, and executives alike.

Key takeaways:

- __Key Takeaway 1__: Turn "I don't know what I don't know" into a firm grasp of current challenges in application security.
- __Key Takeaway 2__: Walk away with an understanding of how AI and GitHub can help solve current challenges in application security.
- __Key Takeaway 3__: Learn actionable next steps to apply AI to your application security using GitHub.

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Resource Page for /artificial-intelligence/mission-copilot-autofix-securing-the-worlds-software

CO-GHS-CNTNT-FY25-12Dec-26-On-demand-Mission-Copilot-Autofix-8191 / 466749

Mission Copilot Autofix: Securing the world's software

This will explore how GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS), powered by GitHub Copilot, revolutionizes vulnerability remediation and security debt management. The speakers will showcase current capabilities that can help developers rapidly address vulnerabilities and preview upcoming Copilot Autofix expansions.

Learn how these innovations can transform security practices, enabling efficient vulnerability management and proactive security debt reduction, encouraging developers to both build and run code, and help quickly and more easily secure it.

__Key takeaways:__

- __Key Takeaway 1:__ Discover how GitHub Copilot solutions can help reduce security debt at scale.
- __Key Takeaway 2:__ Learn how GitHub is redefining "shift left" by working to identify and address vulnerabilities before they reach production.
- __Key Takeaway 3:__ Gain insight into upcoming Copilot Autofix features that aim to expand security issue resolution.

Software vulnerabilities accumulate over time, creating security debt. While traditional AppSec tools identify issues, fixing them remains challenging due to limited expertise and time.

<div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9">
  <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4hXe7WBFzwo" width="640" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>

This will explore how GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS), powered by GitHub Copilot, revolutionizes vulnerability remediation and security debt management. The speakers will showcase current capabilities that can help developers rapidly address vulnerabilities and preview upcoming Copilot Autofix expansions.

Learn how these innovations can transform security practices, enabling efficient vulnerability management and proactive security debt reduction, encouraging developers to both build and run code, and help quickly and more easily secure it.

__Key takeaways:__

- __Key Takeaway 1:__ Discover how GitHub Copilot solutions can help reduce security debt at scale.
- __Key Takeaway 2:__ Learn how GitHub is redefining "shift left" by working to identify and address vulnerabilities before they reach production.
- __Key Takeaway 3:__ Gain insight into upcoming Copilot Autofix features that aim to expand security issue resolution.

Resource Page for /security/mission-copilot-autofix-securing-the-worlds-software

CO-GHS-CNTNT-FY25-12Dec-26-Found-means-fixed-On-Demand-8190 / 466295

Found means fixed: Addressing security debt at scale

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Ship secure applications with a community-driven, developer-first approach.


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Bring the power of generative AI to engineering teams with GitHub Copilot. Learn how you can maximize developer velocity and innovation.


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Stay one step ahead by shipping your software securely within GitHub: Identify and fix security issues directly in the developer flow.

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Learn why more than 90% of the Fortune 100 use GitHub—the leading developer platform compared to alternative solutions.

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Wondering how GitHub can help your business?

Become a GitHub expert in CI/CD, application security, governance, and AI-developer tools through expert-guided learning pathways with tips and insights from leading enterprise organizations.

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GitHub Learning Pathways

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Set your business up for success with solutions to any number of common questions.

Moving to GitHub? Lessons from Wayfair's enterprise scale migration

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