Seamless IT carve-out for Aker BioMarine following the sale of a business unit

Aker BioMarine’s IT systems were tightly integrated across the group, with shared infrastructure, application portfolio, data, user access, licensing models, and security setup. In addition, global operations, production, and logistics were running continuously, which meant the separation had to be carried out without affecting day-to-day operations and to avoid revenue loss. Around 50 applications and systems had to be separated and migrated. These included core systems such as identity and Active Directory, CRM, ERP, invoice management, integrations, data warehouse, master data, and several other business-critical applications. To make this possible, an entirely new and independent IT infrastructure had to be established for Aker Qrill Company, and it was decided to carry out the separation in stages to reduce risk and minimize overlapping licensing costs.

The separation and migration were to be carried out under a Transitional Service Agreement (TSA) with clear deadlines and clearly defined responsibilities, while at the same time the business still had to support global users and ensure continuous production for both Aker BioMarine and Aker Qrill Company.

Knowit led the execution with a cross-functional team combining project management, solution architecture, change management, test management and test execution, as well as technical expertise and migration delivery. The work began with a thorough mapping of the current IT landscape and business processes, including applications, databases, integrations, and licensing agreements, in order to identify technical dependencies and operational needs.

Based on this, Knowit developed a comprehensive migration strategy and plan with careful sequencing and a prioritized focus on cost efficiency, risk reduction, technical complexity, business and operational needs, and regulatory requirements. Close coordination between internal and external vendors was critical to managing technical and organizational dependencies and ensuring controlled, timely execution. Knowit was also responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy and plan to ensure predictability, involvement, and a good flow of information for users, vendors, and other external stakeholders.

The carve-out project was delivered according to plan and in compliance with the TSA, with minimal impact on daily operations. The migration of core systems, identity, and the primary platform was completed without unforeseen deviations or downtime. Both Aker BioMarine and Aker Qrill Company were able to maintain normal operations throughout the transition, including production, logistics, financial services, sales, and reporting.
The technical separation resulted in two independent IT infrastructures. Everything from systems and integrations to data, users, and access control was either migrated or re-established on a new platform, and both companies now operate on their own solutions and platforms.

The project required coordination of multiple internal and external resources, as well as management of a complex vendor landscape, and Knowit’s ability to combine strategic project management with technical expertise and execution capability was highlighted as a decisive success factor. Through a comprehensive governance model, Knowit ensured progress, quality, and effective collaboration across internal and external stakeholders.
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