HR and Payroll without 1C: British American Tobacco Ukraine shared its experience with CFO Forum participants regarding the migration from russian software to the modern solution IW HR&Payroll

The presentation, “First Swallows” of Digital De-Occupation: HR and Payroll Without 1C, was aimed at CFO Forum participants planning to replace russian software with Microsoft solutions. The speakers shared their criteria for selecting an HR and payroll automation solution, time tracking, payroll calculation, and report generation in accordance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation, an implementation partner, as well as the key challenges involved in data migration and maintaining business continuity.

The presentation covered the key stages of the project and the challenges of migrating from 1C to IW HR&Payroll – from assembling the project team and analyzing business processes to testing, data preparation, and go-live. Particular attention was paid to defining the project scope in advance, assigning responsibilities for each stage, preparing historical data, and validating system performance against real business scenarios.

Another key topic was how to ensure a smooth migration without disrupting critical business operations. The experience of British American Tobacco Ukraine demonstrated the importance of collaboration between the business, the IT team, and the solution provider, as well as structured, phased implementation and parallel accounting to minimize operational risks.

Practical recommendations for companies planning to migrate from 1C to Microsoft Dynamics 365 included avoiding shortcuts that compromise essential implementation stages, prioritizing data quality, preparing users to work with the new system in advance, and ensuring the ongoing involvement of the customer’s team throughout the project.

The implementation of IW HR&Payroll at British American Tobacco Ukraine, in partnership with Innoware, demonstrated that migrating from 1C is a comprehensive transformation project whose success depends not only on technology but also on thorough planning, effective teamwork, and systematic change management.

Digital de-occupation is an important step toward Ukraine’s technological independence. Continued use of russian software creates risks for businesses that extend beyond technology, potentially affecting data security, business continuity, and control over IT infrastructure. Moving away from russian accounting systems is therefore more than switching to modern, internationally recognized software products. It is a conscious decision in favor of a more secure, transparent, and independent digital environment.

We thank the organizers of Ukrainian CFO Forum 2026, the team of British American Tobacco Ukraine, and all forum participants for the professional dialogue, experience sharing, and joint efforts to find solutions that help Ukrainian businesses continue operating and growing despite the challenges of war and uncertainty.

Planning to migrate from russian software to Microsoft Dynamics 365? Would you like to learn more about the capabilities of IW HR&Payroll or receive an implementation cost estimate tailored to your company? Contact us all +38 044 490 22 20 (UA) or +1 (302) 467 2024 (US), or email: info@innoware.com