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An Illustrative Product Concept by Mark Salmenson

Building MigrateNexus from concept to working prototype

MigrateNexus is a unified API platform that simplifies one-time data migrations between service providers by normalizing source data into a consistent format for easy consumption by target providers. This illustrative product concept brings the idea to life by addressing the customer problem, outlining the platform strategy, and providing working prototypes for multiple user personas. It demonstrates an approach to product and technology leadership that connects customer pain points, scalable architecture, and business value.

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SYSTEM DESIGN

One connection point for many source systems.

MigrateNexus Unified Data Exchange

MigrateNexus collects data from multiple source systems, normalizes it to a unified schema, and provides service providers with a single, consistent connection point.

SOURCE SYSTEMS (examples)

Meridian HR

Payroll Bureau

Northstar

Workforce Engine

Catalyst Payroll

Payroll Bureau

Keystone PEO

PEO / ASO

MigrateNexus

Any Source. One Unified Schema.

Unified Schema

+ more fields available

employee_id

first_name

last_name

date_of_birth

email_address

job_title

department

start_date

salary_amount

employment_status

SERVICE PROVIDER (example)

Apex People Solutions

MigrateNexus serves as a schema normalization layer between source systems and the target service provider.

WORKING PROTOTYPES

Two prototypes. Two user flows.

The admin dashboard enables MigrateNexus administrators to onboard service providers, monitor active migrations, track errors, and manage provider configurations.

Sample JSON

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For use in step 3 of the admin prototype.

The embedded connection flow resides within a service provider’s implementation portal, enabling clients to enter credentials, verify access, provide consent, and initiate the data transfer.

Integration Reference

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Service provider API guide.

06

Communication

Translated a complex multi-party integration model into a simple architecture diagram that both technical and non-technical stakeholders can quickly understand.

05

Rapid prototyping

Built with Claude, delivered two high-fidelity interactive prototypes with field validation, realistic workflows, and complete end-to-end user flows.

04

UX judgement

Made intentional design choices, including when to display field-level details, how to present consent, and how to manage complexity without confusing users.

03

Technical fluency

Defined API authentication, field mapping, pagination, data transformation, and unified schema concepts at the appropriate level of product detail.

02

Stakeholder thinking

Designed for two distinct user groups: platform admins and clients, each with unique goals, contexts, and access rights.

01

Problem framing

Identified a complex migration challenge, clarified the user and business problems, and shaped a scalable product solution.

WHAT THIS DEMONSTRATES

Product Management skills in practice.

Product detail: As part of this exercise, I used ChatGPT to create a                                 that breaks the concept down into epics, features, and user stories, each with acceptance criteria.

sample backlog

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ABOUT MARK

The person behind the product concept.

Product Management

I’ve spent more than 24 years working across product management and product development, not because I couldn’t choose a lane, but because the hardest problems often lie at the intersection of the two. That intersection is where product judgment and technical reality must meet, and where the right person can ask both "Should we build this?" and "Can we actually build this?" in the same conversation.

 

In practice, that means I can write detailed specifications and pressure-test them technically, earning the engineering teams’ trust because I’ve sat on their side of the table. I can identify architectural risks early, before they become product or customer issues, and I know when to push for clarity, when to challenge assumptions, and when to step back and let the team solve the problem.

 

Most of my experience is in HR technology. At ADP, I helped grow ADP Marketplace from its early days in the Innovation Lab, laying the foundation for partners to integrate with ADP. Later, I led product management for ADP's HR outsourcing division, overseeing data platforms, digital transformation, client success tools, and digital service delivery.

 

MigrateNexus is a personal product concept, built from a blank slate, to demonstrate how I approach platform strategy, product architecture, and user experience.

GET IN TOUCH

I turn complex product problems into clear strategies, practical solutions, and working prototypes. Let’s connect.

Mark Salmenson   •   Senior Product Executive   •   msalmenson@gmail.com

*MigrateNexus is a fictional product concept created to demonstrate product thinking and prototyping skills.

 

Prototypes built with Claude by Anthropic.

Integration Reference drafted with ChatGPT by OpenAI.

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