Dell has delayed the rollout of its major internal IT modernization project, codenamed "Project Maverick," pushing the launch of its new system to May and August for its two main business divisions. The delay was announced in an internal memo from Jeff Clarke, Dell’s vice chairman and chief operating officer, who cited the need for additional testing and validation to ensure the system can handle the company’s global workload. Originally, Dell planned to decommission most of its legacy backend systems in the client solutions group (CSG), which manages PCs and monitors, by February 1, with the infrastructure solutions group—responsible for servers and storage—following in May. Now, the first phase will launch in May, with the second and third phases scheduled for August. Clarke emphasized that while the new system functions correctly in testing, it is not yet ready to scale across Dell’s entire global operations. He stressed the importance of stability, noting that the company must achieve a unified set of financial and operational records by the end of fiscal year 2027, leaving only six months between the initial launch and that deadline. The project, which began in 2024, aims to replace Dell’s sprawling IT environment—comprising around 4,700 applications, 70,000 servers, and over 10,000 databases—with a streamlined, modern platform. This overhaul is seen as essential for Dell’s AI strategy, enabling faster innovation and better integration of AI tools across its operations. Project Maverick has been tightly guarded, with employees involved signing strict NDAs and a team of Deloitte consultants assisting in the transformation. One employee involved described the delay as “slightly disappointing” but necessary, given the scale of replacing decades-old systems in just two years. Experts note that such digital transformations are increasingly critical as companies adopt AI. Joe Depa, global chief innovation officer at EY, said modernizing legacy systems isn’t just about upgrading technology—it requires rethinking workflows and business models from an AI-first perspective. Despite the delay, Clarke urged teams to maintain momentum, stating the timeline would not be shifted again. Key tasks ahead include finalizing development, expanding system testing, scaling infrastructure, and training employees. Dell declined to provide further details on internal processes but affirmed its commitment to innovation and service for employees, customers, and partners.