The present disclosure generally relates to modified microorganisms comprising an optimized system for oligosaccharide utilization comprising one or more polynucleotides coding for one or more energy independent oligosaccharide transporters for transporting an oligosaccharide into the microorganism, one or more polynucleotides coding for enzymes that catalyze the conversion of the oligosaccharide into at least one phosphorylated saccharide, and one or more polynucleotides coding for enzymes that catalyze the conversion of the phosphorylated saccharide into an isomer of the phosphorylated saccharide that is utilized in one or more enzymatic pathways in the microorganism for the production of an organic molecule such as acetic acid, acrylic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactic acid, etc. The present disclosure also generally relates to methods of using the optimized system for oligosaccharide utilization.