We make use of xref materials. I updated 15 materials jus now, and my 6 xref scenes all get updated too, some 30 buildings, all sharing the xref materials. But I can see where your coming from. I’m sure its a scriptable process.
I hope it works for you. Maybe do a test scene before changing everything over!
Changing the path’s for the entire project with the Asset Tracking is quick and easy. To convert everything to the network path easily, just open the scene on a computer that is not the one where all the files are stored, open the asset tracking, under Paths - Highlight editable assets, then strip paths, then Resolve path to UNC location, or Make Path Absolute.
The XRefScenes and objects shurly listed in the assettacker but the content within the XRefscenes as materials, IES, Proxies and other nested XRefscenes have to be pathcorrected too.