Automated Data Migration Solutions.
Designed for scale & complexity.
DATA MIGRATION
Data migration is the process of transferring data from one system to another - often described as a source to target migration. Decoding the data in a source system that's been around for a few years can be really challenging, depending on the type of system, the vendor and when it was last upgraded.
If you're implementing a significant system such as a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Financial Management (FMIS) or Human Capital Management (HCM) system, it's fair to say that the success of the data migration stream can determine the overall success of the programme.
Without a strategic approach to data migration, your new system could be plagued with errors, poor quality data and duplicate records, which could create chaos for your operational teams. The key outcome of your data migration stream is to ensure that the data that you migrate to your new system is accurate, complete and compliant.
For these reasons, make sure you consider your data migration strategy carefully. Be sure to allocate focus, priority and investment to this essential work stream - the success of your new system will depend on it.
What is Data Migration?
Standard data migration approaches are usually manual. That means that either your operational teams are moving your data themselves, one case or record at a time, or that your new system vendor has given you a manual import form, worksheet or wizard.
Intercode offers an automated 'Map once - Migrate lots' approach for data migration. That means you don't need a team of developers, coding to analyst specifications, with all the delays an opportunities for error that presents.
With Intercode's data migration solutions, we give you the tools to import your data structures, develop mappings and rules in a familiar, analyst-friendly interface and workflow. You can test in real time through the Intercode virtual, mirrored environment, with instant reports showing adherence and exceptions.
The Intercode Platform is lightweight, secure and easy to deploy, making it easy to get started on core data migration activities. You can opt for on-premise, cloud, or hybrid architecture, depending on the classification of your data, and where your systems are hosted.
Intercode data migration solutions are designed for transparent, controlled, and efficient data migrations.
Why Intercode for Data Migration?
Developing a Low-Risk Data Migration Strategy
There are usually many key questions to answer when developing your data migration strategy, which typically include (in no particular order):
- Is there an Application Programming Interface (API) available in the source / target systems, or is it likely that manual export / import processes will have to be relied on?
- Do you understand the way in which the data is structured in the source system? If not, do you have subject matter experts in the business with operational experience in capturing and managing data, who can be made available for the project?
- Are you confident that the quality of the data in the source system is acceptable, or is it sensible to consider a data de-duplication / cleanse work stream?
- Are there other sources of master data, such as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, that need to be integrated into the data to be loaded into new system to achieve complete and accurate records?
- Is the structure of the data in the new system significantly different to the structure of the data in the current system? If it is, do you know how you're going to transform the data accurately and efficiently?
- If the vendor's data upload / import approach is a manual process, do you need to consider an automated approach to deal with the volume and complexity of your data?
Depending on your answers to questions like these, you will want to carefully consider a range of key success factors that will all contribute to your data migration strategy, and the success of your data migration project.
Key Considerations to Reduce Risk
Team IM is a global systems integrator that has been helping organisations extract value from their information and data for over 20 years.
Team IM's customer centricity and broad range of professional services skills perfectly complements the Intercode value proposition. Team IM and Intercode have successfully partnered on a range of data transformation, data migration, data quality assurance and Better Rules projects, delivering transformation outcomes to a growing number of customers.
The Team IM website provides more information on the Team IM / Intercode partnership,
Data Migration Partners
- Multi-Disciplinary Team
- Current State Analysis
- Choose the right Tool
A Foundation for Delivery
Critical Success Factors
In addition to formulating your chosen approach and strategy for your data migration project, you will need to build a strong foundation for the delivery of the project. In our experience, this foundation will depend on a small number of clearly-identifiable success criteria, which should be considered as early as possible.
#1: Build the Right Team. As with most things, having access to the right people is going to be a critical success factor. To accurately extract historical data from a legacy system, transform it, cleanse it, and load it into your new system is going to require a range of skills from system experts, operational resources who have hands-on experience of the data, as well as the usual project specialists. Whilst you may have to hunt around a bit, there are also data migration experts available from data migration partners, so don't be afraid to ask for help!
#2: Understand your Current State. Most data migration specialists will talk about the importance of understanding your data in your current system, but in reality you need more than that. You need to have a solid understanding of how you can query and extract data from your current system. It's certainly in your interests to have a strong idea of whether you have a data quality issue and the impact of that. You also probably need to know if your data contains sensitive data, which records or modules contain that data, and what that means for your new system, and also what you can / can't do during data migration. For example, can you use a cloud migration tool if it's hosted off-shore?
#3: Choose the Right Tools. Your new system may come complete with data import forms or workbooks, but will that allow you to migrate all your data accurately, completely and cost-effectively within the time allowed? If not, you may need to consider a tool that can automate the process, end to end, with corresponding increases in efficiency and quality. Most data migration tools offer a level of control and transparency not available from standard, manual processes, which depending on the scale and complexity of your data, may be extremely valuable.
