At a time where Big Data reigns supreme and accurate data is crucial to companies looking to ensure long-term stability and growth, there’s no denying the importance of proper data migration.
And as more companies move beyond traditional software to cloud-based ERPs, a strategy to migrate legacy data is no longer just a suggestion.
However, as stories of failed migrations continue to haunt ERP implementations, the key lies within creating a strategy that establishes best practices. That way, stories involving over-budget, poor communication, and incomplete requirements are all of the past.
Digital transformation is no easy feat, but that doesn’t mean it should be made trickier with bad data migration practices that leave companies in the lurch.
For those implementing NetSuite, moving to a cloud-based ERP, or in dire need of migrating data to new applications, read on.
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The Importance of Data Migration
Whenever a company migrates from a legacy system to a modernized cloud ERP, there are many things to consider.
First and foremost: cloud data migration.
More often than not, pre-ERP systems experience inaccurate and redundant data as a constant source of discomfort. When upgrading to a new system, this pain point can be amplified if there is no proper strategy in place.
But before we get started on a migration strategy, the key is to truly understand the importance of data.
For a variety of reasons, consolidated and accurate data is essential to the growth of a business. It provides companies with a 360° view of operations, customers, and core transactions.
With better data analysis and reports, companies experience a higher capacity of digital transformation among different platforms and applications.
Not to mention, reduced costs across the board. Decisions that are based on inaccurate data can cost an organization a lot of money.
Migrating to the cloud gives organizations a single source of truth, where all activities, integrations, and foundations can coexist. Executives can easily find their answer among the quality data to ensure scalability and profitability.
Key Strategies for Data Migration
There’s no strict guideline to follow when it comes to migrating data to a cloud-ERP. That being said, there should always be some sort of best practices in place to support the upcoming business changes and avoid any potential downfalls.
1. Plan Ahead
Before even starting the process to move data, it is crucial, if not vital, to plan.
All source data needs to be audited to help identify any issues that could potentially pop up during migration. It’s a lot harder to mitigate - and resolve - complications during a migration than beforehand.
One thing to note is that not all data needs to be migrated over. Therefore, take the time to know and understand what data you require moving forward as well as how it fits with the new system.
For example, when going through the different data fields, some won’t necessarily need to be mapped over to the new system, while others might be missing required source fields in order to fill the gap in the new cloud ERP.
While planning and strategizing ask yourself - and your migration team - what needs to be imported over, what doesn’t need to be included moving forward, and what is missing.
2. Maintain Systems
Moving over to a new cloud ERP system is not like your previous on-premise legacy software. While it is a lot more manageable and cost-reductive, there are still fundamental tasks like maintenance and governance to maintain.
After a while, data degrades and becomes obsolete. System administrators must put controls in place to ensure data quality.
This ties directly into governance, where tracking and reporting on data quality enables better data consistency and accuracy. Thanks to your new system, these processes and tools to ensure overall data integrity are automated and easily usable.
3. Implement Good Communication
Whether you’re working with an implementation partner or an internal team, good communication during the data migration process is integral to success.
At the beginning of the project, communicate to each other about relevant information that is pertinent to the migration process. Should problems arise, be sure to acknowledge and address them as they arise. Don’t wait until the last minute to fix them.
For clients, remember to be clear and concise with questions, demands, and any concerns. If not, confusion and delays will quickly occur.
Finally, the key to great communication lies in collaboration. Each party involved should take the time to learn about each other’s approach to work and tailor the communication plan as well as the business process migration on the specifics of each personality.
Adopt A Change Management Process
With every new system comes great responsibility. If handled appropriately, all those involved will come out unscathed. If left up in the air, adapting to a new system will be the least of your problems.
Change management can be very challenging for organizations as it entails transformation in both technology and operations.
When implementing a new technology, the key lies within involving the right people. For data migration, that might include data engineers, security architects - among others.
Additionally, including a change manager on the project will help explain what this change will look like, where it will occur, and how the business will ultimately benefit from this change.
Giving your internal team a much better idea about the future.
One of the most important criteria for data migration is governance and management. The before and after will be completely different, especially for businesses who move to the cloud. When it comes to data, a strong, organizational change strategy is necessary, especially when that involves policies and procedures.
NetSuite Data Migration Tools
The beauty of implementing NetSuite ERP is its accessibility to integrate a multitude of integrations and connectors. Among these choices are certain data migration tools.
At GURUS Solutions, Business Intelligence for NetSuite, Powered by GURUS is a BI software that solves your data challenges:
- Historical data migration to access legacy ERP data
- Data snapshot reporting
- Track historical changes in opportunities and inventory
These are just a few features that are offered through our BI tool. To learn more, contact our product team today.
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