5 tips for a successful data migration

Overcoming the challenges of data migration: insights from industry experts

Data Migrations are among the most difficult projects to deliver successfully. Each migration is different, and it is impossible to identify all the challenges which may arise during the project. However, several common mistakes could be addressed at the outset to ensure a successful migration.

Digital transformation is high on the agenda in many organisations’ plans for 2023. Indeed, recent Microsoft research showed that 82 percent of enterprises view data migration as a key stepping stone to digital transformation.

At Northdoor, we have extensive experience working on data migration projects for various clients. Through our work, we have identified these common mistakes and have learned how to avoid them in order  deliver successful projects.

In this blog post, we will share our insights with you and offer practical solutions to avoid these common mistakes. These tips will be valuable in ensuring a successful project outcome for your organisation.

1. The importance of a skilled and dedicated project team for data migrations

Data migrations are complex, and without a highly skilled and dedicated project team, there is little chance of success. Several key roles must be fulfilled, and each should have clearly defined responsibilities. Technical experts for the source and target systems must work together to define and manage the extract and load processes.

Business subject matter experts will review the data delivered to ensure it complies with the target system and business requirements. Personnel highly skilled in data analysis must investigate reconciliation issues and data anomalies. The project manager should have data migration experience and be able to clearly define and manage the roles and responsibilities of each project team member along with the project scope.

There will often be periods where it may appear to external parties that little progress is being made, even though the team is addressing the numerous issues which inevitably arise during migrations.

It is important for the project manager to have a clear understanding of the challenges being faced by the team and be able to relay the reasons for any delays to the project sponsors. The project sponsor, in turn, should be willing to amend deadlines, reduce scope, or increase the budget to keep the project on track.

2. Considerations for migrating the right amount of data 

Trying to migrate all the data from the source system can require much effort, as historical data is often of poor quality and needs to be enhanced before being migrated. To avoid this, it is important to identify the minimum dataset required in the target system and exclude all other data from the migration.

If historical data is required and is of poor quality, consider migrating it to a secondary set of mirrored tables with fewer constraints. It can then be transformed and merged into the primary tables post-migration rather than impacting the project delivery schedule. Trying to migrate too much data is a common mistake that many companies make.

3. Benefits of automating data migration processes

Migration processes that require large amounts of manual intervention are prone to human error and difficult to maintain and enhance. To avoid this, it is important to make the end-to-end migration process automated, repeatable, configurable, and auditable. It should be metadata-driven and easy to extend and amend. An automated, metadata-driven validation solution should be developed, using information from database system tables to ensure that all data loaded complies with database requirements.

The reconciliation report is the cornerstone of the project and should provide a summary of the data transferred along with details of any errors. It should have drill-down capabilities to allow anomalies to be easily investigated. The reconciliation report content must be agreed upon with the business user responsible for signing off the migration delivery.

4. Utilising a project status dashboard to monitor progress

Throughout the development, the project manager will need to report on the project’s current status. Completing this task manually is time-consuming and prone to user error. To avoid this, it is helpful to develop a project dashboard report that provides an instant overview of the project status. The report should include summary details regarding the tables processed, data quality issues, validation status, reconciliation details, and any other relevant information.

5. Importance of planning for post-project delivery scenarios

Before starting any development, it is important to have a clear understanding and agreement with the business on managing the scenario where the release needs to be rolled back, and the original system reinstated. Failure to adequately prepare for this situation could have a detrimental impact on the business. It is essential to include post-project delivery items in the project plan to ensure a smooth transition and minimise any disruptions.

Addressing these common mistakes can increase your chances of successful data migration in the digital workplace. It is important to have the right people, migrate the right amount of data, automate processes, utilise a project status dashboard, and plan for post-project delivery scenarios. With careful planning and attention to detail, your data migration project can succeed.

Ensure a successful data migration project with expert assistance from Northdoor

So, if you are looking to migrate data and want to ensure a successful project, consider contacting Northdoor for expert assistance. With our extensive experience and knowledge of common mistakes to avoid, we can help guide you through the process and ensure a smooth and successful migration.
Contact us for more information on how we can assist you with your data migration project.