Data Migration
Data migration is the movement of data between systems or storage
mediums. Data migration is often programmed or done automatically
and in some cases it's still performed manually. The automation
of data migration is a well establish practice that involves the use
of data integration tools. Data migration through data integration
is one of the easiest and most cost effective means of moving large
amounts of data reliable between two systems. The most frequent
uses of data migration are the consolidation of multiple systems and
the movement of data from legacy systems to their replacements - as
is the case when a company purchases a new ERP system to replace an
existing one
Planning your Data Migration
In order for any data migration project to be successful, there is
a high degree of planning that has to take place. Before embarking
on the project you will need to analyze the source system as well as
the target system to ensure that the data migration maps cover all
the data elements you will need to transport. As you begin the
planning phase of your data migration process you should consider what
data you might not want to migrate to your new system. Data
migration projects are ideal times to simplify and eliminate data elements
that have become redundant or are no longer needed.
Phases of Data Migration
Data migration will take place in phases. The first phase is
the creation of data integration maps that will extract data from the
source system and load the data to the target system. During
this process you may want to build some validation in the tool to check
for data consistency and to verify the data is being moved correctly
to the target system. Regardless of how much care you put into
the data migration planning you will still want to perform several
test migrations to check the consistency of your maps and to ensure
that no errors are performed during the data migration process. Because
of all of the steps involved in data migration it will be critical
to enlist the help of experts who understand the systems you are migrating
from and migrating to. Having access to this level of expertise
could be the difference between a successful data migration and failure.
The Alternative to Data Migration
One alternative to data migration that is becoming quite popular is
emulation - where the legacy system is simply run
alongside the new system. The challenge with such an approach
of course is that legacy data does not get moved to the new system,
requiring employees to learn and operate two systems in order to gain
a complete view of the necessary data. While there are cost
considerations involved, most companies eventually see the long-term
benefits of data migration and proceed down the path in order to achieve
greater business productivity and in order to reduce costs.
Selecting your Data Migration Tools
Once you have made a decision to embark on the path of data migration
there are a few key aspects in selecting your data migration tools. First
you should ensure that you are talking to a data migration provider
that address a company of your size. There are many data migration
tools on the market and ensuring your provider is focused on companies
like yours is a key first step. Second, you should consider
whether you will be performing the data migration in-house or through
outsourcing. Once again, selecting the right vendor might mean
having access to a company that can help you with both aspects of data
migration. Finally you should consider support. With data
migration tools it's especially critical to ensure the company you
are dealing with can help you overcome problems and questions. |
