You're facing legacy data conflicts in ERP migration. How will you navigate between old and new formats?

1 Data Audit

Before diving into the migration, conduct a thorough data audit. This means examining the existing data in your legacy system to identify any inconsistencies, duplications, or gaps. It's crucial to understand the structure, quality, and dependencies of your data before moving it to a new ERP. This step will help you pinpoint which data will be straightforward to migrate and which will require more attention due to format discrepancies or other issues. By cleaning and preparing your data beforehand, you'll reduce the risk of errors during the migration process and ensure a more seamless integration with your new ERP system.

2 Mapping Process

The next step is to establish a mapping process between your old and new data formats. This involves creating a detailed plan that outlines how each piece of data will be transferred from the legacy system to the new ERP. You'll need to determine the equivalencies between fields, and decide how to handle any data that doesn't have a direct match. It's often helpful to create a cross-reference that can guide you through the conversion process. This map will act as a blueprint for reformatting your data, ensuring that nothing is lost or misrepresented in the transition.

4 Manual Adjustments

Despite the best planning and tools, some data may require manual adjustments. This is often the case with complex or non-standard data entries that don't fit neatly into automated processes. You'll need to allocate resources for manual data entry or corrections, ensuring that these tasks are carried out with precision and attention to detail. It's important to have a team ready to tackle these adjustments, as they can be time-consuming and critical for maintaining data integrity during your ERP migration.

5 Testing Phase

Implement a rigorous testing phase to catch any issues before going live with your new ERP system. This should involve testing the migrated data in a controlled environment to verify its accuracy and compatibility with the new system. During this phase, you'll be able to identify any discrepancies or errors that slipped through earlier steps and correct them before they can impact your operations. Testing not only helps in ensuring data integrity but also provides peace of mind that your new ERP system will function as expected once it's fully operational.

6 Employee Training

Finally, don't overlook the importance of employee training. Your staff will need to understand how to use the new ERP system and how the migrated data will be presented within it. This training should cover any changes in data formats, new procedures for data entry, and how to access information within the new system. Proper training ensures that your team can hit the ground running post-migration and helps in minimizing disruptions to your business operations.