Data migration is frequently the part of an SAP program that determines whether go live is smooth or chaotic. Master and transactional data has to arrive in the new system accurate, complete and ready to support operations from day one. This article describes a disciplined approach to SAP data migration that reduces the risk of the problems that so often surface at the worst possible moment.
Start data work early
Data migration is often underestimated and started too late. Beginning data profiling and cleansing early, in parallel with design and build, gives the time needed to understand and fix problems. Late starts compress this work into a window that is too small for the quality required.
Early work also reveals data issues that may influence design decisions, so that the configuration accommodates the reality of the data rather than an idealized version of it.
Scope and cleanse deliberately
Deciding what data to migrate is a business decision as much as a technical one. Obsolete materials, inactive customers and old transactions may not be worth bringing forward. A deliberate scope, agreed with the business, keeps the new system clean and the migration manageable.
Cleansing the data that will be migrated, ideally at the source, prevents old problems from being faithfully reproduced in the new environment.
Iterate through mock loads
Reliable migration comes from repetition. Running the migration multiple times against test environments surfaces errors, refines the process and builds confidence. Each mock load should be validated and the issues found used to improve the next run.
By the time of the real cutover, the process should be well rehearsed and the data quality well understood, leaving little to chance.
Validate and plan the cutover
Validation confirms that migrated data is correct and complete, through counts, reconciliation and functional testing. The cutover itself needs a detailed plan with timings, responsibilities and clear go or no go criteria.
A rehearsed cutover with agreed decision points turns a potentially fraught event into a controlled one, which is what allows operations to resume quickly on the new system.
Key takeaways
- Start data profiling and cleansing early, in parallel with build.
- Agree migration scope with the business and cleanse at the source.
- Run multiple mock loads to refine the process and build confidence.
- Validate thoroughly and rehearse the cutover with clear decision criteria.