Determine the Purpose of Your Data

Analyze the information environment, identifying where and how the data will be leveraged—and who will actually use the data—while thoroughly assessing the information environment. Determine how data could be used differently tomorrow, in analytics, for example.

Data is dynamic—changing all the time—and it is tied directly to business processes and uses. Establish data standards and define business rules for migration and ongoing data use with owners and subject matter experts.

Migrating involves more than moving data. Perform a thorough quality assessment to ensure standardization that supports new uses and users today and tomorrow. This should include deduplication, removal of other non-relevant files and possibly a master data management-type process.

Data must comply, and be compatible with, current business and validation rules. Define rules for one-time data conversion and migration, while designing them for adaptability to future regulatory and policy requirements.

After determining who owns and has final say-so over information, establish strategic and operational data “stewards” aligned to “C-level” sponsors for continuing guidance on scope, direction and support.

The company, not only the systems integrator, must live with the results of data migration. Based on aptitude and attitude, find the right people to manage processes and technology correctly.

Tools are only that. Tailor fields and business rules to your company’s needs with internal experts leveraging tools while obtaining the right information to complete data migration.

Don’t wait until migration is completed to look for problems. Fixing mistakes after the fact are exorbitantly expensive. Carefully choose testing and evaluation personnel based on critical participant and data consumer needs.

As migration takes place and nears completion, be ever mindful of which users, customers and business partners have to live with the results. Choose carefully and accurately who makes the final decision whether the migration is “good enough.”

Take your time in determining who should be involved in testing, evaluation and final sign-off of the data migration, while being keenly aware of the data’s ultimate consumer. After “go-live,” focus on operational business processes to maintain relevant, high-quality data.