Easing the data migration burden
Connecting state and local government leaders
A new research study drills down on five solutions for large-scale data migration challenges.
What: "How to tackle data migration obstacles," a research study by Experian Data Quality.
Why: As organizations' needs for data migration processes increase, so too do the challenges. According to a recent Experian Data Quality study, 91 percent of companies are involved with data migration projects. Yet 85 percent of those organizations face data migration problems.
The five major challenges, according to Experian, are lack of collaboration, lack of data consistency, poor system design, inaccurate information and poor interpretation of business rules.
Take aways: Lack of collaboration results from poor communication and knowledge sharing across various departments or with outside technology providers or consultants. The study suggests laying out a clear plan and involving all stakeholders with crafting the project by assigning them tasks, so no data requirements go missing.
Because data can be stored and organized many different ways, the lack of standardized and consistent data is a growing difficulty. Ways to avoid migration project errors, delays and costs can be as simple as aligning terms and definitions and setting standards for data storage and format. (The study uses how dates are entered as an example, “01/01/2015 or 1 JAN 2015”)
If the system design cannot handle the data, it is usually because of a lack of understanding by the technical team, too little engagement by the business side and confusion between internal and external teams working separately. Simplify the problem, the report authors suggest, and unify team members with clear scoping documents, built-in error time and a project management system accessible and updateable by all.
In order to avoid migrating inaccurate data, make sure all data is correct, clean and ready for the new system by implementing a data quality strategy. Legacy data issues can take time to fix, the report stresses, so plan ahead.
Finally, relay all business rules to both the technology and business users. This carries back to collaboration, as business users must clearly establish their data requirements so the technology team has a clear understanding before jumping into migration. Make sure data rules rightfully apply to the process so the data is “fit for a given purpose.”
“Data should be seen as your organization’s most strategic asset,” the report says, so be sure to cover both business and technical needs with teamwork, planning and organization.
Get more: www.edq.com