Data Migration Strategy and Planning in the Prepare Phase
Subject: SAP-Activate-Methodology
Data migration is a critical activity in any SAP implementation project, ensuring that accurate and consistent data is transferred from legacy systems to the new SAP environment. Within the SAP Activate methodology, the Prepare phase sets the foundation for a successful data migration by defining a clear strategy and detailed planning. This article explores the key considerations and best practices for data migration strategy and planning during the Prepare phase.
¶ Understanding the Prepare Phase in SAP Activate
The Prepare phase is the project’s initial stage focused on setting up the project governance, defining the scope, and establishing the project’s technical and organizational infrastructure. For data migration, this phase is essential for:
- Identifying data sources and owners,
- Determining the data scope and quality requirements,
- Selecting migration tools and approaches,
- Establishing timelines and responsibilities.
Data migration often involves large volumes of complex, critical business data such as master data, transactional data, and historical records. A well-defined strategy ensures:
- Minimization of data loss and inconsistencies,
- Reduced business disruption during cutover,
- Compliance with regulatory and audit requirements,
- Smooth transition with validated data ready for the new system.
- Inventory all relevant legacy systems and databases.
- Understand data formats, volumes, and data quality.
- Identify data owners and stakeholders responsible for data accuracy.
- Determine which data sets are critical to migrate (e.g., customers, vendors, materials).
- Decide on the data retention policy for historical data.
- Establish the balance between data cleansing and transformation effort vs. business needs.
SAP Activate supports multiple approaches such as:
- Big Bang: Migrate all data in a single cutover window.
- Phased Migration: Gradual migration by modules or business units.
- Hybrid: Combination of the two.
The approach should align with business risk tolerance and operational continuity requirements.
- SAP provides standard tools like SAP Data Services, SAP Migration Cockpit, and Legacy System Migration Workbench (LSMW).
- Consider third-party tools if necessary.
- Evaluate tool capabilities for data extraction, transformation, validation, and loading.
- Define data cleansing rules and quality criteria.
- Establish data profiling to identify duplicates, inconsistencies, and missing data.
- Plan remediation activities and assign responsibilities.
¶ 6. Risk Management and Mitigation
- Identify risks such as data loss, downtime, or integration failures.
- Develop contingency plans and fallback procedures.
- Schedule dry runs and validations.
¶ 7. Timeline and Resource Planning
- Align migration activities with the overall project timeline.
- Allocate skilled resources including data analysts, technical experts, and business users.
- Plan for training and knowledge transfer on migration tools.
- Engage Business Stakeholders Early: Their insights are critical for defining data relevance and cleansing priorities.
- Start Data Profiling Early: Early insights enable better planning and risk mitigation.
- Adopt Iterative Data Loads: Practice incremental migration to validate and improve processes.
- Document Everything: Maintain detailed migration plans, data mappings, and validation results for auditability.
- Use SAP Activate Accelerators: Leverage templates and checklists provided in SAP Activate to streamline planning.
Data migration is a complex but vital activity that requires careful strategy and planning from the very start of the SAP Activate project. The Prepare phase provides the perfect opportunity to assess data landscapes, define scope, select tools, and manage risks. A strong foundation in data migration strategy during this phase significantly improves the chances of a smooth transition to the new SAP system, minimizing disruptions and maximizing data integrity.