De-risking Data Migration: how assurance saves time and headache
At Digiata, our team, immersed in data migration projects, has gained profound insights into the challenges faced by organisations that often hesitate to embark on these journeys.
Many companies delay migration projects due to the perceived enormity and potential costs involved. Moreover, the prevalence of failed or incomplete in-house migration attempts underscores a lack of resources, focus, and expertise in data migration and data migration assurance.
Within industry circles, one frequently hears the cautionary mantra that “conversions are risky, expensive, and never on-time.” While such scepticism is prevalent, it is crucial to delve deeper and assess whether these concerns hold true. In pursuit of this knowledge, leading research firm Celent conducted a comprehensive survey, unearthing undeniable evidence:
A striking 94% of respondents experienced material delays during their migration projects.
These findings provide tangible evidence of the very real risks faced by organisations seeking assistance in this critical domain.
We firmly believe however that genuine modernisation necessitates the seamless migration of data from legacy systems to new, superior, and highly efficient platforms. Only by embracing this transformative journey can organisations fully exploit the benefits of automation, accelerated development, flexibility, and the unparalleled potential for data integration via APIs. The true value of these advancements becomes apparent once the lights are finally turned off on the legacy system, and data confidently resides within the targeted ecosystem.
Recently, we had the privilege of collaborating with a client undertaking a significant upgrade to their current custody application. The magnitude of the version leap called for a meticulous data migration strategy.
The stakes were incredibly high, as any problems during the migration process could potentially disrupt market operations, impacting countless trades.
Given the astronomical risks involved, the concept of “assurance” assumed paramount importance. To instil confidence and effectively manage risk, Digiata provided independent data migration assurance services, ensuring a flawless transition.
But what exactly does data migration assurance entail? It is a comprehensive and rigorous process that encompasses meticulous execution and continuous validation. Our approach involves conducting multiple test migrations and parallel run reconciliations to identify and address any potential defects. Furthermore, we orchestrate rehearsals to optimise the timing and sequencing of the migration run, while mock reconciliation signoffs simulate and verify the precise processes to be followed on the production day.
In the aforementioned project, our process began by importing the data into our reconciliation and assurance solution database, where it underwent a thorough analysis. Our solution incorporates an intelligent framework that accounts for intricate data migration rules, transformations, translations, and critical business rules triggered during the migration process. We compared the migrated data against the source data, ensuring its accuracy and resolving any discrepancies that emerged.
The results of our reconciliation and assurance process were thoughtfully organised within our solution, empowering users with an intuitive interface to seamlessly access and analyse the data. Our web application front-end boasts advanced drill-down and drill-through capabilities, enabling identification and resolution of any migration-related issues. This approach ensures a seamless transition, mitigating risks and ensuring data integrity.
Digiata’s data migration assurance project assumes a pivotal role within the larger data migration program. It serves as a beacon of thought leadership, expertly guiding programs toward successful data migration deliveries. By prioritising data integrity, accuracy, and reliability, our solution empowers clients to remain at the forefront of their industries, capitalising on emerging opportunities. Our data migration assurance project stands as a testament to our expertise in the field, highlighting our unwavering commitment to providing insightful, effective, and tailored solutions that address the unique needs and challenges of our clients.
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