A migration plan that protects day-to-day operations

Map dependencies

Migrating a tool or data also changes the routines around it. List users, access rights, files, integrations and operations that rely on the current system. Identify what cannot be interrupted.

Identify the data to retain, correct or discard. Avoid moving duplicates or outdated rules simply because they exist in the old system.

Set success criteria

Define what must work at the end: cases can be found, permissions are correct, forms are active, other tools exchange data and daily tasks can be completed. Prepare a few representative cases with the people who carry them out.

Before any transfer, make a usable backup and check how to restore it. An untested copy alone is not a rollback plan.

Test on a limited scope

Transfer a sample first, including difficult cases: empty fields, long histories or unusual permissions. Compare source and destination, then ask the relevant users to perform their normal tasks.

Record discrepancies and correct the transformation rules before moving the rest. During this phase, specify which version is authoritative to avoid conflicting changes.

Prepare the switch

Choose a window that suits operations, communicate access changes and assign an owner to each check. If both systems run in parallel, define for how long and where entries should be made so you do not maintain two conflicting records.

Decide in advance what triggers a stop or a return to the old system. Keep the required access and backup until the new solution has passed the agreed checks.

Check after the transfer

Check data volumes, permissions, links and important operations. Collect issues raised by teams and assign owners until they are resolved. A technical switch is not complete until day-to-day work can resume.

• Inventory data, access and dependencies.
• Test backup and restoration.
• Validate a sample with users.
• Define switch and rollback criteria.