ERP Migration3 min read
ERP Data Migration Guide: Profile, Cleanse, Rehearse, Reconcile
How to migrate data to a new ERP without losing control: scope, profiling, cleansing, mapping, scripted loads, mock migrations, reconciliation and cutover.
Service · Data & Integration
ERP data migration you can sign off with confidence
Data migration is the most underestimated workstream in nearly every ERP project. It is easy to plan as 'export, import, done'. In practice, ten years of customer records contain duplicates, products have three different units of measure, and the stock count in the old system has been wrong since 2019.
Overview
What erp data migration involves
We run data migration as its own project with an owner, a plan, repeatable scripts and acceptance criteria. Nothing reaches production until counts, quantities, values and balances reconcile.
01The problem
Where things usually go wrong
01
Dirty source data
Duplicates, missing fields, free-text where codes should be, and inconsistent formats.
02
One-shot imports
Manual spreadsheet imports that cannot be repeated consistently, so every rehearsal differs.
03
Unreconciled balances
Opening stock and ledger balances loaded without proof they match the source system.
04
Scope confusion
No clear decision about what history moves and what stays behind.
02Our approach
How we handle it
We profile the source data early — counting duplicates, gaps and inconsistencies — and share the results with data owners. Cleansing happens at source where possible, with business owners deciding how to resolve ambiguous cases. Mapping rules are documented field by field.
Loads are scripted end to end: extract, transform, validate and load. That means each mock migration is identical except for improvements, and the final cutover run is the same process rehearsed several times. After each run, automated reconciliation compares source and target and lists every difference.
03Capabilities
What the work covers
01
Data profiling
Quantified quality reports on every entity to be migrated.
02
Cleansing support
Deduplication, standardisation and enrichment with business owners.
03
Field mapping
Documented mapping and transformation rules for every field.
04
Scripted ETL
Repeatable extract-transform-load pipelines with validation.
05
Reconciliation
Automated comparisons of counts, quantities, values and balances.
06
Archive strategy
Accessible archive for history that does not move.
04Technical considerations
Details that decide whether it holds up
01
Load order
Dependencies respected: currencies and accounts, then partners and products, then BOMs and price lists, then open transactions and balances.
02
Key mapping
Legacy identifiers preserved on migrated records so every item can be traced back.
03
Validation rules
Pre-load checks reject records that would fail or corrupt the target.
04
Performance
Batch sizes and parallelism tuned so the final migration fits in the cutover window.
05Process
How the engagement runs
- 01
Profile
Assess quality and volume of source data.
- 02
Cleanse and map
Fix data issues and document mapping rules.
- 03
Script
Build and test repeatable ETL pipelines.
- 04
Rehearse
Full mock migrations with reconciliation and user validation.
- 05
Cut over
Final migration and sign-off by data owners.
06Outcomes
What you should expect afterwards
Trusted opening position
Balances and stock reconcile before go-live.
Predictable cutover
The final run is a rehearsed, timed process.
Cleaner foundation
The new system starts without the old system's data problems.
Where it applies
Industries and systems we commonly see
Relevant industries
Relevant integrations
Related solutions
Specialised pages
Related services
Often delivered alongside
ERP MigrationMove from one ERP to another — processes, data, integrations and people — without losing control.Legacy ERP ModernizationReplace or wrap ageing ERP systems in planned stages, without a risky big-bang switch.ERP ImplementationEnd-to-end ERP implementation from discovery to a stable first month-end close.ERP UpgradeMove to a current version with custom code ported, tested and cleaned up along the way.
Insights
Related reading
ERP Migration3 min read
Odoo 20 Upgrade Checklist: Breaking Changes to Check
An Odoo 20 upgrade checklist covering breaking changes: record rules, tracking values, account groups, Field Service, payroll work entries, icons and the RPC API.
ERP Migration2 min read
Odoo Upgrade Guide: Moving to a New Version Safely
How to upgrade Odoo to a new major version: assessing custom modules, upgrade service vs OpenUpgrade, test cycles and a cutover plan that holds.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much history should we migrate?
Usually master data, open transactions and opening balances, plus summary balances for comparative reporting. Detailed closed history is typically archived rather than migrated.
Who is responsible for cleansing data?
Data owners in the business decide how to resolve issues; we provide the profiling, tools and scripts to apply their decisions at scale.
How many mock migrations do we need?
At least two full runs with reconciliation. Complex migrations often need three or more.
Can you migrate from a system with no export function?
Usually through direct database access or reports. We assess the options during profiling.
Next step
Worried about migrating your data?
Start with a data profile. We will show you exactly what you are working with.