Achieving Success in Data Migration: Repeatability, Predictability, and Timeliness
A successful data migration hinges on excellent communication with clients, which is the core of our BIDM methodology. Additionally, we emphasize three technical factors that contribute to the success of any data migration project: Repeatability, Predictability, and Timeliness.
Repeatability
Our proprietary data manipulation tools and automation techniques ensure that the data migration process is both repeatable and reliable. By consistently applying:
- Automated source and target system refreshes
- Data extracts
- Script execution
- Data quality checking, tagging, and loading
- Auditing and reporting
We can run the data migration process end-to-end as often as needed, ensuring accurate and dependable results every time. For critical systems with large data volumes, repeatable automated processes are essential.

Predictability
To ‘guarantee’ the result of the final data migration, the main cut-over and system go-live deployment, the expected result should be known beforehand. This concept is extremely difficult to obtain, given
- The ever-changing nature of the data
- Unknown data quality errors introduced just prior to the final migration
- Target system changes
- Migration requirement changes
- Changes in project resources
Our entire methodology at DataMC focuses on delivering a predictable outcome for businesses during the final data migration and system go-live event. Repeatability ensures that all potential scenarios are encountered and addressed before go-live.

Timeliness – the Runsheet
In addition to repeatability and predictability, the timeframe of the go-live migration is also critical to the success of a data migration project. A thorough and accurate runsheet is vital, outlining:
- The order of all tasks to be completed
- The times taken for each task
All aspects of a data migration should be known before a go-live event is initiated. Under no circumstance should this be attempted without an accurate and comprehensive fully scheduled runsheet being developed. With a runsheet, all timeframes should be known and achievable, without it, the outcome and success of a project go-live can not be predicted in advance.
