Migration

MIGR-02

David CervelliManaging Consultant

Strategic Systems Group (SSG)June 2007

Preparing for an Implementation

ERPLN IMPLEMENTATION

Why Upgrade? Environment Resources Project Management Data Migration Pilot Testing

End-User Training Go-Live Planning Conclusion

WHY UPGRADE ?• Version will not be supported• Need new functionality• Users not happy with current version• Corporate requirement

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP !Identify . . .• What is important • What needs to be delivered to . . .

•Users•Business•Management •Corporate• I/T

• Long-term plans

CURRENT APPLICATION AND ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENTConduct assessment of current systems and processes• Document current processes• Document business requirements• Rank requirements

• Must have• Nice to have• That would be nice

DATA MIGRATION ENVIRONMENT• Pilot test company• Data migration company• ‘Pristine’ company• Patch company – separate VRC• Development company – separate VRC

RESOURCESIdentify resources early in the process• Project Sponsor• Implementation Team• Power Users• Cross-functional Participation• Project Leader• Systems• Data Migration Tools

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION TEAMSInput from multiple sources improves the outcome• Get the Management perspective – make sure the right

business goals will be met• Get the front line workers – they do the work and

understand better than most • Leverage the power users’ knowledge of the business

and systems• Need participation from each department• When one person covers many departments

• Opportunities are missed• Assumptions may be incorrect

INTERNAL RESOURCESStrong leadership internally ensures success• Project scheduling and management• Requirements definition• Process decisions• Deliverables definition and tracking• Testing• Sign-offs

OUTSIDE RESOURCESUse external experts to fill the gaps and meet resource

requirements• Programming• Data conversion• Pilot testing and training support• Software and hardware installation• Documentation• Free up internal resources to do more important

tasks

PROJECT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIESManaging the project is key to success• Project scope• Decision-making powers• Communication• Risk assessment and management• Issue tracking• Identify milestones• Budget• Expectations• Process ownership

DECISION MAKINGDon’t make process decision in a vacuum• Include cross-functional teams in pilot testing• Don’t assume you know all the upstream and

downstream processes• Ask the people who do the work

DATA MIGRATION PROCESS• Use tools designed to make this an ‘easy’ process

• Make your migrated data available early in project

• Incorporate into ERPLN Implementation schedule

• Schedule data refreshes to coincide with key project events

• Involve key users who ‘know’ the data

• Validate, validate, validate

DATA MIGRATION INSIGHTS• Don’t use migrated data too early in pilot testing• Data cleansing is always a lengthy process• Convert and consolidate the data early in the

processes• Don’t assume since data was validated once it does

not need to be validated again• Refresh data often

PILOT TESTING APPROACH• Create test scenarios• Create new transactions• Process migrated transactions• Document results• Schedule formal pilot test cycles

PILOT TESTING• Perform thorough pilot test early in the implementation

process• Identify and document issues / gaps / additional

requirements• Assign resources to issues, gaps and additional

requirements• Pilot test environment is critical to success

• The right equipment• The right people• The right leadership

TRAINING END USERS• Thorough training required• Train all users not just a few• Don’t shortcut training – you’ll pay for it later• People have different styles of learning• Wait until

• Pilot testing is complete • Initial procedures are finalized • Test company set-up and configuration is complete• Your company’s data has been migrated to a test company• Major customizations are complete

• Training must be full time – part-time students don’t learn well• Training should be very close to go-live date

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER

DATA

Training

Pilot Testing

BusinessProcesses

GO-LIVE PLANNING

• Timing• Resources• Data validation• System management • Expectations• Anticipate the unexpected

CONCLUSIONS

•Planning•Resources•Time•Project Communication•The Right Tools

Q U E S T I O N S

?

David Cervelli, Managing ConsultantNobo Nazuka, Senior Systems Consultant

Strategic Systems Group, Inc.inquiry@ssgnet.com