Comprehensive ERP Migration Checklist: ERP migration marks a pivotal stage in your ERP project when all components align, and your system is ready to become fully operational. At this point, you’re close to achieving success, but data migration is just one element of moving to a new ERP system. This process depends not only on accurate data but also on your team’s commitment. A successful migration requires clear objectives and a meticulously planned roadmap—there’s no room for guesswork.
Challenges will arise throughout the migration, but strategic planning can help you avoid issues like unclean data, misconfigurations, lack of buy-in, and ineffective communication. Comprehensive ERP Migration Checklist: To help navigate the final stages of ERP implementation, follow this six-step migration plan.
Step 1: Define ERP Requirements
Your ERP requirements serve as the foundation of the migration. By the end of the process, your system should meet these specifications completely. Your team has invested significant effort into refining these requirements, prioritizing them to ensure the business continues to meet the needs of customers and stakeholders.
Alongside mandatory requirements, your team likely noted “nice-to-haves”—features that, while not essential, could offer additional value. You have also worked with executives to ensure the requirements align with future business plans. Without executive backing, even the best migration plans risk derailment.
Step 2: Plan the ERP Migration
Develop a detailed plan to guide you from your current state to the final stages of migration. This plan should include specific milestones and timelines, allowing you to track progress. One of the first tasks is data migration.
You’ll need to transfer data from legacy systems into the new ERP. Different types of data—such as fixed data (e.g., tax ID and address) and dynamic data (e.g., customer transactions)—require distinct approaches. Begin by mapping fields from your legacy system to the new ERP, converting data formats where necessary. Document the migration process thoroughly and time each step, as you will repeat this process during testing and again at go-live.
Step 3: Communicate Effectively
If you haven’t started already, now is the time to engage everyone in the organization. ERP migration is an enterprise-wide initiative, not just an IT or management project. Communicate clearly about the reasons for the migration, its benefits, and the expected challenges.
Address questions about the project timeline, the roles involved, and how employees can contribute. Ensure there is open communication throughout the process, and assure your team that their concerns will be heard and addressed. Continuous communication fosters transparency and reduces uncertainty.
Step 4: Execute the Migration
With planning complete, kick off the migration. Assign responsibilities to your team and generate excitement around the project. Begin by populating the new ERP with data from legacy systems and conduct initial tests with simple transactions, such as inventory updates or payments.
Grade the outcomes of these tests using a simple system—green for successful transactions, yellow for minor issues, and red for failures. Investigate any non-green results immediately, adjusting setup parameters or data as necessary. As testing progresses, shift from single transactions to complex, multi-stage processes, such as customer orders and full financial reconciliations.
Testing will uncover areas for improvement in the data migration process, and you will likely need to reload the data multiple times. Each import refines your approach, helping ensure a smooth, rapid final migration at go-live.
Step 5: Manage Change
Change can be stressful, particularly for employees, customers, and suppliers who are used to the legacy system. Managing this stress is critical for success.
Provide adequate training to alleviate concerns and build confidence in the new system. Recognize that some individuals may resist the change, so consider employing change management experts to help guide these stakeholders through the transition. Monitor stress levels closely and address any hidden concerns that may surface during the migration.
Step 6: Go-Live and Evaluation
The moment of truth has arrived. Set a specific time when the new ERP will go live, typically after the legacy systems have been stopped and switched to read-only mode. Perform the final data migration, ensuring the data transfer is complete before the go-live time.
Once the new ERP is live, celebrate the first successful transaction. However, be prepared for users to need additional support as they begin working with the new system. After the excitement settles, review the project’s success by comparing the ERP’s performance against your original requirements. Calculate the ROI and document the lessons learned to ensure future migrations go even more smoothly.
This structured ERP migration plan minimizes risks and helps ensure your ERP implementation meets your business objectives while avoiding common pitfalls.
