Data Migration is the process of moving required (and most often very large) volumes of data from our clients’ existing systems to new systems. Existing systems can be anything from custom-built IT infrastructures to spreadsheets and standalone databases.

Data Migration encompasses all the necessary steps to cleanse, correct and move the data into the new system *. Technological changes, change in providers, software updates or data warehousing / data mining projects make such delicate and critical operations necessary.

Our Data Migration solutions allow us to:

• Reduce risk

  Data being an organization’s most critical business asset, it is essential that any manipulation is carried out without any disruption. Atos Origin uses its combined experience of large and/or mission critical projects to bring risks levels to a minimum. Field proven methods and tools and carefully planned migration plans that leverage legacy data and break down migration complexity to manageable projects all ensure that risks are mastered

• Lower OPEX

  Data migration is a one-off activity triggered by point circumstances. Atos Origin is there to reinforce our clients’ resources which can remain focused on their ongoing continuous core activities

• Improve data quality

  Our cleansing and correction solutions ensure perfect data integrity after it has been migrated. From a user and development perspective, the migrated data results completely optimized

• Migrate seamlessly

  Through the involvement of experienced resources, with repetitive hands-on experience and a mix of business and technical fluency which ensures business operation criticality is addressed at all times.

Our Data Migration teams have considerable experience in diverse business and technological environments. They are familiar with a broad spectrum of specialized tools for data extraction and conversion, including all ERP specific toolboxes such as those of SAP (SAP Legacy System Migration Workbench (LMSW), SAP Data Migration Workbench (SXDB), Application Linking and Enabling (ALE), Computer Aided Test Tool (CATT)), DBMS vendors such as those of Oracle (Oracle Migration Workbench, Oracle Database Migration Verifier, Oracle JDeveloper Application Migration Assistant), CRM vendors etc.

From a user perspective, we make sure that a strategy is put in place to achieve maximum flexibility and quality. This entails to take a number of measures and actions, including:

• Iteration

  Data is iteratively identified and cleansed. The aim is to give the users one or more ‘iterative’ opportunities to identify corrupt data, and then rectify it either using the existing application functionality, or automatically cleanse the data within the bespoke data migration functionality. The different iterations of the data cleansing process would take place several weeks before the live data migration run

• Weeding

  Data weeding within the data migration mechanism allows for better identifying candidates and non-candidates to migration

• Inspection

  Users are also left with the opportunity and ability to inspect data that has been archived, which is particularly important where users no longer have access to their source application and data following migration

From a development perspective, we take great care to ensure that the data migration roadmap caters for maximum safety, avoiding risky big bangs and allowing for phased migration activities. For example, we make sure that:

• Each new application to which data is to be migrated has its own data migration strategy and roadmap document while using a unique, consistent and generic template document that can be referenced by all projects
• A generic data migration mechanism that can be used across the majority of application migrations exists. This approach has the benefits of reusability, and allows the development of generic modules for data migration for different types of ‘source’ and ‘target’ platforms
• A source of application data to facilitate system test and user acceptance test of the new application is provided for. The most reliable method for acquiring a ‘live volume’ database to facilitate testing is to migrate ‘live’ data from the source application database into the new application ‘test’ database

Atos Origin leverages an impressive amount of experience accumulated over years of large and complex systems integration projects including ERP and DBMS consolidations and migrations. This track record has provided us with complete and up-to-date mastery of standard tools, processes and methods in the field of Data Migration while we consistently apply and nurture best industry practices and management methods such as ITIL.

Atos Origin has also developed an intensive capacity to bring to our clients business and functional expertise, operational flexibility and technological know-how. Our Data Migration services are brought to our clients via a worldwide network of CMM (3 and superior) and ISO9001 certified Service Centers representing over 6,000 resources that can be assembled in the most culturally aligned and cost effective sourcing solution.

We are able to take the burden of a one-off, very specialized activity from our clients, allowing them to remain concentrated on their core activity. We do so in a methodical and standardized manner continuously improved through massive hands-on experience and sanctioned by official certification such as ITIL, CMM etc. We commit to business continuity and data highest quality using expert, dedicated and motivated teams. Our business acumen guarantees the migrated data has been filtered and converted in order to best correspond to business interests and processes.

 * note that data archiving is not part of data migration