Data & Analytics

Data Migration Services

Move years of data to a new system without losing or mangling it.

Typical timeline: 2-8 weeks depending on data volume and condition
Category: Data & Analytics
Engagement: Fixed-scope phases
You receive: Code, data & documentation

Migration is where system changeovers go wrong. The discipline is in the preparation: understanding the source, mapping every field, cleaning what is inconsistent, and reconciling the result before anyone relies on it. We treat a migration as a verifiable process, not a one-off import.

The problem

Years of data trapped in a system you need to leave

The new software is ready but the historical data is in an old system with inconsistent formats, duplicate parties and fields used for three different purposes over time. A careless import carries all of that forward and quietly destroys confidence in the new system.

You will recognise this if

You are delaying a system change specifically because of data migration risk
The source data contains duplicates and inconsistent formats
Nobody is certain what some legacy fields actually contain
A previous migration attempt produced results nobody trusted

What you get out of it

The difference this makes

Reconciled, not just transferred

Record counts and financial totals are matched between source and target and signed off before go-live, so you know the data is complete.

Cleaner than before

Duplicates merged and formats standardised during migration, so you start on the new system with better data than you had.

Rehearsed changeover

Trial migrations into a staging environment mean the real cutover follows a procedure that has already been tested.

A way back

Rollback planning and source preservation mean an unexpected problem is recoverable rather than a crisis.

What we build

Source analysis: profiling, quality assessment and field-level documentation
Field-by-field mapping with transformation rules agreed in writing
Data cleansing: deduplication, format standardisation, missing-value handling
Trial migrations into staging with iterative issue resolution
Validation: record counts, control totals, referential integrity and spot checks
Reconciliation report comparing source and target for sign-off
Cutover plan with sequencing, timing and rollback procedure
Historical data archival where it should not be migrated
Post-migration verification support during the first operating cycle

How it gets used

Replacing legacy accounting or ERP software

Masters and opening balances migrated and reconciled, with historical transactions archived for reference rather than imported.

Consolidating several systems after an acquisition

Customer and item masters merged with duplicate resolution rules agreed by the business before any data is written.

Moving from spreadsheets to a database application

Years of spreadsheet records normalised, validated and loaded into a proper relational structure.

Technology we typically use

You do not need to care about this list — but your next developer will.

Python (pandas)
PostgreSQL
SQL
Validation and reconciliation scripting
Staging environments

Timeline: Typically 2-8 weeks depending on data volume and condition

Questions

Data Migration Services — common questions

Something else on your mind? Ask us directly — it is usually faster than reading.

Should we migrate all our historical data?

Usually not. Masters and opening balances are essential; several years of transaction history often is not, and migrating it carries forward old inconsistencies. We keep history accessible in an archive or read-only export, which satisfies audit and reference needs at a fraction of the risk.

How much downtime will the cutover need?

It depends on volume and whether the source can stay live during migration. Many cutovers are done over a weekend or a single night. We rehearse it in staging first and give you a timed plan rather than an estimate.

What if the data turns out to be worse than expected?

Profiling happens first, precisely so this is known before commitments are made. Where quality is poor, we present the options — clean it, migrate selectively, or accept defined gaps — with the cost of each, and let you decide.

Businesses that need this often need one of these as well.

Database Architecture & DesignGet the data model right, because everything else depends on it.Application ModernizationBring an ageing system up to date without stopping the business.Data Pipeline DevelopmentMove data between systems reliably, on schedule, without manual steps.ERP Software DevelopmentRun sales, purchase, stock, production and accounts from one system.

Thinking about data migration services?

Tell us about your situation. We will tell you whether this is the right service, what it would involve, and roughly what it would cost.

Get a free consultation