Experts Proffer Solutions to Make Data Migration Easier, Faster, Cheaper in Nigeria

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Members of Certified Data Management Professionals (CDMP), Morenike George-Taylor and Adetokunbo Ajibola, have put together some tips that can make data migration easier, faster, and cheaper.

The duo spoke at an interactive session yesterday on plan and preparation for adequate planning which they said was crucial for a successful data migration in Nigeria and any part of the world.

They also observed that the team would need to create a comprehensive data migration plan that includes a thorough assessment of the data and systems, detailed preparation, the actual migration process, and ongoing management.

According to them, Nigerians must assess data complexity which is for them to understand the complexity of the data they need to migrate and identify the types and varieties of incompatible data they may encounter.

Others solutions the duo suggested are to carry out a thorough risk assessment; identify the risks associated with the migration, and put sufficient mitigation measures in place. “As much as possible, don’t leave any room for surprises. This will help you anticipate challenges and plan accordingly.

“Implement data governance practices: Lack of data governance can lead to data quality issues and security risks.”  

“This is why a lot of companies have a Chief Data Officer and data governance structures. Also, establish a data governance plan before starting the migration process to ensure data integrity and compliance.

“The use of integrated processes and tools: Data migrations often involve multiple teams using different technologies. Implement integrated processes and tools to streamline the migration process, reduce errors, and improve efficiency,” they said.

The experts emphasised that “before completing the migration, thoroughly test and validate the migrated data to ensure accuracy and integrity. This is one of the most critical steps, as sometimes things aren’t as they appear. One example of data migration that wasn’t accurate occurred when a data manager tested the data and found out that the fields in the new system did not align correctly with the original data. This led to data loss, corruption, and inaccurate data.”

 While speaking on data migration and why it matters and how to handle it, both George–Taylor and Ajibola said data migration is a complex process that involves transferring data from one system or storage location to another.

The experts said: “Data migration was critical to businesses and it happens more often than we think. When we change our phones and move data from our old phone to the new one, we are migrating data. Imagine if when the data is moved, it scrambled or you can no longer find the information you stored as it’s no longer stored with the folders you used. In the simplest terms, we have given you an idea of what data migration is and the issues that may arise with it.”