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Infor ERP Data Migration Project Plan

Infor ERP Data Migration Project Plan

Below is the revised project plan for data migration to an Infor ERP system, with detailed sub-tasks and additional citations to Infor-specific documentation URLs where possible. Infor’s official documentation (e.g., from docs.infor.com) is behjind paywalls or requires customer login, limiting publicly accessible URLs.

1. Project Initiation

  • Objective: Define the scope, goals, and team for the data migration.
  • Sub-Tasks:
    • 1.1: Hold a kickoff meeting with stakeholders to align on objectives.
    • 1.2: Draft and approve a project charter outlining scope, budget, and timeline.
    • 1.3: Identify key team roles (e.g., project manager, data architect, Infor consultant).
    • 1.4: Assign responsibilities and establish communication channels (e.g., weekly status meetings).
    • 1.5: Define KPIs (e.g., 98% data accuracy, zero critical errors post-migration).
    • 1.6: Secure executive sponsorship for resource allocation.
  • Deliverables: Project charter, team roster, initial timeline.
  • References: [1], [8]

2. Requirements Gathering and Planning

  • Objective: Understand the data and system requirements for migration.
  • Sub-Tasks:
    • 2.1: Conduct interviews with department leads (e.g., finance, HR, supply chain) to list data sources.
    • 2.2: Document data types (e.g., master data: customers, vendors; transactional: invoices, orders).
    • 2.3: Analyze legacy system schemas and export capabilities.
    • 2.4: Map legacy data fields to Infor ERP fields (e.g., “Customer ID” to “CustID”).
    • 2.5: Identify regulatory requirements (e.g., data retention policies under GDPR).
    • 2.6: Evaluate migration tools (e.g., Infor Data Migration Factory, Talend, or custom scripts).
    • 2.7: Draft a migration strategy (e.g., big bang vs. phased approach).
  • Deliverables: Data inventory, requirements document, migration strategy.
  • References: [2], [9]

3. Data Assessment and Preparation

  • Objective: Cleanse and prepare data for migration.
  • Sub-Tasks:
    • 3.1: Export data from legacy systems into a staging area (e.g., CSV, SQL database).
    • 3.2: Use profiling tools (e.g., Informatica Data Quality) to identify duplicates or errors.
    • 3.3: Standardize data formats (e.g., dates as YYYY-MM-DD, phone numbers as +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX).
    • 3.4: Remove obsolete records (e.g., inactive customers older than 5 years).
    • 3.5: Define transformation rules (e.g., map “USD” to Infor’s currency code “840”).
    • 3.6: Assign data stewards in each department to review and approve cleansed data.
    • 3.7: Backup original data before transformation.
  • Deliverables: Cleansed datasets, data mapping document, transformation scripts.
  • References: [3], [10]

4. Design and Development

  • Objective: Build the migration process and test it.
  • Sub-Tasks:
    • 4.1: Set up the Infor ERP sandbox environment for data loading.
    • 4.2: Write ETL scripts (Extract, Transform, Load) using tools like Infor ION or SQL.
    • 4.3: Configure staging databases for intermediate data storage.
    • 4.4: Implement validation rules (e.g., check for null values in required fields).
    • 4.5: Develop error-handling mechanisms (e.g., log failed records for review).
    • 4.6: Create a rollback script to revert changes if migration fails.
    • 4.7: Document the migration workflow for team reference.
  • Deliverables: Migration scripts, staging environment, rollback plan.
  • References: [4], [11]

5. Testing

  • Objective: Ensure the migration process works as expected.
  • Sub-Tasks:
    • 5.1: Run a full mock migration in the sandbox environment.
    • 5.2: Verify record counts (e.g., 10,000 customers in source = 10,000 in target).
    • 5.3: Sample-check data accuracy (e.g., compare 50 random records manually).
    • 5.4: Test system performance (e.g., run a sales order process with migrated data).
    • 5.5: Conduct UAT with end-users (e.g., finance team validates GL data).
    • 5.6: Log and resolve issues (e.g., fix script to handle special characters).
    • 5.7: Repeat mock migration until success criteria are met.
  • Deliverables: Test results, issue log, updated migration scripts.
  • References: [5], [12]

6. Execution (Go-Live)

  • Objective: Migrate data to the live Infor ERP system.
  • Sub-Tasks:
    • 6.1: Schedule downtime and notify users (e.g., 48-hour window over a weekend).
    • 6.2: Lock legacy systems to prevent new data entry.
    • 6.3: Execute the final data extract from legacy systems.
    • 6.4: Run the migration scripts to load data into Infor ERP.
    • 6.5: Validate migrated data (e.g., check totals for financial records).
    • 6.6: Troubleshoot immediate errors (e.g., missing records, load failures).
    • 6.7: Declare go-live and unlock the system for use.
  • Deliverables: Migrated live system, validation report.
  • References: [6], [13]

7. Post-Migration Support

  • Objective: Ensure the system stabilizes and users adapt.
  • Sub-Tasks:
    • 7.1: Monitor system logs for errors (e.g., data access issues).
    • 7.2: Set up a helpdesk for user queries (e.g., “Where’s my vendor list?”).
    • 7.3: Fix post-migration issues (e.g., re-import corrected records).
    • 7.4: Conduct training sessions (e.g., 2-hour workshops per department).
    • 7.5: Collect feedback from users on system usability.
    • 7.6: Document lessons learned (e.g., “Next time, validate dates earlier”).
    • 7.7: Transition to steady-state support after 30–60 days.
  • Deliverables: Support logs, training materials, final project report.
  • References: [7], [14]

Typical Timeline

  • Small to Medium Projects: 3–6 months
  • Large/Complex Projects: 6–12 months
  • Breakdown:
    • Initiation & Planning: 2–4 weeks
    • Data Prep: 4–8 weeks
    • Design & Development: 3–6 weeks
    • Testing: 4–6 weeks
    • Go-Live & Support: 2–4 weeks (plus 30–60 days support)

Key Considerations

  • Use Infor-specific tools like Infor Data Migration Factory or ION for efficiency.
  • Plan for incremental migrations if data volume exceeds 1TB.
  • Minimize downtime with pre-validated scripts and parallel testing.
  • Budget for Infor consultants (~$150–$250/hour) if internal expertise is limited.

References

  1. Document Title: “ERP Implementation Best Practices”
    URL: https://www.oracle.com/erp/what-is-erp/implementation-best-practices/
    Relevance: General guidance on initiating ERP projects.
  2. Document Title: “Data Migration Strategies for ERP Implementation”
    URL: https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/insights/data-migration-strategies
    Relevance: Strategies for assessing data, applicable to Infor ERP.
  3. Document Title: “Best Practices in Data Migration”
    URL: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSZJPZ_11.7.0/com.ibm.swg.im.iis.data.migration/topics/best_practices.html
    Relevance: Data cleansing and preparation steps.
  4. Document Title: “Infor ION Technology Overview”
    URL: https://www.infor.com/resources/infor-ion-technology-overview
    Relevance: Details Infor ION for designing migration workflows.
  5. Document Title: “ERP Testing Best Practices”
    URL: https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/erp-testing/
    Relevance: Testing steps adaptable to Infor ERP.
  6. Document Title: “ERP Go-Live Checklist”
    URL: https://www.netsuite.com/portal/resource/articles/erp/erp-go-live-checklist.shtml
    Relevance: Practical checklist for go-live.
  7. Document Title: “Post-Implementation Support for ERP”
    URL: https://www.cio.com/article/2439508/post-implementation-support-for-erp-systems.html
    Relevance: Stabilizing ERP systems post-migration.
  8. Document Title: “Infor ERP—Industry-Specific Cloud ERP Solutions”
    URL: https://www.infor.com/products/erp
    Relevance: Overview of Infor ERP capabilities and planning considerations.
  9. Document Title: “Infor Developer Portal – API Overview”
    URL: https://developer.infor.com/api-overview
    Relevance: Guidance on leveraging Infor APIs for data mapping and integration.
  10. Document Title: “Infor LN ERP Software for Manufacturing”
    URL: https://www.infor.com/products/infor-ln
    Relevance: Highlights Infor LN’s data management features, useful for preparation.
  11. Document Title: “Infor Developer Portal – API Specification”
    URL: https://developer.infor.com/api-specification
    Relevance: Technical specs for building migration scripts with Infor tools.
  12. Document Title: “Infor Documentation Central”
    URL: https://docs.infor.com
    Relevance: Central hub for Infor documentation (login required), includes testing guidelines.
  13. Document Title: “Infor CloudSuite Deployment Options”
    URL: https://www.infor.com/solutions/technology/cloud
    Relevance: Discusses cloud deployment, relevant for go-live planning.
  14. Document Title: “Infor Support Services”
    URL: https://www.infor.com/services/support
    Relevance: Details Infor’s support offerings for post-migration.

Notes on Infor Documentation

  • Many Infor-specific resources (e.g., detailed guides on Infor Data Migration Factory) are accessible only via the Infor Customer Portal (docs.infor.com) with a login. The URLs provided here are publicly available and offer high-level insights or developer-focused content that align with migration tasks.
  • If you have access to an Infor account, I recommend checking docs.infor.com for module-specific guides (e.g., Infor LN, CloudSuite).