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If you’ve ever changed the physical location of your office, you’ll most likely understand what it means to move your business data from one system to another. Just as you would sort out all your papers, folders, and boxes to ensure they arrive at your new location intact, you’ll also want to ensure that your data remains intact during database migration.
Data migration can be from a local storage location to a cloud or web database and vice versa. It can be from one computer or format to another, and you can also choose to move your business data from one CRM to another (Bitrix24 in this case).
Why Migrate Your Data?
As a business owner, your clientele is about the most important asset you have. Their data, contact details, and the history of your interactions with them ranks among the most valuable collection of data in your business. Your product / service database is also a crucial set of data for your business and is included in the array of files to be moved during data migration.
There are several reasons you can choose to move your data to Bitrix24 or other data systems. A very striking reason would be the convenience, which readily affects your business processes. When your current data storage and processing system needs an upgrade or replacement, processing your business data in it may become challenging, hence a need for migration.
Cost is another factor that may warrant a database migration. Your current data storage may be costing your business a fortune, and changing to another system will require that you migrate your data – except you intend to begin from scratch after migration.
The Essentials
Before your data migration process, figuring out certain factors will make the process faster and safer. This clarity also goes a long way to determine how you are billed for the migration.
Similar to physical relocation, certain preparations must be made before migrating your data. First, you need to ensure that only necessary data is migrated. You also need to ensure that a transfer failure does not occur in between the migration. And even when a failure occurs, you’ll be able to improvise so that your files are not lost.
Data Download
To successfully migrate your data from one system to another, they must be uploaded to the new system – Bitrix24 – without losing their integrity. Since both platforms are digital, your data must leave one platform to be transferred to another.
However, you can choose to migrate your data:
- All at once, if the old system (or CRM) no longer favors your business;
- In phases, if it is impossible to interrupt your business operations to carry out the migration at a go. Or when some integrations need to be done on the new system (your Bitrix24) for complete migration;
- As a protracted migration, in which both systems remain functional as data are moved in bits.
The time it takes to upload data from the old system to Bitrix24 will depend on:
- The time it takes to sort through and classify data before migration;
- The time required to set up necessary fields on Bitrix24;
- The rate of upload and download;
- The nature of your internet connection;
- Amount of data to be migrated.
Before any data migration from one CRM to another, previous data fields are first marked. However, if the markers do not correspond to the fields, you could lose all of your data.
After marking, your data is then written in a single line and a CSV file before they are transferred to Bitrix24. The transfer will be faster if it is done in batches.
Bitrix24 and API
Without API, you and your business will probably remain stuck with the basic features of Bitrix24. There’d also be no hope of expanding the functions of your CRM. API is the channel through which Bitrix24 works with other business solutions. However, each integration will depend on the working policy of each system.
API allows you to program your CRM to perform whatever task you’d have it do. It also allows you to convert, store and share data conveniently from your CRM.
The final step
The migration of data from one CRM to another (in this case, Bitrix24) is usually faster than a mere upload of data from other programs. Data volumes can sometimes get in the way of this ease, but Bitrix24 features some applications that ensure the successful movement of data from other CRMs.
Data Migration Don’ts
Just like every other important activity, CRM data migration has its dos and don’ts. The do’s have been explained in preceding subtopics, and the don’ts will be listed below:
- Your business is not a joke. Do not see data migration as a DIY activity. Always get professional help for every data migration, as an expert must have done data migrations a countless number of times and can create the necessary CSV files without opening their eyes. They will be better equipped to help you through your data migration.
- Your new database is not indestructible, do not overload it at once. If you can hold off with some migrations, do.
- Your business and data are as unique as you are. Do not hesitate to consult experts to clear whatever doubts you are having about data migration.
EMCsoft is only one click away. Contact us today, let us help you get through that seemingly impossible data migration.