Switching to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a big move that comes with many decisions. One of the most common questions we hear is: How much historical data should we bring over? The short answer? Most businesses convert 3-4 years of financial data, focusing on critical master records rather than every single past transaction.
Let’s see why that’s the sweet spot and how you can make the best decision for your organization.
Focus on What Matters
If you’re migrating to Sage Intacct to modernize and automate your financial processes (excellent decision BTW!), your first step should be to prioritize the data that keeps your operations running efficiently. This means bringing over:
- Customer and vendor records
- Opening balances
- Recent journal entries
- Key financial reports for continuity
Bringing over this key data helps keep your reports accurate and your business running smoothly without all the extra clutter.
Don’t Bring the Attic with You
We know that having access to every past transaction can feel like a security blanket, but you don’t need to migrate 10+ years of data. Older transactions can (and should) stay in your legacy system, especially if you can still access them for reference. You’ll find that as time passes, people will rely on them less and less. Plus, migrating excessive historical data adds significant cost and complexity to your ERP data migration without a lot of long-term benefit. Most companies find that 3-4 years is plenty, but anything older than five years? That’s probably overkill.
Clean Up Before You Pack Up
Ever moved houses and realized you’ve been holding onto way too much junk? The same goes for ERP data migration. Before transferring anything to Sage Intacct, take the time to clean and map your data. Duplicate records? Inconsistent formatting? Unused accounts? Now’s the time to tidy up and purge! A clean dataset means easier reporting and better decision-making in your new system.
Why Pay an Expert? Because Your Time Is Money
“Why the heck do I need to pay you to move my data over?” If you’re wondering why you can’t just do it yourself, that’s a fair question. Technically, yes, your internal team could handle the migration, but should they? Probably not. Here’s why:
- ERP data migration is complex and requires specialized expertise. According to one study, only 26% of organizations completed their ERP data migration within the expected timeframe.
- Your team likely isn’t doing this every day, but ERP consultants are. Hence, they are experts who know what they are doing.
- DIY ERP data migration often takes longer and increases the risk of errors.
Bringing in experts (*points aggressively* us!) helps to make sure your ERP data migration is efficient, accurate, and stress-free. If you outsource strategically, in the long run, it saves your team time (and headaches), allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks. The bottom line: hiring experts isn’t just an expense; it’s an investment in long-term success.
Why Less Is More
When upgrading to Sage Intacct, resist the urge to take everything with you. Instead, focus on what’s most important for ongoing operations, keep historical data accessible in your old system, and let the experts handle the migration for a smooth transition. Your future self (and your staff) will thank you.
Thinking about an ERP upgrade? Let’s chat!
