Migration in business should be planned at a detailed level. This allows it to be tailored to deliver the required outcomes for the organisation at the appropriate times.

Louis Piscane highlights some of the different ways migration in business can be considered…

1. A big bang approach

Big bang gives you are very quick result to migrate everything in one go. This is useful in building testbeds to replicate production data, as an example.

2. A batch approach

Batch migrations are useful to limit the stress on systems and resources in, for example, migrating large batches of production data. These batches can then be run within the thresholds of the business systems. This will reduce the risk of the impact of business events due to overrunning migrations. It is also easier to troubleshoot issues in smaller batches

3. A hybrid DevOps approach that requires a more Kanban sprint methodology

The Hybrid DevOps-Kanban approach is useful when priorities and readiness of migration targets are more complex. For example, the migration of country data or infrastructure and business priority may differ from country to country. These locations may also be ready to migrate in a more fluid pattern as there will be external dependencies outside the control of the organisation, (such as local legislation or different ownership structures of assets), so it is more appropriate to plan the migration in sprints.

Testing

Regardless of the method taken it is always imperative to test. Think of it as a dress rehearsal before the first migration – a pilot to test and refine the process of the migration before a larger rollout. Also, consider regression testing at the end of every migration to ensure legacy systems are not adversely affected and predicted outcomes are achieved.

Include breaks into the migration as this will allow you to incorporate best practice improvement learnings into the process.

Measuring your migration in business

No matter which migration method is chosen some key measures and checkpoints should be incorporated into your plan:

• Delivery metrics should be defined so the project team understands the targets of the migrations. These can be reported on as successes or considered as future improvements into the migration process.
• Every migration must have a runbook to ensure the process has clear tasks with timings, checkpoints, and task owners. Everything can be clearly executed through the highly time-critical migration process.
• A checklist should be put in place to measure the quality and success of the process including prerequisites and post-implementation checks.
• If required, a floor walking team could be considered to capture any customer issues on the days of and after the migration. This can ensure they are reacted to quickly and efficiently following implementation to catch any potential issues and support the business teams.

These methods require good planning that pays off in the long run. They will create a repeatable process that can then be used as a model to integrate into the business for future activities.

It allows continual service improvement and planning for success. This in turn creates a positive dynamic across the team and confidence from Senior Management. And with this capability and growing confidence comes the ability to speed up delivery and migration.

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