Data Migration experiences.
We are all are aware that implementation projects are put at risk when data migration is not thoroughly considered and planned. The successful implementation of mission-critical SAP enterprise applications requires a mission-critical approach to data migration. The key activities of Data Migration are transformation and loading of Legacy Data to the SAP System. The key activities can be further classified as below:
- Data Conversion
- Data Profiling
- Mapping
- Conversion
- Data Validations
- Cutover planning
- Loading
- Reconciliation
- Error Processing
- Data Loading
The Data loading is a very critical activity within SAP data migration and we have many options to do data loading into the SAP systems. The table below gives you the different data loading tools that are available today.
Sno
Data Transfer Method
Description
1
Data Migration Interface
- SAP certified Interface for Data Migration
Includes SAP delivered programs for the most common masters and transaction data. - Programs require data in a valid and well formed flat file.
2
Batch Input Processing
- Common method for moving data to SAP
Programmatically automates data processing.
3
Direct Input Processing
- SAP supported technique of writing data directly to the data base layer of any SAP system.
- Unlike batch input does not walk through entire SAP transaction logic.
- Contains SAP application validation checks.
Should be considered if the throughput from Batch input is not sufficient.
4
ALE/Idocs
- Standard SAP data structures for common business entities like Material master or purchase order.
- Supports integration of both transaction and Master data.
- Although based on asynchronous data integration, IDOC via SAP's Application link enabling protocol, can support near real time data movement as well as large batches of data.
5
Business Application Programming
- Library of Standard SAP interfaces.
Able to move data into and out of SAP. - Useful in data migration scenarios to do pre-validation or look-up of legacy data against SAP application.
6
Computer Aided testing tool
- Tool that supports testing of SAP Business processes.
While designed for recording and automation fo QA Test scenarios, it can be used to load data into SAP.
7
Legacy System Migration Workbench
- Easy to use and no programming.
8
Third Party Tools
- Third party tools for Data Migration.
Each one of the above tools can be used for the data loading. However, it is important to understand the performance of each of these tools in different scenarios. Most of the time, it is left to the discretion of the consultant who works on a project to decide the tool.
I will try to give some guidelines on usage of the above data loading tools.
