Are you considering migrating from Salesforce to Dynamics 365 for your business?
Discover key insights to ensure a seamless transition and achieve better results in your migration process.
Salesforce vs. Dynamics 365: Why Make the Move?
Migrating data from one system to another can be a formidable task, especially when moving from Salesforce to Dynamics 365. Salesforce’s proprietary code can pose challenges in the migration process. Despite these hurdles, businesses choose to migrate for several reasons:
Additional Functionality: Dynamics 365 offers extra functionality not available in Salesforce CRM.
Integration Ease: Dynamics 365 seamlessly integrates with Microsoft products like Word, Office 365, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
Cost Efficiency: Microsoft’s offering is often more cost-effective than Salesforce.
Scalability: Dynamics 365 allows companies to scale their usage of products and apps as needed.
Inclusive Features: Microsoft’s platform includes features like PowerApps and Power BI without additional costs, unlike Salesforce’s add-on functionalities.
Preparing for Data Migration: Best Practices
Before initiating the data migration process, follow these best practices to avoid common pitfalls:
- Planning is Key: Ensure tasks are performed in the right order for an effective product migration.
- Assess and Explore Source Data: Catalog and organize data in your source system, identifying duplicates and inaccuracies.
- Data Cleansing and Profiling: Clean up data to address errors, and anomalies, and ensure data quality.
- Define Policies: Establish data storage policies, standards, and quality requirements.
- Create Systems for Data Maintenance: Monitor and maintain data quality to prevent future issues.
Data Migration Timeline
Plan a timeline for the migration process, ensuring clarity on expectations and time frames for each aspect of your business. Key considerations include:
- Business Processes: Identify processes to migrate.
- Stakeholder Involvement: Engage key stakeholders for advocacy and senior leaders for buy-in.
- Migration Date: Set a target date for completion.
- Deployment Options: Choose between Dynamics 365 online, private cloud, or on-premise based on organizational needs.
Choosing Your Migration Type
Decide on the extent of change and speed of implementation, choosing between a complete implementation or “re-platforming.” Consider:
- Complete Implementation: Thorough data reconciliation for improved business processes.
- Re-platforming: Reflect existing data in Dynamics 365 for a faster migration.
Data Preparation for Migration
Ensure data quality by:
- Data Cleansing: Clean and profile data for reliability and validity.
- Data Grouping: Identify data categories in Salesforce and match them to corresponding labels in Dynamics 365.
Migrating Your Information
Follow these steps for a successful data migration:
- Export: Mark all fields you wish to export as “visible” in Salesforce.
- Import: Use the Dynamics 365 data import template, accounting for disparities in fields and entity types.
- Integration: Decide on third-party integrations and consider using data integration middleware for complex migrations.
Embracing Dynamics 365
Make the most of Dynamics 365’s integrations with Business Central ERP, Office 365, Flow, Power BI, and more for business growth. Consider services from experienced consultants, like UltraDynamix, to ensure a smooth Salesforce migration.
Our consultants offer expertise in planning, migration, data preparation, integration, and staff training. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and explore our services.
