ERP Migration: 10-Step Approach
February 13, 2026
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ERP
Migration
Planning
Discovery to go-live with rehearsal.
ERP Migration: A 10-Step Approach
Migrating an ERP system to the cloud is one of the most complex IT projects an organization can undertake. This 10-step framework covers discovery through go-live, with emphasis on the rehearsal and cutover planning that separates successful migrations from disasters.
The 10 Steps
Step 1: Discovery and Assessment (Week 1-2)
- Document current ERP landscape (modules, integrations, customizations)
- Inventory all interfaces and data flows
- Identify compliance and regulatory requirements
- Assess current performance baselines
Step 2: Target Architecture Design (Week 3-4)
- Design cloud architecture (HA, DR, networking)
- Select instance types and storage configuration
- Plan network connectivity (VPN, Direct Connect)
- Define security architecture
Step 3: Build Landing Zone (Week 5-6)
- Set up AWS accounts and networking
- Deploy VPCs, subnets, security groups
- Configure VPN or Direct Connect
- Set up monitoring and logging
Step 4: Install and Configure (Week 7-8)
- Deploy ERP software on target infrastructure
- Configure database and application servers
- Set up high availability (clustering, replication)
- Install and configure backup solutions
Step 5: Data Migration (Week 9-10)
- Export data from source system
- Transform data if changing database engines
- Load data into target database
- Validate data integrity (row counts, checksums)
Step 6: Integration Testing (Week 11-12)
- Test all interfaces and integrations
- Validate batch jobs and scheduled tasks
- Test email, print, and notification integrations
- Performance test with realistic data volumes
Step 7: User Acceptance Testing (Week 13-14)
- Business users execute test scripts
- Validate all business processes end-to-end
- Test with production-representative data
- Document and resolve all issues
Step 8: Migration Rehearsal (Week 15)
This is the most important step.
- Execute the complete cutover plan from start to finish
- Measure actual timing for each step
- Identify and fix gaps in the cutover plan
- Validate rollback procedures
- Document lessons learned and update the plan
Step 9: Go-Live Cutover (Week 16)
- Execute the rehearsed cutover plan
- Final data sync (CDC catch-up or delta export)
- Switch DNS and application endpoints
- Smoke test all critical business processes
- Confirm with business stakeholders before declaring success
Step 10: Post-Migration Optimization (Week 17-20)
- Monitor performance for 2 weeks (hypercare period)
- Right-size instances based on actual usage
- Optimize database queries and indexes
- Implement cost optimization (Reserved Instances, Savings Plans)
- Decommission source infrastructure
Cutover Checklist
| Phase | Duration | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-cutover | -48 hours | Final backup, freeze changes, notify users |
| Data sync | 2-8 hours | Final data export/import, CDC catch-up |
| Validation | 2-4 hours | Data verification, smoke tests |
| Switch | 30 minutes | DNS cutover, endpoint updates |
| Verification | 2-4 hours | Business process validation, stakeholder sign-off |
Risk Mitigation
- Always have a rollback plan — Documented, tested, and rehearsed
- Keep source system running — Don't decommission until 2 weeks post-migration
- Weekend cutover — Minimize business impact with off-hours migration
- War room — Dedicated communication channel and escalation path during cutover
Eazy SaaS Tip: We insist on at least one full rehearsal before every ERP migration. Our rehearsals have caught critical issues (wrong timezone settings, missing scheduled jobs, network latency problems) that would have caused extended outages in production. The rehearsal typically takes 2 days but saves weeks of post-migration firefighting.