Data migration overview

Though there are many details to track when migrating data, the basic process is straightforward. The following information and diagram illustrate a typical migration of existing customer data to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, using Data Migration Manager.

Data Migration Manager is a tool you can use to convert information from another customer relationship management (CRM) system, such as ACT! or Salesforce.com, or from a database such as Microsoft Office Access, to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. It can only be used by someone with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM System Administrator security role.

Depending on your source database, you may be able to use an existing data map to specify how your source data matches to Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Data Migration Manager includes data maps for migrating data from Act!, Salesforce.com, and Microsoft Office Outlook with Business Contact Manager. Other data maps may be available for download from Microsoft Dynamics CRM Samples or from Codeplex. If you need to edit a data map directly, an Advanced Data Migration Map Editor is available for download.

There are four distinct stages:

Export source data - Export your data to comma-separated values (CSV) files, with data for each type of record in a separate file.
Install Data Migration Manager - The Data Migration Manager includes a wizard that guides you through mapping each column in each of your source files to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and also does the actual migration.
Create and migrate test data - Prepare a small number of test records, and use the Data Migration Manager to map and migrate the data.
During this step you'll identify any changes you need to make to your source data and to Microsoft Dynamics CRM so that the data migrates correctly. You''ll need to use both the built-in wizard and the guidelines in the Help to identify potential issues you need to address.

After the test migration is successful, you can delete all data migrated by your test migration.
Migrate all data - Once your test data migrates successfully, and you've made any corrections you identified to your data map and to your data, you're ready to migrate your entire data set.

The following diagram illustrates the process of migrating data.

Migration overview process diagram