Write a data integration strategy

Integration Strategy

1. Assessment and Planning

• Data Inventory: Identify all data entities and attributes within the legacy CRM system, including customer records, transactions, and metadata.
• Data Mapping: Map source fields to target data warehouse schema. Document transformations required (e.g., date formats, currency conversions).
• Business Rules: Define rules for data cleansing, deduplication, and validation to ensure accuracy in the target system.
• Compliance Check: Verify regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) for handling sensitive data during and after migration.

2. Data Extraction

• Method: Use ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools compatible with both systems (e.g., Talend, Informatica, or Apache Nifi).
• Schedule: Implement a batch extraction process for initial migration, followed by incremental updates using change data capture (CDC).
• Backup: Create a full backup of the legacy CRM data before extraction to safeguard against data loss.

3. Data Transformation

• Cleansing: Remove duplicates, correct formatting errors, and standardize data (e.g., consistent date/time formats).
• Enrichment: Append missing fields using reference data sources if applicable.
• Validation: Establish validation rules (e.g., numeric constraints, valid email formats) to ensure data meets the target system’s quality standards.

4. Data Loading

• Initial Load: Perform bulk data loading for historical data using optimized batch processes.
• Incremental Loading: Schedule regular updates to sync new or modified data using CDC or API integrations.
• Performance Monitoring: Monitor throughput and latency to optimize loading processes.

5. Testing and Validation

• Unit Testing: Verify data completeness and accuracy at each stage (extraction, transformation, loading).
• Integration Testing: Test end-to-end processes, including data flows, schema compatibility, and error handling.
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Allow business users to validate the usability and correctness of data in the target system.

6. Security and Compliance

• Encryption: Secure data in transit and at rest using encryption protocols such as TLS and AES.
• Access Control: Limit access to sensitive data to authorized personnel only, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.
• Audit Logs: Maintain detailed logs of data transfers, transformations, and access for compliance and troubleshooting.

7. Post-Migration Activities

• Data Reconciliation: Compare data between the source and target systems to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Performance Tuning: Optimize database indexes, partitioning, and queries in the data warehouse.
• Decommissioning: Gradually phase out the legacy CRM system after confirming the successful migration and operation of the new system.