There is method to our
data migrations

UCT is often credited for having revolutionized the data migration process. We approach data migration as a business project rather than as a technical challenge. Our proven methodology was crafted and perfected over the years to accommodate all the business needs that must be addressed for the system to work as it should. Our data migration blueprint effectively accelerates the process, while eliminating risk.

REQUEST A CALL BACK DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Our agile methodology

Our methodology for moving data to more modern platforms typically reduces estimated timeframes and conversion costs of by 40% to 60%.

We believe that quality and efficiency arise by engaging the life insurance and financial business experts, not just the technical experts, throughout the data migration process. We also believe that what matters most is a thorough understanding of the operational differences between the source and target systems so that source product data can be transformed to process perfectly on the target system.

Using our tools, experience, and components we’ve collected from past projects, we rapidly develop a prototype data migration solution. We select a relatively small and simple subset of data and test the solution. Built-in reporting components collect the various messages that are generated so that they can be analyzed and the solution can be perfected.

This solution testing and analysis exposes new requirements that the business experts enter into the toolset. The process is repeated using more complicated records and eventually increasing data set size. UCT innovated this agile-like methodology in 1989 and has been perfecting it ever since.

DOWNLOAD: THE UCT METHODOLOGY

scroll down

KEY BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Capitalize on business analysts to drive the migration process

Make data visible early on

Automatically create documentation

Capitalize on business analysts to drive the migration process

Our unique methodology turns your BAs into programmers by allowing them to record the conversion’s business logic in a 4GL language, which DCA automatically turns into source code.

This allows the number of key personnel responsible for the development of a source code module to be reduced. It also allows programmers to focus on the input/output (I/O) aspects of the conversion (or the Extract and Load portions of an ETL project), which reuse system-specific I/O APIs whenever it is convenient.

This segregation of responsibility reduces the needs for programmers and drives down the costs.

Make data visible early on

Making data visible as early as possible is key to a successful conversion. By performing data analysis and auditing in the early stage of the process, the BAs use reporting features and rules to create code that highlights data anomalies or unexpected characteristics.

Data cleansing can start immediately afterwards. Data can be “fixed” in the legacy system or as part of the data translation, and the conversion maps and associated code modules can use the information to correctly handle all data permutations the first time.

Understanding how the legacy source system differs from historical documentation and correcting errors at the source the first time dramatically reduces risks, drives down costs and shortens timelines.

Automatically create documentation

Finally, our methodology results in the automatic creation of documentation. At the end of a project, all business rules are encapsulated in a set of “datamaps”, each of which handles the conversion of a subset of business data and is written in a 4GL language that nonprogrammers can read (and create).

Since the datamaps are used to automatically create code modules, they are invaluable for design and code walkthroughs, as well as post-project documentation.

scroll down

There’s more to data migration than meets the eye

Many people tend to think of ‘data migration’ as being a simple export and import of data from one system to another. At the highest level, that’s not a bad way to think of it. But even the simplest-looking data migration project presents a certain measure of complexity.

In reality, the degree to which data is transformed can be quite significant. A lot of data needs to be added or augmented, and almost every data element is ‘converted’ in some way.

To achieve successful and cost-effective data migrations, regardless of project complexity, UCT brings together the right people, the right toolset, featuring its flagship Data Conversion Architect (DCA) product, and the right methodology.

Our unique combination of expertise can effectively handle any data conversion contingency while meeting your specific business needs.

scroll down

Why do other approaches often fail?

With UCT, you avoid the pitfalls associated with traditional methods. Why do traditional software approaches become very time-consuming and costly, and often fail when applied to data migrations?

They are run as an IT-only project rather than a business project; most IT project managers are new to data migration projects.
They use the traditional app dev process with fixed requirements.
They don’t provide the iterative testing approach required by a data migration.

DOWNLOAD: Why Data Migrations Often Fail

scroll down

A formula for success

Using our Data Conversion Architect (DCA) toolset and proven methodology, we guarantee the success of your project, whether you need a turnkey solution or just want help on one phase of the data migration process.

Because application replacements and consolidations are infrequent events, few can claim to have real, comprehensive data migration experience with your system.

At UCT, we have experience with every vendor-supplied and home-grown system in the life insurance marketplace. Data migration is all we’ve been doing for over 25 years, and we’re good at it.

DOWNLOAD: Why UCT’s approach succeeds

scroll down

GOT QUESTIONS OR WANT TO REQUEST A DEMO?

Whether you have inquiries about insurance, wealth management or data migration, whether you are around the block or on the other side of the world, please fill in the form and we’ll get back to you promptly.

scroll down

There is method to our
data migrations

The UCT Methodology

Why Data Migrations Often Fail?

Why UCT's Approach Succeds?

There is method to our data migrations

The UCT Methodology

Why Data Migrations Often Fail?

Why UCT's Approach Succeds?

There is method to our
data migrations