Data migration is one of many reasons why businesses adopt Salesforce. As the name suggests, data migration involves transferring the data from your system to a different application or database.
You might wonder if that sounds easy. But the harsh truth is it involves a lot of stages.
When done the right way, you can easily transfer information and records with minimum loss of operations. It also helps you get the most out of your Salesforce implementation.
In fact, a successful migration helps in:
Gaining actionable insights Improving the decision-making process Making data security stronger Scaling with business needs
But there are always sides to a coin. Improper execution without planning can lead you to trouble.
You will face data integration issues, security risks, and inefficiencies. And no business wants that. This is why having a Salesforce data migration checklist helps a lot.
Hence, we have curated the best Salesforce data migration checklist in 2025. This checklist will help you manage this complex process very smoothly.
With years of experience in Salesforce implementation, we at Minuscule Technologies understand the challenges businesses face during data migration.
Efficient migration requires a structured approach. But it's not easy to remember it all. That is why having a clear checklist will help you streamline your entire transfer process without any data loss.
Below is our checklist for Salesforce data migration, broken into essential stages:
The success of any process starts with meticulous planning. The same goes for data migration.
Nearly 83% of data migration projects exceed budgets due to improper planning, as reported by Gartner's research.
To avoid such situations, start by
The selection of a timeline is critical. Avoid peak business hours when employees are using the system. Schedule the migration during off-hours to reduce interruptions and give yourself time to fix any unexpected issues.
Now that you have selected the appropriate time, communicate it to all your team members. This gives them enough time to adjust to their work responsibilities. Besides, it also boosts their trust.
What data needs to be migrated? Identify that. Also, the quantity and intricacy of the data to be transferred must be assessed.
According to Salesforce, 90% of successful migrations begin with well-defined goals. Define the key performance indicators (KPIs) of what a successful Salesforce data migration looks like. Align business objectives with migration goals.
From the beginning, involve all stakeholders ( IT teams, data owners, sales reps, and end users). Their insights can help you gather requirements and reduce potential risks.
Take a good look at your existing data. It catches redundant, obsolete, or duplicate data. Choosing a Migration Tool Instead of going all manual, select a reliable data migration tool like Salesforce Data Loader to streamline the process.
What if you lose important data while transferring it to a new system? To avoid that stress, always have a safe data backup. That way, you can rest easy knowing you can recover anything if something goes wrong.
Proper data mapping ensures that the data from the source system aligns perfectly with Salesforce's schema.
Match source data fields with corresponding Salesforce objects (e.g., Leads, Accounts, Opportunities).
Examine the structure of tables and columns and understand the relationships between objects in the databases.
Locate the targets where the data will be migrated.
Remove duplicate entries, fix inconsistencies, and standardize formats. Poor-quality data can undermine migration efforts.
Ensure data values conform to Salesforce's requirements (e.g., picklist values, character limits).
Now comes the execution phase. This stage can feel overwhelming. But by following these steps, you stay organized:
Before transferring data, make sure to add respective admins and users to the system. Failing to assign admin rights may block critical setups, delaying the migration process.
Before migrating all your data, move a small sample of records to a sandbox environment. This helps you test the process and spot any potential issues before the entire migration.
After the sample testing is done, you can start with the execution process. However, it is advised to first begin with non-critical data, such as old records. If that goes well, go for sensitive data like customer details.
No process can go without errors. Expect some mistakes like failed imports or incomplete records. Check the error logs to find any issues, then fix them and rerun the migration scripts.
Use Salesforce data migration tools to track real-time migration status. This aids in addressing errors promptly during the process.
Last but not least, a significant step is to check the data quality. After the migration, verifying and ensuring the migrated data's quality is essential.
Follow these steps:
Compare the total number of records in the new system with the source data to ensure nothing is missing. Missing data can disrupt daily operations.
Imagine calling the same prospect twice due to double entries. That's a complete waste of time and resources. Therefore, check for duplicate customer data and clear it.
Check if different pieces of information, like customer accounts and their sales opportunities, are connected correctly.
If they aren't linked right, it can cause:
You might see incorrect numbers.
Things might not run smoothly.
Make sure data fields like phone numbers, addresses, and dates are in a consistent format. If your datasheet follows the DD/MM/YY format, your system should follow that.
Data migration in Salesforce requires planning and attention to detail. By now, you might have understood how data migration is not just about moving data. It's about moving data that's intact and usable.
From pre-migration prep to post-migration quality checks, our checklist will walk you through the data deployment process.
At Minuscule Technologies, we know data migration. With a trusted Salesforce-certified partner like us, you can face data migration challenges head-on. Instead of one-size-fits-all, we offer solutions customized to your needs.
Get in touch with us today, and let's get your data migration started with our Salesforce data migration services. Book your consultation call and let our experts guide you through every step.
Are you looking to harness the complete potential of Salesforce Solution? Have a free consulting session with our expert team. We are ready to lend our hand to examine your CRM, Consolidate the Current Data Management, and figure out the inefficiencies that lay as a hindrance in harnessing the Salesforce power.
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