So, your company has decided to switch from Salesforce to Dynamics 365, but you’re not sure how to get started?
We’re here to help.
Why do companies want to migrate Salesforce to Dynamics 365?
As with any data migration, gathering your existing data, sorting it into a format that is recognized by the new system, and ensuring that there are no errors when it is imported into the new system can be a tough and time-consuming operation. Because some of Salesforce’s customized features are written in its own proprietary code, leaving the platform can provide a number of challenges.
Why do companies opt to switch from Salesforce to Dynamics 365, despite the obstacles that must be overcome?
- CRM capability that is improved
- Microsoft Office programs such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel are seamlessly integrated.
- Salesforce is more expensive than Microsoft.
- As your company grows, Microsoft becomes more scalable.
- Power Apps and Power BI are both available on Microsoft’s platform.
- Salesforce charges for add-on capabilities, whereas Microsoft gives them away for free.
[Related Reading: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Vs Salesforce CRM | Which Is Better Choice?]
What should you know before you begin a data migration?
If you’re ready to begin the data migration phase of the process, make sure to follow the below-recommended practices to avoid common pitfalls.
Planning and Analysis
This step is critical because you must specify exactly what needs to be done and when. Examine and analyze the information in your present system.
Before you make the transfer, double-check that everything is in order on your end. Even if your present data is in excellent order and has thousands of datasets and fields, you may discover that some of them have duplicates, mistakes, or no data at all.
It is critical that you make a note of any potential errors in your present data at this time in order to avoid any complications throughout the migration. The greatest thing to do in addition to this is to familiarise yourself with the new system by going through the fields; this will make it easier to organize and cleanse your data in your existing system in preparation for the migration.
If the data fields are all the same, this is fairly simple (such as a contact number, address, job title). The issue is that if your new solution includes fields that your previous platform does not, you may need to combine data from different fields to fill these forms. Also, if your new platform doesn’t contain fields for storing your old data, you’ll need to schedule time to investigate if these need to be manually added or if there’s another solution.
Cleaning and profiling your data
After you have a good handle on your data and how your records correlate with the new platform, you must clean up the data in preparation for the migration to the new system.
The benefit of data cleansing is that it helps you to examine the quality of your data, determine whether you can fix data anomalies, and plan how you’ll gather data to migrate to the new platform. If you notice a trend of empty or incorrectly maintained data fields, you must assess if this information is critical or maybe eliminated across the board.
Although you must transfer vital data to your new system, keep in mind that the less data you must transfer, the faster and easier the operation will be.
When cleansing and profiling your data, here are some things to keep in mind.
Have a strong grasp on where and how your data is saved.
Make a list of your policies, data standards, and quality standards.
Compare the quality of your present data to your policies and standards.
Examine the causes of faulty data and the consequences of having it in the business.
Improve your data manually and create processes to avoid any incorrect data as a result of the issues you’ve discovered.
Once you’ve set up the profiling and systems to keep track of your data, keep an eye on it to make sure the procedures are being followed.
Set a deadline for the migration to happen.
You should create a timeline for your migration so that your company is aware of all of the steps required and when they must be accomplished. After that, you’re free to begin your migration.
Is it time to switch from Salesforce to Dynamics 365?
Planning
As previously said, one of the most critical aspects of the process is preparing to ensure a seamless transition from Salesforce to Dynamics 365.
There are a few other things to consider:
The business procedures will be redesigned.
Who is going to be a part of the migration? Define key stakeholders, such as users and top management, and engage with them.
Make a firm date for your migration. Don’t put off the migration until the last possible moment. Allow 3 to 4 months for you and your team to gather data, hold dialogues, and define how your CRM should work.
Which method will you choose to implement your new system? Is it better to store data in the cloud or on-premise? Choose the deployment method that best fits your company’s needs and CRM goals.
Which type of migration plan do you have in mind?
When switching from Salesforce to Dynamics 365, you’ll have to make a number of decisions, such as whether you want to make wholesale changes and how quickly you need to complete the transfer. By answering these types of questions, you’ll be able to decide whether you want a full implementation or merely want to switch platforms.
If you opt for a full implementation, you’ll need to perform a thorough data reconciliation. This is the option you should choose if you want to drastically improve your entire business process and get the most out of Dynamics 365.
If you just want to switch platforms, it’s easier because all you have to do is move your data from Salesforce to Dynamics 365.
Spend some time preparing your data
It goes without saying that the data you move is mirrored in your new CRM. The importance of data quality in the success of migration cannot be overstated. Consider the following factors to ensure that data remains accurate:
Cleaning and profiling your data: Cleaning and profiling your data is advised for both dependability and validity. Before a migration, this is the optimum time to do it. Analyze the data for errors to be removed, duplicates to be removed, and incomplete entries to be flagged.
Organizing your information: This entails identifying data categories in Salesforce and comparing them to their Dynamics 365 equivalent labels, which will make the conversion process run more smoothly.
Move your data around: Sending data from Salesforce and importing it back into Dynamics 365 is the process of moving data. A number of differences exist between Dynamics 365 and Salesforce that have an impact on this migration:
Export: It’s worth noting that not all Salesforce data fields can be extracted because some of these entities don’t exist in Dynamics 365. The fields you want to remove must be marked as ‘visible’ and highlighted correctly, with the appropriate letter cases.
Import: Use the Dynamics 365 data import template, which accounts for any differences in calculated fields and custom entity types. Make sure you finish this import using batches at least 2 weeks before the new CRM goes live.
Integrations must be approved: The fact that both Dynamics 365 and Salesforce were built to allow interfaces with third-party systems was a huge plus. The main issue is that some of the Salesforce integrations may not work with Dynamics 365. When you make the switch, decide which apps you wish to copy. Consider Microsoft’s additional business choices at this time, such as Business Central ERP, Microsoft 365 (previously Office 365), Power Automate, and PowerBI.
Additionally, your company may want to explore employing data integration software like Scribe. This can be used to convert data from Salesforce to Dynamics 365 CRM using this tool. This is especially useful for more difficult migrations.
Migrating from Salesforce to Dynamics 365 gives your company much greater access to a slew of new possibilities. Microsoft’s smooth connections with Corporate Central ERP, Microsoft 365, and Power Automate will widen your company’s horizons, and these products can work together to achieve your overall goal of business growth.
What are the next steps?
Veelead is a Microsoft Gold partner who can assist your company with the entire Salesforce migration process. Our team of professionals has decades of CRM and ERP experience, making them ideal for planning, migrating, preparing data, and integrating whatever you need into your Microsoft Dynamics 365 system. Please contact us so that we can discuss your specific needs.
Related Reading:
Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials Vs Premium | Which Plan Suits You?
Dynamics 365 Business Central Vs Dynamics GP | What Are the Differences?
