Services - Electronic Data Conversion

LSS provides optional data conversion services for electronically transferring information from just about any other system into LSSe64. With any new software implementation, both the timing and accuracy of an electronic data conversion can be critical for success. Check with us to see how we can streamline the migration from your existing system to LSSe64.

Planning

The first step with any electronic data conversion project is to develop a plan. Programmers and project managers will analyze data from your existing system, determine what can or cannot be converted, and then work with your firm to map out a plan and timeline for converting your data into LSSe64. Any prior cost "estimates" for data conversion services will get firmed up before moving ahead.

Schedule and Timing

Once a plan is in place, LSS will obtain a backup copy of the database from your existing system. This usually takes place 90 to 120 days prior to the final "cutover date" (the cutover date is the date when your firm stops using the old system and starts using LSSe64). While you continue using your existing system, LSS uses the backup copy of your existing system to develop data conversion utilities, perform tests and balance financial and other information.

Then sometime between 30 and 60 days prior to the final "cutover date", LSS will perform a complete test conversion using a new backup copy from your existing system. A copy of LSSe64 containing data from this test conversion is provided to the client for review and training purposes. If the firm finds anything that isn't quite right, LSS will make the necessary adjustments and incorporate them into the final conversion utilities.

Finally, once the "cutover" date arrives, your firm stops using the old system, LSS obains a new final backup from that system and performs the final data conversion. System downtime during the final data conversion is usually limited to just one or two business days - and sometimes even less. As soon as the final data conversion is complete, the firm can begin using LSSe64 for everything going forward.

Custom Migration Rules

Your existing system may contain information you wish could be changed, consolidated or removed before converting it into LSSe64. After all, you'll be starting with a great new system and don't want "garbage" from the old system detracting from the usefulness of LSSe64. Fortunately, an ideal time to consolidate or filter data is during the electronic data conversion process. We can program special rules and exceptions to help optimize the usefulness of the information that is ultimately imported into your new system.

Balancing

After both the test and final data conversions, LSS will compare financial reports generated by your old system to financial reports generated in LSSe64 to ensure that everything balances to the penny. If anything doesn't balance, we will find and document the exceptions. Exceptions are rare and can usually be linked to a small number of corrupt transactions found within the old system's database. Using custom migration rules, we can almost always program for any exceptions found during the test conversion so they are avoided entirely during the final data conversion.