Migrating Data From Legacy Insurance Software Systems Best Practices

Insurance software offers companies proficiency, flexibility and the ability to organize their workflow and claims to improve both their company objectives and better serve their customers. The legacy systems tend to prevent companies from adopting the necessary next-generation solutions and can hold the organization back as the rest of the industry advances. Fortunately, by following some industry best practices, companies can successfully migrate their data with minimal disruption.

Finding the best software solution requires understanding exactly where the program fits within the rest of the long term goals for the organization. Determine where the gaps and weaknesses in the company lie and seek software that will help to fill in these problems. Review the rest of the industry as well as the various technologies available on the market. This will also help organizations determine which of the following situations will best describe their needs:

• A straight migration, where they will upgrade to a new technology all together.

• An extension, where the IT team adds an external application interface that can access the existing data.

• A migration with an upgrade, when the company migrates their existing features, security, and data but add new features and review existing ones.

Organizations should map out a formal migration plan and begin running small pilot projects. Each stage of the journey should be carefully monitored with open communication in all directions, including with investors and others involved with the organization. Test all pilots and rollouts rigorously to ensure that the software is helping to take the company in the desired direction. This includes making sure that every level of the organization understands that remaining with the legacy system is not an option and the urgency that exists about successfully making the migration.

Once the organization has gone through the process of identifying, plotting and testing, the company needs to make the full commitment to a complete migration. Maintain focus on the benefits and offer assistance to get everyone accustomed to the new system.

Migrating data to new insurance software can be an involved and stressful practice, but the process will be necessary in the coming years for organizations to remain competitive. Keeping these best practices in mind can help make the process as smooth as possible.