---
title: "Data migration"
description: "Data migration meaning: moving customers, items, suppliers and balances from old systems into a new one. Learn the usual steps and where migrations go wrong."
url: https://1flux.ai/glossary/data-migration
last_updated: 2026-10-10
---

[ERP and platform](https://1flux.ai/glossary#erp-and-platform)

# Data migration

Data migration meaning: what moves into a new system, in what order, and where it usually goes wrong.

Glossary Updated 10 October 2026

Definition

Data migration is the process of moving a business's records, such as customers, suppliers, items and opening balances, from old systems and spreadsheets into a new system.

## Data migration meaning in an ERP project

Migration usually runs in steps: decide what to bring across, clean and de-duplicate it, map old columns to new fields, load a test batch, fix errors, then load the final data at the [cutover date](https://1flux.ai/glossary/cutover-date). Master data such as customers and items comes first; balances follow on the cutover date. Most problems come from messy source data, not from the import tool.

Example: a trader cleans 4,000 customer rows down to 2,600 active companies, imports 9,500 items with names in two languages, then loads opening stock and the trial balance at month-end.

Bringing across every historical transaction is rarely worth the effort; [opening balances](https://1flux.ai/glossary/opening-balances) usually do the job.

In 1flux

One import workbench (map, validate, then commit) brings in companies and contacts (5,000 rows per file) and items (10,000 rows) with downloadable error files, plus opening stock and opening trial balance imports. [See data import and migration](https://1flux.ai/platform/data-import-and-migration)

1. Add data (CSV or Excel).
2. Map columns.
3. Validate (Every row checked): 1 row needs a fix.
4. Result (With an error file).

The 1flux import workbench: add data, map columns, validate every row, then see the result with an error file.

Related

## Keep exploring

### [Opening balances](https://1flux.ai/glossary/opening-balances)

The balances you bring into a new system or financial year.

### [Cutover date](https://1flux.ai/glossary/cutover-date)

The day you stop using the old system and start in the new one.

### [Item master](https://1flux.ai/glossary/item-master)

The central catalogue record for every item you buy, stock or sell.

### [Data import and migration](https://1flux.ai/platform/data-import-and-migration)

Import companies, contacts, items, opening stock and an opening trial balance, validated before anything is saved.

Last updated 10 October 2026