Skip to main content

Getting Your Data Into Dynamics 365 - Data Migration

When doing an implementation of Dynamics 365, it is rare that a new system is being setup with no data needing to be brought into it.  When looking into how to get that data into the new system, it can be really confusing trying to decide which tool to choose.  In my experience, people tend to choose the tool to use based on price and this should really be the last thing to consider.  That is one of the reasons I will not talk about price in this post.  Instead I will stick to the Pro's and Con's for each tool and provide an overview of the tool and any experience(s) with each.

Here are the tools we will be looking at in this post:
KingswaySoft
SCRIBE Online
D365 Data Import Wizard
D365 Data Loader

KingswaySoft:
KingswaySoft is an integration toolkit built on SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).  It is an on-premise solution (but can be cloud if installed on virtual machine in Microsoft Azure or Amazon AWS).  It can be used for integration, migration and replication.  In full disclosure I have not used KingswaySoft for a data migration yet, because of the reasons I list in the con's.  But, I have had clients that use it.  They offer a free download and developer license, so you can give it a try.

Pro's:
  • SSIS has been around for a long time and SQL developers are familiar with it.
  • Has starter packs that can be used to speed up development of mappings.
  • Easy integration with source control since development is done in Visual Studio.
Con's:
  • Since its built on SSIS you need to know the disadvantages of SSIS as well.
  • Can be intimidating is the user is not a developer, since you have to develop within Visual Studio or SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
  • Limited connections
SCRIBE Online:
SCRIBE Online is a product offered by SCRIBE for data integration, migration and replication.  This is the tool I use the most when it comes to migrating data into Microsoft Dynamics 365 and integrating with other systems.  It runs in the cloud and has an on-premise agent you install to access your on-premise data / systems.  There is also a cloud agent, if all your applications are already in the cloud.  They offer a free trial that you can use to see if it will fit your needs.

Pro's:
  • User interface is easy to understand and clean.
  • Runs in the cloud and uses a small tool (agent) to access on-premise data.  If all systems are in the cloud already then a cloud agent can be used so there is no need for an on-premise system.
  • Multiple connectors.  Makes it easy to connect to other systems and migrate the data into CRM.
  • API - They provide an API so you can access your instance programmatically.
  • Fast Connector Framework (FCF) \ Connector Development Kit (CDK) - If a connector doesn't exist you can use the FCF or CDK to create one.
  • Provide starter kits to speed up you data mapping. 
  • They offer a Dynamics 365 app, so you can monitor status from within CRM.
Con's:
  •  Sometimes there are caching issues and you have to clear browser cache to fix them.
  • To get mappings into source control it is a manual process, since you have to export them and copy them into a local folder.
D365 Data Import Wizard:
The Data Import Wizard is built within Microsoft Dynamics.   It allows for easy import of .csv, .xls, .xlsx and .zip files.  My vary first data migration was done with importing .xls files into CRM using the Data Import Wizard (it was not easy).  If you are doing a large or complex migration, I recommend staying away from this approach and using a different tool.  Only use this for small occasional imports.

Pro's:
  • Built within Dynamics 365.
  • Mappings saved in CRM for later use.
  • Great for small non-complex mappings.
  • Can be used with the CRM SDK / Developer Guide.
Con's:
  •  There is a limit to the file size you can use for importing data.  This means you will need to split up your data into multiple files, which can increase the possibility of data duplication.
  • If there is relationships to other entities in your mapping, it can be difficult to set all these and have them work consistently.
  • Tool is vary inconsistent when importing data.
D365 Data Loader:
This is a new tool that Microsoft has put out with Dynamics 365.  It was designed to help business go from CRM On-Premise to CRM Online.  This one I can not give a Pro's and Con's list to because it is a preview feature, which mean it still has issues and is not fully released yet.  I will say that it is a viable option of going from CRM On-Premise to CRM Online and both systems are identical.

Conclusion:
It can be really hard to choose a tool and say that it will work 100% of the time for all needs.  This is because everyone's needs are different and everyone's skill sets are different.  If I did have to choose one to use I typically choose SCRIBE Online because it is the most user friendly and the one that is easy for people to pick up on and maintain.

Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing valuable information about cloud migration. It is very helpful to understand on cloud migration.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is really a good source of information, I will often follow it to know more information and expand my knowledge, I think everyone should know it, thanks Best jacksonville computer repair company service provider.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The information which you have provided is very good and essential for everyone. Keep sharing this kind of information. Thank you. microsoft dynamics houston tx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Most Trusted Data Records
    Track Competitor's Business with import export data
    by Country, HS Code, Product. Search active Buyer, Supplier, Importer, Exporter, Trader with full Shipment Details

    ReplyDelete
  5. If we talk about the total exports made by the country as mentioned in turkey export data of October month of the year 2022, then they would be close to USD 19.5 billion, on the other hand, based on Turkey Import Data for the same time frame, country imported goods worth USD 27.5 billion. Hence, this led to a negative trade balance or a trade deficit of USD 8 billion. On comparing these values with the values of October 2021, then it is clearly seen that exports have declined by USD 250 million, whereas imports have grown by USD 5.9 billion.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Validating User Input In CRM Portals With JavaScript

When we are setting up CRM Portals to allow customers to update their information, open cases, fill out an applications, etc. We want to make sure that we are validating their input before it is committed to CRM.  This way we ensure that our data is clean and meaningful to us and the customer. CRM Portals already has a lot validation checks built into it. But, on occasion we need to add our own.  To do this we will use JavaScript to run the validation and also to output a message to the user to tell them there is an issue they need to fix. Before we can do any JavaScript, we need to check and see if we are using JavaScript on an Entity Form or Web Page.  This is because the JavaScript, while similar, will be different.  First, we will go over the JavaScript for Entity Forms.  Then, we will go over the JavaScript for Web Pages.  Finally, we will look at the notification JavaScript. Entity Form: if (window.jQuery) { (function ($) { if ...

Dynamics Set IFrame URL - D365 v8 vs. D365 v9

While doing client work, I came across a problem with setting an IFrame URL dynamically.  The underlying issue was that the sandbox instance is on v8 of Dynamics 365 and production is on v9 of Dynamics 365.  The reason for this was because this client was setup around the time that Microsoft rolled out v9.  Anyways, JavaScript that I wrote to dynamically set the URL of the IFrame wasn't working in the v9 instance.  This was because of changes that Microsoft made to how IFrames are loaded on the form and also changes to JavaScript. Here is my v8 setup: JavaScript runs OnLoad of contact form.  This works because of how IFrames are loaded in v8.  You can also run it on either a tab change (hide / show) or OnReadyStateComplete event of the IFrame.  Depending on your setup you will need to choose which is best for you.  For me in this case it was the OnLoad event. Here is the JavaScript: function OnLoad() { //Get memberid var...

Navigating Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customization: Plugins vs. Azure Functions

Embarking on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 customization journey offers numerous opportunities to enhance your business processes. However, deciding between the available options, such as Plugins and Azure Functions, can be challenging. This engaging post will serve as your trusty guide, helping you choose the best option for your Dynamics 365 customization needs! The Two Customization Pathfinders: Plugin and Azure Function The Agile Plugin 🏃‍♂️ Reference: Microsoft Docs - Write a plug-in Plugins are like the swift trail runners of the Dynamics 365 customization world. They're the go-to choice for quick, real-time (synchronous), or background (asynchronous) operations that occur within the platform. They can intercept events and modify data before it's saved or displayed to the user. Choose Plugins when: You need real-time processing (synchronous) or background processing (asynchronous). You want to ensure data integrity. You need tight integration with Dynamics 365. Plugins mig...