From Excel to Cloud: Avoid These 6 Common Mistakes

Migrating your spreadsheet data to a cloud database and integrating it into a cloud application can be a powerful way to streamline your business operations. However, this process can also be fraught with challenges and potential pitfalls.

In this article, we’ll explore some common mistakes that people can make when migrating Excel data onto an online database and offer actionable insights to help you through the process.

Pitfalls to Avoid

When importing data from your Excel files to a cloud database, keep an eye out for these challenges.

Lack of Planning

Planning is the foundation of a successful data migration process. Consider how your data will be used within your cloud applications. Involve your team in the process to gather their insights and feedback. Create a database structure that supports your objectives and determine how to migrate your existing data into that structure.

Inadequate Data Cleanup

Offline spreadsheets are notorious for housing messy and unstructured data. Before migrating them to the cloud, it’s essential to invest time and effort into thoroughly cleaning and organizing your data. Failure to do so can lead to erroneous information, duplicate entries and misaligned data in your database.

Embrace a systematic approach to data cleaning to ensure accuracy and integrity. Dedicated database platforms like Caspio offer intuitive tools and resources to help businesses transform raw spreadsheet data into a well-structured and reliable format suitable for migrating to the cloud.

Non-Standardized Data

If data is not standardized, it can heavily impact the apps, reports and systems that use them. For instance, date formats can differ depending on the source or region, so an input of “01-02-03” can be interpreted as January 2, 2003 (North America), 2 February 2003 (Europe) or 2001 February 3 (East Asia).

Take the time to convert and adapt data formats to match the requirements of your cloud database and future apps. It is best practice to publish standardization guidelines for your app builders and relevant users to ensure consistency across the board.

Neglecting Security

While your data is in a spreadsheet, your options for security are very limited. By migrating your files online, you gain better and more robust protective measures.

It’s essential to leverage platforms with a powerful security model, encryptions-at-rest and record-level access control, among others. Regular security audits further strengthen protection, instilling confidence not only within your organization but also among your customers and stakeholders. Platforms like Caspio provide these advanced security features to ensure your cloud database and apps adhere to industry best practices and standards.

Not Testing Before Full Migration

If you are moving a large amount of data online, it’s helpful to run smaller sample migrations first to identify and address any potential issues. Some problems might not be apparent during the planning stage but could cause significant disruptions once your data is in the cloud database.

Testing smaller batches will help you identify and resolve these issues beforehand, saving you time and resources in the long run.

Disregarding Training Needs

Introducing a new system to your team without adequate onboarding can lead to a number of problems. Some could be small, like taking longer to complete a task or making careless mistakes. Others could be significant, like missing crucial steps in the workflow or losing data and compromising security.

Knowledgeable and experienced users can maximize the benefits of your cloud database and apps and benefit you in the long run. Offer training sessions and invest in comprehensive onboarding programs to ensure your team understands how to use and manage the new system effectively. Platforms like Caspio provides onboarding and live training sessions to set new teams up for success.

Migrate Your Excel Data to the Cloud

By avoiding these common mistakes and adhering to best practices, your Excel to cloud database migration will be smoother and more successful. Embrace data cleanliness, meticulous planning and robust security measures to protect your data. Test rigorously before the full migration and invest in thorough training to empower your team.

Ensure a smooth and successful migration to a cloud database with Caspio. Try the platform for free or get in touch with our representatives to learn more.