A large U.S.-based insurance organization with nearly 100 years of history needed to replace its SAP Crystal Reports environment to meet growing data and performance demands. With over 19,000 agents, 59,000 employees, and 30 operations centers, reporting played a critical role in decision-making, compliance, and customer service. The existing setup lacked scalability, required extensive manual effort, and showed limitations in integration with other platforms.
The main goals of this migration to IBM Cognos included :
The insurance provider selected DataTerrain due to its specialized focus on report migration and its proven track record of managing large-scale reporting transitions. DataTerrain was expected to deliver an accurate and efficient migration to IBM Cognos using automation, industry best practices, and compliance-focused methods.
The process began with a complete inventory analysis of Crystal Reports components. This included :
This provided a structured view of what needed to be retained, consolidated, or retired before the migration to IBM Cognos began.
Using proprietary tools, DataTerrain automated the migration to IBM Cognos. Metadata, formatting logic, and expressions were converted with minimal manual intervention. During this step, special focus was given to:
Converted reports were reviewed through automated comparisons between legacy and IBM Cognos outputs. Any discrepancies in layout, data, or performance were addressed before proceeding to the next batch. User feedback was incorporated after each set of reports to ensure accuracy and operational alignment.
To minimize business disruption, DataTerrain ensured that report layouts, navigation patterns, and filters closely mirrored those of the legacy system where possible. This minimized retraining needs and shortened the user acceptance phase. Documentation and training materials were delivered as part of the handoff.
All reports matched expected data output from legacy tools, meeting business user expectations.
Legacy report maintenance was eliminated. IBM Cognos' centralized framework reduced time spent on ongoing updates.
With the migration, the company is well-positioned to scale its reporting capabilities in line with business growth. The platform supports advanced analytics integration and can handle higher data volumes.
DataTerrain's team addressed technical mapping challenges such as :
Several reports were enhanced during the migration. Examples included :
With globally distributed resources, DataTerrain maintained continuous progress. This approach enabled the project to meet deadlines without interruptions to internal reporting cycles.
The migrated reporting system now includes :
These controls support IT governance and reduce audit risks across departments.
Migration to IBM Cognos allowed the insurer to modernize its reporting without sacrificing continuity. DataTerrain, with over 300 clients across the United States, provided automated BI migration and consultation services that enabled the organization to complete its transition efficiently and with minimal manual effort. The result is a reliable, cost-effective, and scalable platform aligned with future reporting and analytics goals.
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