If you're researching ERP solutions, you've probably come across the term "historical data migration." You may already understand why it matters, or you may still be figuring out what it actually involves. Either way, there's a good chance that every ERP partner you've spoken to treats it as a checkbox item, if they mention it at all.
At Stellar One, we think historical data migration deserves more than a checkbox. That's why we built something called the unified data package, a proprietary solution designed to go beyond basic migration and give your team a truly connected view of your business history inside Acumatica's cloud ERP platform.
In this article, we'll explain what standard historical data migration covers, what our unified data package adds on top of it, and why the difference matters for businesses evaluating an ERP transition.
What Is Historical Data Migration?
Historical data migration is the process of moving past business records from your old system into your new ERP platform. The migration includes documents like sales orders, purchase orders, AP and AR invoices, credits, and general ledger transactions.
The key word is "moving." This isn't about archiving files in a folder or keeping your old system running for occasional lookups. It's about integrating those records into your new system so your team can access them alongside current data. Our article on what historical data migration means and why it matters covers the basics in more detail.
The challenge is that most ERP partners don't handle this process well. According to Gartner, a significant number of data migration projects fail to meet their objectives because the complexity is underestimated from the start. When budgets tighten or timelines slip, historical data is frequently the first thing cut from scope.
What Is Stellar One's Unified Data Package?
Stellar One's unified data package is a proprietary solution built for Acumatica that includes historical data migration and goes well beyond it.
Think of it this way: Historical data migration gets your old records into the new system. The unified data package makes those records work together with your new data as if they were always part of the same story.
When your historical records are migrated through our package, they'll be stored in custom database tables specifically designed to align with Acumatica's data structure and naming conventions. Using SQL union statements, the package will merge your historical transaction data with the new data you're creating in Acumatica. The result will be a single, continuous view of your business activity, whether a transaction happened last week or five years ago.
This approach was purpose-built by the Stellar One team and requires no external add-ins or bolt-ons. It's included in our free Acumatica deployment and has been proven with members in production environments.
How Does Historical Data Migration Fit Inside the Unified Data Package?
Historical data migration is a core part of the unified data package. Your old invoices, purchase orders, and sales records will be brought into Acumatica during the migration process.
The unified data package simply takes that foundation and builds on it. Instead of just parking historical records in a new system, it structures and integrates them in a way that unlocks capabilities most ERP partners can't offer.
The typical migration scope covers seven key document types: sales orders, purchase orders, AR invoices, AP invoices (bills), credits, general ledger transactions, and batch or serial numbers for regulated industries. Our guide on which documents to include in your migration breaks each one down in detail.
What Does the Unified Data Package Include Beyond Migration?
The unified data package delivers four key capabilities that standard historical data migration doesn't address. Each one builds on the foundation of having your legacy records inside Acumatica and extends what your team can actually do with that data.
1. Unified Reporting Across Legacy and Current Data
This is the centerpiece of the package. Because your historical data is structured to match Acumatica's schema, you can run reports that span your entire business history without stitching together spreadsheets or jumping between systems.
Want to see year-over-year sales trends across a product line that includes three years of history from your old system and one year of new Acumatica data? You can pull that in a single query. This capability is particularly valuable for businesses that go live mid-year and need continuous data for forecasting and financial reporting.
2. Legacy Code Tracking
When you switch ERP platforms, it's common to renumber your customers, vendors, or inventory items. The unified data package tracks these legacy codes alongside their new Acumatica identifiers. That means your team can search by either the old code or the new one and still find the right records.
This setup prevents the confusion that typically happens when someone asks about a product using the name or number they've used for years, only to discover it doesn't exist in the new system.
3. Custom Data Points and Flexible Reporting
Each historical record can store up to 40 custom data fields beyond standard information like item codes, quantities, and unit prices. As a result, your team will gain the flexibility to capture business-specific data points and build custom reports around them.
4. AI Readiness
This is a forward-looking benefit most businesses don't consider during an ERP transition, but AI capabilities are advancing quickly within ERP solutions. Many of those tools depend on having deep historical transaction data to generate meaningful insights.
With the unified data package, your data will already be structured and accessible for AI-driven analysis from day one. Capabilities like product recommendations based on years of purchasing patterns or demand forecasting using seasonal trends will be available immediately. In short, you can avoid waiting months for new data to accumulate.
Why Does This Distinction Matter for Choosing Your ERP Partner?
Most ERP partners treat historical data as an afterthought. The standard approach is to migrate opening balances, bring over open documents, and leave everything else behind. If you're lucky, they'll suggest keeping your old system running or exporting records to spreadsheets as a backup. Both options create long-term problems.
The IRS requires businesses to maintain accessible financial records for varying periods depending on the document type. Keeping those records scattered across old systems, spreadsheets, and your new ERP platform will make compliance harder than it needs to be.
Stellar One's unified data package solves this problem by keeping everything in one place: organized, searchable, and ready for reporting or audits. The common problems with historical data migration don't disappear on their own. They require a deliberate approach, and that's what this package was designed to provide.
Your ERP Data Migration Strategy
Now you understand the distinction: Historical data migration will move your old records into a new system, while Stellar One's unified data package will include that migration and add unified reporting, legacy code tracking, custom data storage, and AI readiness on top of it.
If you've been evaluating ERP solutions and noticed that most partners gloss over what happens to your historical data, that's a red flag worth paying attention to. Your business history is a strategic asset, and the right ERP partner should treat it that way.
If you want to explore how businesses handle historical data during an ERP transition, our comparison of historical data storage methods is a great next read. Wondering how Stellar One handles data migration and overall pricing in our subscription model? Click below to use our pricing calculator and get your costs presented in simple terms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stellar One's Unified Data Package