Insurers are under constant pressure to modernise, but data migration projects can feel daunting especially when legacy systems, regulatory obligations and complex product portfolios are involved.
To help, we asked Owen Greenwood, Client Director for Insurance at Dufrain, to share the most common questions he hears from insurance leaders planning or delivering migrations.
1. How long does a typical insurance data migration take?
It depends less on the volume of data, and more on its complexity.
“You could have a million rows of clean, structured data and migrate it quickly,” says Owen, “or a smaller dataset with complex lineage and regulatory conditions that takes months to untangle.”
For most insurers, a well-planned migration takes four to six months though timelines can shorten with reusable frameworks and automation. Simpler migrations may complete in a few months; highly complex, multi-system estates (common after M&A) take longer.
2. How much data should we migrate?
Not every record needs to move. Many insurers are now taking a pragmatic, future-focused approach migrating only live policies, claims and customer data, while keeping dormant or legacy data in read-only archives until it can be safely retired.
“It’s about balancing commercial sense and risk,” Owen explains. “You don’t have to migrate everything in one go. Sometimes a staggered plan works best.”
This approach reduces cost and speeds up time to value, while still supporting a longer-term decommissioning strategy.
3. What should we do before starting a migration project?
Three essentials:
- Audit your data properly. Map every PAS, claim and finance system, identify duplication and regulatory dependencies.
- Clarify your business drivers. Know whether the goal is cost efficiency, AI enablement, or operational simplification it changes the migration approach entirely.
- Set governance standards from the start. Define ownership, quality and lineage rules early so migrated data is compliant and reliable.
“One insurer spent six months auditing their data and it completely changed their migration plan,” says Owen. “That discovery phase is invaluable.”
4. What does good migration accuracy look like?
In Dufrain’s experience, insurers should expect 99%+ accuracy for migrated records meaning minimal manual intervention and full data integrity in the new system.
“Accuracy is everything,” Owen emphasises. “You’re dealing with regulated data. You can’t afford misalignment or loss.”
5. What’s driving migration across the insurance sector right now?
A combination of M&A consolidation, regulatory pressure, and the race to become AI-ready. Many insurers are investing in unified data platforms to power intelligent underwriting, pricing, and claims automation.
“Everyone wants to explore AI,” Owen says, “but you can’t innovate responsibly without solid data foundations.”
6. How are insurers using AI after migration?
AI in insurance is evolving fast. Early use cases focus on:
- Claims efficiency: speeding up assessment and validation by scanning policy and customer data.
- Underwriting support: surfacing insights to help underwriters make quicker, data-informed decisions.
- Customer service: automating straightforward policy or claims queries through AI-powered assistants.
Each of these relies on consistent, accurate data which is why migration is such a critical step.
This growing interest in AI is also why we’re hosting a session on how insurers are starting to use agentic frameworks in practice, a natural next step once reliable data foundations are in place.
7. Why does it matter that my migration partner knows insurance systems like Acturis?
Because PAS and claims platforms aren’t generic databases, they’re complex, regulated systems with unique data structures.
“We’ve done hundreds of migrations into Acturis,” says Owen. “We know how that data behaves, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to accelerate delivery.”
Experience with insurance systems means faster implementation, fewer errors, and confidence that migrated data will perform as expected.
Final Thought
Migration isn’t just a technical milestone; it’s a business enabler. The insurers getting ahead aren’t necessarily the ones spending the most; they’re the ones taking a strategic, pragmatic approach.
“Do the groundwork, know your data, and align it to your goals,” Owen concludes. “That’s what turns migration from a cost into an advantage.”
Read further insights on how strengthening your data foundations now can reduce risk and build resilience.
If you’re considering a modernisation programme, talk to our team about what the right support could look like, at the right time and in the right way.