Data Lifecycle Management – Data Waste or Competitive Advantage?
By Emanuel Böminghaus, Legacy Systems Expert and Managing Director, AvenDATA
By Emanuel Böminghaus
Legacy Systems Expert and
Managing Director, AvenDATA
Managing Director, AvenDATA
1. Data Lifecycle Management: From Cost Factor to Strategic Lever
Data Lifecycle Management (DLM) describes the controlled handling of Corporate Data across its entire Lifecycle, from Creation and Use through to Audit compliant Archiving or Deletion. Especially in the context of legacy ERP Applications, DLM is often underestimated. Historical ERP Data is by no means without Value. It remains relevant for Tax, Legal and Business Purposes. Without a clear DLM Strategy, however, this Data can quickly become a Risk, whether through rising Operating Costs, missing Compliance or technical Dependencies on outdated Systems.
2. Legacy ERP Systems: Why deactivation without Archiving is not an Option?
Many Companies seek to deactivate Legacy ERP Applications in order to reduce Maintenance Costs, Licence Fees and Security Risks. However, A simple deactivation is not permitted. Commercial, Tax and Retention Obligations require long term access to Historical Business Data. Data Lifecycle Management ensures proper Organisation in this context. Operational Data is removed from the Production System, archived and made Audit Compliant, without the need to continue operating the Legacy System. The Result is reduced Complexity, lower Costs and full Legal Certainty.
3. Archiving as a Cornerstone of Modern DLM Strategies
In the context of Data Lifecycle Management, Archiving Legacy ERP Applications represents the critical step between Past and Future. The Objective is to extract Data from retired Systems in a structured manner, preserve it completely and ensure long-term readability. Modern Archiving Solutions enable Access to Booking Records, Master Data or Transaction Data through a central Interface, independent of the original ERP System. This transforms a technical Legacy Project into a clean, Audit-Proof Process.
4. Why DLM is essential today?
Data Lifecycle Management is no longer an IT niche topic, but a central part of Governance, Risk and Compliance. Companies that approach their ERP Archiving strategically gain Transparency, reduce Risks and lay the foundation for System Migrations, Carve-outs or Cloud Transformations. At the same time, clear DLM Processes improve Data Quality and ensure that Historical ERP Data remains always auditable, accessible and understandable.
Are you planning to retire old ERP Applications or struggling with growing Data Volumes? Let us help you develop a robust Data Lifecycle Management Strategy, including Audit-Compliant Archiving and full decoupling of your legacy Systems. Act now, before outdated ERP Data becomes a real Business Risk.