Crystal Reports to Power BI Migration: Implementation

Target customers
Our workshop is ideal for:

• Digital transformation & innovation leaders
• IT executives (CIO/CTO/CSO)
• BI/Analytics Team
• Crystal Admins
• Project/Program Managers

Agenda:

1. Discovery & Assessment

• Inventory all Crystal Reports and classify by business function, complexity, usage, and priority.
• Analyze SQL queries, subreports, parameters, and embedded business logic.
• Identify reports using outdated or static data sources to be modernized.
• Finalize scope and define success criteria.

2. Migration Strategy & Planning

• Create a migration roadmap using MigrateFAST to accelerate mapping and planning.
• Design modern Power BI architecture including workspaces, datasets, semantic models, and RLS.
• Define integration points for real-time or scheduled data updates via Power BI Gateways.
• Develop a visual mapping from Crystal formatting to Power BI UI paradigms or paginated reporting where needed.

3. Data Model Migration & Universe Translation

• Rebuild SQL logic from Crystal into Power Query or SQL views where necessary.
• Refactor datasets into reusable Power BI models that support multiple reports.
• Ensure data cleansing, normalization, and quality checks are in place during transformation.
• Align metrics and KPIs with the organization's reporting standards.

4. Report Conversion, QA & Enhancement

• Rebuild reports in Power BI using DAX, slicers, drill-throughs, and custom visuals to replace static layouts.
• Perform unit testing, UAT with business owners, and side-by-side validation with legacy Crystal output.
• Optimize performance, load times, and design consistency across all reports.

5. Training, Deployment & Support

• Conduct training sessions for Power BI usage, sharing, governance, and self-service.
• Deploy reports in production with appropriate data refresh and RLS configurations.
• Transition security models and workflows to the Power BI platform.
• Provide documentation, support, and establish a Power BI Center of Excellence (CoE).
• Deliver hypercare and performance monitoring to ensure adoption and stability.

Deliverables:

By the end of the workshop, you will receive:

• All identified Crystal reports rebuilt in Power BI or Power BI Report Builder as needed.
• Workspaces, datasets, refresh pipelines, and governance structures fully configured.
• Centralized, optimized models replacing embedded SQL queries or file-based data in Crystal.
• Reports tested, validated, and approved by stakeholders for functionality, formatting, and performance.
• Ongoing support and handover to your internal Power BI CoE for sustained success.

Benefits:

Join our workshop and enjoy these benefits:

• Optimized Data Architecture: Embedded queries and static datasets are modernized into reusable Power BI dataflows and semantic models.
• Parallel Operations: Run Crystal and Power BI side-by-side during the transition for validation and business continuity.
• Crystal Reports Transition: Convert Crystal Reports to paginated reports in Power BI Report Builder where pixel-perfect output is required.
• Accelerated Migration with MigrateFAST: Automates report inventorying, identifies similar or duplicate reports, and assists in mapping logic for faster conversion.
• Change Management and Hypercare: Post-migration training, user onboarding, and support ensure smooth adoption and user success.

Why choose MAQ Software

With deep expertise in both Crystal Reports and Power BI, MAQ Software ensures a structured, low-risk migration that preserves your reporting logic while enabling innovation. Contact CustomerSuccess@MAQSoftware.com to begin your migration journey today.