Modernize Cognos and Argos to IRT
Learn more about Cognos and Argos to IRT modernization
Modernization approach
ABCloudz helps institutions migrate and modernize Cognos and Argos reports to Ellucian’s Insights Reporting Tool (IRT). Our two-phased approach includes discovery and solution design, followed by seamless migration, integration modernization, and post-deployment support.
Phase 1 — Migration solution design
In this phase, we analyze your current Cognos or Argos environment, identify all reporting structures, dependencies, customizations, and integrations, and come up with a Migration Solution Document that captures every step of your migration journey to ensure a smooth transition to IRT.
Report inventory & baseline analysis
Reviewing existing Cognos reports, Argos DataBlocks, SQL queries, and ETL workflows to determine migration feasibility.
Data model mapping & transformation
Mapping Oracle-based Cognos and Argos report structures to PostgreSQL-compatible schemas for IRT.
Customization adaptation strategy
Identifying complex reporting logic, conditional formatting, query joins, and embedded calculations that require refactoring or redesign for IRT compatibility.
Security & compliance validation
Ensuring FERPA-compliant security models, role-based access control, and data governance align with IRT policies and institutional requirements.
Aligning with SaaS capabilities
Using the Customer Architecture Reference Model (CARM) to align institutional strategies, processes, and custom workflows with standardized Ellucian SaaS implementations.
Migration roadmap development
Developing a detailed solution document outlining how existing reports, dashboards, and ETL jobs will be restructured within IRT, ensuring compliance with SaaS best practices.
Phase 2 — Implementation
This phase focuses on executing the migration, ensuring data integrity, and fully enabling IRT-powered analytics.
Automated report extraction & transformation
Using Cognos XML analysis tools, Argos Object Assessment Tool, and SQL conversion scripts to extract report metadata and queries.
SQL query refactoring & database migration
Converting Oracle-based Cognos and Argos SQL scripts — including Argos DataBlocks — into PostgreSQL-based, IRT-compatible queries.
Integration modernization
Replacing legacy BI ETL pipelines with Ellucian-approved data ingestion methods, including Data Connect and API-driven workflows.
Testing & validation
Conducting functional testing, data consistency checks, performance benchmarking, and UI validation to ensure report accuracy and usability.
Deployment & cutover execution
Executing a seamless transition, validating IRT-based dashboards, and retiring legacy Cognos/Argos reports.
Training & post-migration support
Providing documentation and training, along with ongoing monitoring, incident response, and proactive support.
We are world champions in migrations!
The ABCloudz team has been doing all kinds of migrations for 20+ years, including various sources/targets, preserving architecture, and performing application modernization, custom and packaged applications, and transactional and analytical workloads, getting involved with 200+ workloads annually.
We are big believers in “automate the automatable” — the best proof of competency and quality. A unique fact about us is the “convert between SQL dialects” technology, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2005 (SSMA) and by AWS with the acquisition of DB Best in 2021 (AWS SCT).
Why ABCloudz?
ABCloudz is a full-service global technology firm helping higher education institutions manage data, applications, and infrastructure anywhere. We’ve been working closely with Ellucian product and services teams for years, gaining deep technical and functional knowledge of how the Ellucian ecosystem works from the inside. This expertise enables us to deliver the fastest, most automated, and highly cost-effective modernization of on-premises BI reporting environment to IRT in SaaS.
20 years managing and engineering data and applications
Partnership with AWS, Microsoft, Google and Ellucian
Industry expertise in higher education, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and beyond
20+ technology practices
Automate the “automatable”
Focus on data, modernization, and ai
12 steps migration and modernization methodology
How much will it cost and how long will it take?
These are the first questions institutions ask when considering migration to Ellucian Insights Reporting Tool (IRT). The cost and timeline of your migration depend on the complexity of your current reports, SQL queries, data models, and custom BI logic that need to be modernized.
That’s why we don’t believe in guesswork. At ABCloudz, we follow a proven 12-step migration methodology that starts with a comprehensive discovery phase.
In this first step, our team thoroughly analyzes your existing Cognos and Argos reporting environment, identifying all custom reports, embedded SQL logic, BI workflows, and dependencies.
The outcome? A detailed modernization roadmap — a solution design document that outlines every step of your modernization journey.
This includes:
A structured step-by-step plan with a detailed breakdown of required tasks.
Precise time estimates in person-hours for each phase of the modernization.
A clear budget estimate, based on the actual scope of work.
What's next
Let’s start an engagement with a discovery and solution design phase to map out your modernization strategy. Contact us to kick off the conversation.