You manage an online store and wish to migrate to another e-commerce solution. PrestaShop has caught your attention, but changing software is not a trivial matter. We are here to support you in this endeavor.
Here is how to migrate your site to PrestaShop in ten steps!
Step 1: Key points to consider when migrating your store
Some questions to ask before even considering a migration
- First and foremost, why migrate? Create a list of the advantages and disadvantages of your current solution in order to have a specifications document for the final requirements. It would be unfortunate to encounter the same obstacles.
- Which solution best corresponds to my specifications document? Which one will provide me with the most flexibility? Consult the Addons Marketplace to explore the possibilities for extensions, for example.
- Am I ready to learn how to manage this new e-commerce solution? Free resources can assist you at the PrestaShop Care Center.
- Am I capable of doing it myself? If not, do I have the budget to engage an agency or to utilize the services of PrestaShop?
- Do I have the necessary time to devote to this time-consuming process at the moment?
- How is my current solution indexed, and is it beneficial to maintain the history of the URLs?
- Will it be possible to implement a redirection plan upon the launch of my new site?
A few points to verify to ensure that a migration can be carried out smoothly.
Domain name: Do I have access to my current domain name? By which service is it provided?
Hosting: Do I already have a host for my site? Am I ready to invest monthly to maintain this hosting?
Store data: Verify that the solution I am currently using allows me to export data, and that I have proper access to the database. You may need assistance at this stage:
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- If your current solution is part of the list mentioned on this page, you will then be able to request the services of PrestaShop.
- If your current solution is not on this list and you do not have access to your database, you will need to prepare to manually enter your catalog on your new site.
- Some data may not be transferable, and in any case, it is essential to keep a copy of your current site.
Step 2: Configure your new store
You have chosen to migrate to PrestaShop, which is a very good choice! It is time to deploy the solution on your server and to configure your new site.
At this stage, it is advisable to carefully consider the configuration of the store before thinking about the import. Configure the taxes, delivery countries, delivery zones, end customer groups, languages, and currencies that you wish to use. Grant access to your employees by creating an account for each of them with the action rights you wish to specify.
Spend some time on the construction site to test the solution and consolidate your specifications.
You can watch the "General Settings" video on the PrestaShop Care Center for more details!
Step 3: Import the content and data of your store into PrestaShop.
Which data would you like to migrate?
Do not forget that the order in which you migrate the data is important. We recommend the following order:
- Category hierarchy
- Products
- Customer data: login information, global data, and addresses.
- Order history (orders that have been executed).
- Discount codes, credits, gift cards (history if possible, otherwise those currently valid).
- Static content pages (shipping policy, contact, and other web pages).
- Product reviews
How will you migrate the data? Three solutions are available to you: you may carry out the migration yourself if you possess an advanced technical level; otherwise, we recommend engaging a certified agency or utilizing our migration plan.
Ensure that all imported data is correct and complete.
You will realize that each e-commerce solution has its own logic; the data is not processed in the same manner. Ultimately, the most important thing is that the latter are available on your future back office.
We therefore invite you to thoroughly verify the entirety of the data after import. The number of elements must be identical and complete. This may require adjustments to the initial estimate if this data had not been identified and is not accounted for in the new back office, but if this data is essential to you, it must be retained.
Once all the data is in place, it is time to move forward. It is advisable, if possible, to keep the old store in maintenance during this period to avoid having to process new data subsequently.
You can now begin to modify your catalog on the new site! It is always necessary to allow time for processing to organize and complete the information. This is also the right time to sort things out, but be careful with the referencing; we will return to this.
Step 4: Adapt the design of your store.
Now that the most important aspects of your store are ready, let us move on to the image you wish to communicate to your customers. The design of your website is very important; it must reassure the client and instill confidence in your site more than that of your competitor.
By default, the PrestaShop Open Source solution will offer you a native, clean, and minimalist theme, but you will surely want to assert your own identity, the image you wish to convey to your clients.
There are two solutions for this: to find and purchase a theme on the Addons Marketplace, or to enlist the services of an agency specialized in custom solutions. The budget will vary; it is up to you to compare these solutions to determine which one meets your needs.
Step 5: Configure the delivery
You are fortunate to already have a site; your logistics may already be well-established.
However, it is always useful to question oneself in order to evolve your services. Do you have any suggestions for improving your deliveries? Are you perhaps using too much service or conversely not enough?
On PrestaShop, you will be able to rely on a wide range of delivery solutions. You can certainly create your manual carrier and manage the delivery as you are accustomed to. However, as saving time is always beneficial, take the time to contact the delivery solutions available in your country. They can have modules that directly generate shipping labels without having to rewrite them each time, for example.
You are starting on a new basis; it is the time to try new things. You will surely find more available options and more comfort in managing your upcoming orders.
The video "Carriers: Delivering Packages" can assist you in this step!
Step 6: Configure at least one payment method.
In the same vein as the carriers, you typically already have the opportunity to use one or more payment solutions.
Once again, PrestaShop offers you numerous solutions that allow you to implement the equivalent of these payment methods.
Take the time to inform yourself and choose the right module. The deployment generally proceeds quite simply. In any case, do not overlook this; it is a key point to reassure your clients.
You can view the video on payment methods.
Step 7: Place test orders.
Remember to conduct a complete test of your site as a customer to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
- Verify that it is indeed possible to log in to your site using a client account that has been migrated.
- Create a new client account from A to Z.
- Navigate through the main pages of the site.
- Add products to the cart of this test client.
- Place an order using each payment method in place and ensure that the corresponding data appears correctly in the back office.
Take the time to conduct these tests without rushing! If something hinders you, it will likely hinder your customers as well. Each point must be considered, reflected upon, or corrected so that navigation and the ordering process are as smooth, reassuring, and comprehensible as possible for your customers.
Step 8: Configure the URL redirections
Have you had a website for several years? Is it indexed on Google? Do you have a relatively good position compared to your competitors on the search results pages?
This element should not be taken lightly; the SEO of your site is the factor that will determine whether your traffic will be greater, and greater traffic means a higher conversion rate of your visitors.
The redirection plan during the migration of a store that you have been using for several years is very important. Your site has gradually gained a certain weight in Google indexing, a reputation in the results, which is why your site will rank higher than others in searches.
If you launch your new site without anticipating this step, you will not start from scratch since you are using the same domain name, but you will notice a high rate of 404 errors (pages not found) that Google will penalize. Some URLs that carry significant weight will no longer exist, and you will lose this precedence.
It is therefore important to ensure with the provider you have chosen for the migration or with an SEO agency that this redirection plan will penalize you as little as possible. The goal of the game is to redirect, if possible, 100% of the URLs from your old site to the new URLs of your PrestaShop store.
Step 9: Configure your domain.
It is almost time! Are the essential elements in place?
- The data has been migrated to the new site.
- The new image of the site is in place.
- The payment methods are configured.
- The carriers and delivery areas as well.
- The store has been tested thoroughly.
Remember that in step 1, we were talking about domain name and server. It is time to link the two to your new site. This is an action that must be carried out by your host; you simply need to contact them. Once the domain name is in place, it is your turn to act; the new site is ready to be launched!
Step 10: Invite your clients to log in to your new site.
Anticipate this great day and inform your clients to encourage them to join you on this new site. If you have successfully migrated your client data, they will simply log in with the same credentials.
Plan with a specialized communication solution to send a newsletter; take this opportunity to offer a promotional code, as it is an ideal moment to reinforce the image you wish to convey to your clients. The first login and the first order will not be long in coming; good luck for what lies ahead!