You manage an online store and you want to migrate to another e-commerce solution. PrestaShop has caught your attention, but changing software is not trivial. We are here to accompany you on this adventure.
Here's how to migrate your site to PrestaShop in ten steps!
Step 1: The key points to consider when migrating your store
Some questions to ask yourself before even considering a migration
- First of all, why migrate? Make a list of the pros and cons of your current solution to have a final needs specification. It would be a shame to encounter the same blockages.
- Which solution best meets my requirements? Which will give me the most flexibility? Check the Marketplace Addons to see the possibilities of extensions for example.
- Am I ready to learn how to manage this new e-commerce solution? Free resources can help you on the PrestaShop Academy.
- Am I able to do it myself? If not, do I have the budget to use an agency or PrestaShop services?
- Do I have the necessary time to devote to this time-consuming process at the moment?
- How is my current solution referenced, is it interesting to keep the priority of the URLs?
- Will it be possible to set up a redirect plan when my new site is released?
A few points to check 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?
Shop data: Check that the solution I am currently using allows me to export data, and that I have access to the database. You may need help with this step:
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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 in 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 cannot be transferred, and in all cases, you must keep a copy of your current site.
Step 2: Set up your new store
You have opted for a migration to PrestaShop, it is a very good choice! It is time to deploy the solution on your server and set up your new site.
It is appropriate at this stage to think carefully about the store configuration before thinking about importing. Configure the taxes, delivery countries, delivery areas, end customer groups, languages and currencies you wish to use. Give access to your employees by creating an account for each of them with the rights of actions that you want to specify.
Spend some time on the site under construction to test the solution and consolidate your specifications.
You can go see the video "General settings" on the PrestaShop Academy for more details!
Step 3: Import the content and data of your store into PrestaShop
What data do you want to migrate?
Don't forget that the order in which you migrate the data is important. We recommend the following order:
- Category tree
- Products
- Customer data: login information, global data and addresses
- Order history (orders that have been executed)
- Discount codes, credit, 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 can perform the migration yourself if you have an advanced technical level, otherwise we recommend going through a certified agency or our migration plan.
Check that all the 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 way. The most important thing in the end is that these are available on your future back office.
We therefore invite you to carefully check all the data after import. The number of items must be identical and complete. This may require adjustments to the initial calculation if this data had not been identified and is not planned on the new back office, but if this data is essential to you, it must be kept.
Once all the data is in place, it's time to move forward. That is, if possible, it is better to keep the old store in maintenance during this period to avoid having to process new data afterwards.
You will now be able to start editing your catalog on the new site! There should always be a processing time to organize and complete the information. It is also the right time to sort things out, but be careful with referencing, we will come back to it.
Step 4: Customize your store design
Now that the most important part of your store is ready, let's move on to the image you want to communicate to your customers. The design of your site is very important, you need to reassure the customer, give him confidence in your site more than his neighbor.
By default, the PrestaShop Open Source solution will offer you a native, clean and uncluttered theme, but you will probably want to assert your own identity, the image you want to convey to customers.
Two solutions for this: find and buy a theme on the Addons Marketplace, or use the services of an agency specializing in customization. The budget will be different, it is up to you to compare these solutions to determine which one meets your needs.
Step 5: Configure the delivery
You are lucky to already have a site, your logistics may already be well-established
However, it is always useful to question yourself to evolve your services. Do you have any ideas for improving your deliveries? Are you using too much service or not enough?
On PrestaShop you will be able to rely on a wide list of delivery solutions. You can certainly create your manual carrier and manage the delivery as you are used to. But since saving time is always interesting, take the time to contact the delivery solutions available in your country. They can have modules that directly generate shipping labels without having to retype them every time, for example.
You are starting on a new basis, it is time to try new things, you will surely find more options available and more comfort to manage your next orders.
The video "Carriers: Delivering parcels" can help you with this step!
Step 6: Configure at least one payment method
In the same logic as carriers, you normally already have the chance to use one or more payment solutions.
Again, PrestaShop offers you many solutions to implement the equivalent of these payment methods.
Take the time to inform yourself and choose the right module. The deployment generally goes quite simply. In any case, do not miss it, it is a key point to reassure your customers.
You can check the Academy video on payment methods.
Step 7: Place test orders
Remember to perform a full test of your site as a customer to ensure that everything is working correctly:
- Please check that it is possible to connect to your site via a customer account that has been migrated
- Create a new customer account from A to Z
- Navigate the main pages of the site
- Add products to the shopping cart of this test customer
- Place an order with each payment method in place and check that the corresponding data appears in the back office
Take the time to perform these tests without wanting to go too fast! If something blocks you, it will surely block your customers. Each point is to be considered, thought out or corrected so that navigation and the order process is as smooth, reassuring and understandable as possible for your customers.
Step 8: Configure URL redirections
Have you had a site for several years? Is it indexed on Google? Are you rather in a good position compared to your competitors on the search results pages?
This element is not to be taken lightly, the referencing of your site is the point that will make your traffic more important, and more traffic means a higher conversion rate of your visitors.
The redirection plan when migrating a store that you have been using for several years is very important. Your site has gradually gained some weight in Google indexing, a reputation on the results, which is why your site will come up more than others in searches.
If you launch your new site without anticipating this step, you will not start from scratch because you are using the same domain name, but you will notice a high error rate 404 (pages not found) that Google will penalize. Some URLs that have a significant weight will no longer exist, you will lose this priority.
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 as possible 100% of the URLs of your old site to the new URLs of your PrestaShop store.
Step 9: Configure your domain
It's almost time! Are the essential elements in place?
- Data is migrated to the new site
- The new site image is in place
- Payment methods are configured
- Carriers and delivery areas as well
- The store has been thoroughly tested
Remember that in step 1, we were talking about domain name and server. It's time to connect the two to your new site. This is an action that must be performed by your host, just contact them. Once the domain name is in place, it's up to you, the new site is ready to be put online!
Step 10: Invite your customers to log in to your new site
Anticipate this big day and inform your customers to encourage them to join you on this new site. If you have managed to migrate your customer data, they will simply log in with the same access.
Plan with a solution specialized in communication to send a newsletter, take the opportunity to offer a promo code, it is an ideal moment to strengthen the image you want to communicate to your customers. The first connection and the first order will not be long, good luck for the rest!
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