Trying to keep forward of your friends out there typically means ecommerce migration or replatforming in some unspecified time in the future within the lifetime of your small business.
Ecommerce has develop into fiercely aggressive, with revenues from retail ecommerce projected to hit $1 trillion in 2023, in accordance to Statista. With the proper platform, you may benefit from higher uptime, security measures, and scalability to improve person expertise and enhance gross sales.
But let’s say you’re caught with a less-than-appealing legacy ecommerce platform, and also you’d like to swap to one thing that meets trendy requirements. How do you go in regards to the ecommerce replatforming course of?
Ecommerce knowledge migration is so much easier than it seems, however provided that you intend and execute it with care. This information will stroll you thru what ecommerce migration entails and aid you plan, execute, and observe greatest practices to guarantee a clean transition to a brand new dwelling on your on-line enterprise.
What is ecommerce migration?
Ecommerce migration entails transferring elements or all the on-line retailer from one platform (or host) to one other. It is typically referred to as ecommerce replatforming, and each phrases can be utilized interchangeably. No matter which one you encounter, they imply the identical factor.
It can imply transferring your backend, frontend, or your total resolution from one platform to a brand new one. In many circumstances, such a replatforming is what companies need.
But there are different choices. For occasion, replatforming can even imply switching from one SaaS associate to one other. Besides that, it may imply shifting from an outsourced to an in-house resolution.
An awesome instance can be switching from Shopify, an all-in-one SaaS resolution, to WooCommerce, which can require new software program, a brand new platform, and a brand new host.
Whatever your state of affairs, replatforming can even contain transferring all of your belongings, together with media, pictures, weblog posts, merchandise, buyer accounts, inner person accounts, and metadata, to your new platform. Although it appears simple at face worth, replatforming is usually complicated and time-consuming.
A very good ecommerce knowledge migration technique ensures a fantastic end result however requires cautious planning and execution. But first, let’s discover why you might take into account migrating to a brand new platform.
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Reasons your small business might take into account replatforming
Each enterprise is exclusive, and wishes differ. However, there are points frequent to most corporations that point out it’s time to change ecommerce platforms.
Your present platform can’t scale
As your small business grows, your ecommerce wants change, and also you want a platform that may develop with you.
If your present platform can’t assist rising your product providing, rising your stock choices, or dealing with extra site visitors to your web site, it might be time to replatform.
Poor web site efficiency
Poor efficiency leads to misplaced gross sales. Frequent downtime, sluggish response at checkout, and product pictures which might be sluggish to load are all efficiency points which will sign you’ve outgrown your present platform.
A brand new ecommerce platform that helps excessive efficiency, usability, and a optimistic buyer expertise might be the reply.
High whole value of possession
Although good platforms aren’t low cost, utilizing a platform inside your finances remains to be mandatory. A excessive whole value of possession means your present platform prices an excessive amount of to personal, run, and keep.
Your present resolution has gaps
Sometimes, your present resolution might have the whole lot wanted to run your small business besides a couple of key options that make a distinction in enterprise success. For occasion, it might lack ample security measures, customizable person interfaces, or transport choices.
In that case, you might take into account ecommerce replatforming to an possibility that provides these new options.
Lack of integrations and apps
Third-party apps, APIs, and integrations may also help create a seamless workflow throughout all your small business software program. These options allow you to create an ecommerce retailer with no group of in-house builders and convey automation options to a lot of the promoting course of at low prices.
Ecommerce platforms to take into account
What are your choices in case you plan to migrate to a brand new platform? Although there are a whole lot of options you may check out, all of them fall into 4 distinctive classes.
Software as a service (SaaS)
You’ve in all probability encountered a number of SaaS suppliers for ecommerce options already. These are subscription-based software program options constructed, hosted, and maintained by third-party corporations.
These companies require a subscription to use the software program for a selected interval. Although you’ve gotten full entry to the software program, you don’t personal it. Good examples embody Shopify, BigCommerce, and Squarespace.
Cloud
Cloud-based ecommerce options like Nexcess Cloud are a hybrid between SaaS and on-site options. That’s since you hire storage and {hardware} from a third-party firm however run and keep the ecommerce software program your self. This is typically referred to as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
On-Premise
With on-premise options, you personal each the {hardware} and the software program. This kind of internet hosting is usually superb for companies that need full management over their knowledge and all of the technical elements concerned.
Because of vitality, restore, upkeep, and substitute prices, on-premise options are often cost-restrictive for small companies however work exceptionally for big corporations.
Headless
Any of the options above might be headless. That means the frontend and backend are separate techniques from one another.
Headless techniques make it simpler to current a number of procuring experiences to prospects whereas utilizing the identical backend to energy a number of frontends.
Creating an ecommerce replatforming plan
Regardless of the kind of platform you select to migrate to, a profitable ecommerce replatforming and knowledge migration technique all the time begins with cautious planning. Before you may transfer a single byte of information, you’ve gotten to study your choices and objectives.
So, what does an inexpensive replatforming plan include?
1. Include all stakeholders
Before starting the replatforming course of, you might want a group of specialists and key individuals to assist oversee issues. They can also be key decision-makers in your small business who play a essential position within the success of your ecommerce knowledge migration course of.
They can approve funding, advise on adjustments to meet firm objectives, and supply technical recommendation.
Depending on your small business construction, they could embody:
- Qualified IT group members.
- Content/advertising groups/businesses.
- Business companions and traders.
2. Understand your small business wants
Your enterprise is exclusive, and so are its wants. Before starting any replatforming efforts, guarantee you’ve gotten a transparent understanding of your small business wants and the way your potential platform matches into the image.
Make a listing of all of the constraints your present platform has. What are its limits and limitations?
Once recognized, guarantee your potential platform has options that meet or exceed your present platform.
Moreover, you may create new ecommerce enterprise objectives and discover in case your new potential platform may also help you obtain them.
3. Identify important integrations
Ensure you consider different enterprise companies you utilize. Suppose you utilize HubSpot or Salesforce CRM. Does your new platform assist integration? Find out what your new software program can assist out of the field and what might require an extra funding.
4. Draft a request for proposal
If you don’t have already got good choices at hand, you may develop a request for proposal and ship it to a number of distributors providing ecommerce options. You might be as particular or as common as you want. In many circumstances, distributors might have what you need, or they could tailor options to your distinctive use case.
5. Calculate your whole value of possession
How a lot will it value your small business to replatform? Understanding your whole value of possession may also help you intend higher, particularly in case you’re on a finances.
Besides the preliminary buy prices, you might incur different expenses.
These prices might embody:
- Repair and upkeep charges.
- Software patches and upgrades.
- Load and efficiency testing.
- Developer, designer, and engineer prices.
- Hosting costs.
- Fees and surcharges for extra traffic.
- Infrastructure.
- Site security.
- Data migration costs.
- Downtime costs.
- Software licenses.
6. Select a platform
Once you’ve compared all the proposals and how they fit your budget and technical needs, it’s time to make a selection.
While it is rare to find a platform that fits every item on your wishlist, selecting one that allows for customization can help create a better fit.
6 steps for a successful ecommerce migration
Once you have created an ecommerce migration plan, you need to support that plan. These six steps will help you ensure a successful ecommerce replatforming.
1. Plan the migration process
Without careful planning and time management, website migration can be a headache. To avoid one, establish the scope of your work and set a reasonable timeframe. That should allow you to perform all the migration project tasks as efficiently as possible.
Some ecommerce migration tasks include:
- Creating a new hierarchy for the website.
- Auditing existing content.
- Frontend and backend development.
- Pre and post-launch training.
Also, this stage will enable you to Identify all the tools and services needed to complete the process seamlessly.
There are three ways you can migrate data between platforms:
- You can do a manual, or in-house, data transfer yourselves or with partners offering migration services.
- Some providers offer apps to assist with the data migration process. You can use these apps to secure and expedite the transfer process.
- You can also use APIs and microservices to transfer data and other apps to your new platform.
2. Redesign and develop your ecommerce website
Replatforming for ecommerce often includes revamping your store’s look. Especially when moving from a SaaS turnkey system to a more customizable solution, you may need to rebuild parts of your website before migrating data.
Alongside your in-house design and development teams or agency partners, design and develop new frontend and backend templates for your ecommerce website. This stage is critical and can consume significant time.
3. Optimize checkout
Since the primary goal of your ecommerce store is to drive sales, ensure the checkout process works. You may connect payment gateways or third-party checkout apps and optimize them as much as possible to your industry’s best standards.
4. Audit your website for SEO
Switching to a new platform can sometimes come with SEO risks and benefits. Changes in link structures may cause some pages to break or display incorrectly. Catching these errors early can help you fix and avoid future errors that may affect your SEO.
Audit your website and ensure it meets all SEO standards to rank well on search engine results pages. Run other tests to catch potential problems before launch, including broken links, page redirects, caching, firewall setups, and system security.
5. Check everything
Never assume everything is correct. After everything is done, run checks on the system to ensure every single piece of the website works correctly before launching.
Be sure to also run demo checkouts to ensure all your pages and plugins work so customers can enjoy a secure and seamless buyer experience.
6. Launch your website
Once everything else is in place, relaunching your website should be straightforward. Plan your launch window to ensure as little disruption as possible to your customers. Create and follow an ecommerce migration checklist to ensure all your launch tasks are executed in order.
Common challenges during ecommerce migration
Being prepared for replatforming challenges and responding quickly is vital to a successful process.Common ecommerce migration problems include:
- Site downtime: During the migration process, your ecommerce website may experience downtime. That may lead to lost revenue and customer dissatisfaction.
- Integration glitches: Integrating new third-party tools such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and analytics tools may sometimes require additional development work, which may take time and more resources than anticipated.
- User training: If the new platform has a different workflow, user training may be needed for staff to use the new platform effectively. Also, customers may take time to get accustomed to your new website interface.
- Compatibility: Not all your old plugins or integrations will be compatible with the new platform. You may have to build or buy new plugins.
- Security: Moving sensitive data to a new platform can present security risks if not handled carefully. That may lead to hacks, data loss, and data leaks.
Best practices for successful ecommerce migration
The success of your ecommerce store depends on a fast and efficient migration process. Here are some best practices to help ensure success:
- Plan ahead: A successful ecommerce data migration requires careful planning and execution. Create a detailed plan with steps for the migration process and the timeline for each step.
- Test thoroughly: Before launching the new site, thoroughly test all functions to ensure everything works as expected. Identify errors early and fix them promptly.
- Secure data: Ensure that sensitive data, such as customer data and payment details, is transferred securely to the new platform. Encrypt the data during the migration process to prevent loss or corruption.
- Train staff: Train staff on using the new platform and ensure they are comfortable with the new workflow and features before launch.
- Communicate with customers: Keep customers informed about the migration process and any potential downtime or changes that may affect their shopping experience. Transparency during the process helps to prevent negative customer reactions.
- Monitor performance: Monitor the performance of the new site after launch to ensure that it meets your business goals and provides a positive user experience.
- Backup data: Create a backup of your old website before the migration process to ensure you have a copy of all important data.
- Use a staging site: Use a staging site for testing before launching the new site as a live replacement for the old website.
- Work with experienced professionals: Work with experienced developers and ecommerce experts to ensure that the migration process is executed smoothly and that any issues are quickly addressed.
Post-migration tasks and optimization tips
Is your migration process complete? While your ecommerce store is back up and running, there are still continuing tasks that need attention.
Here are some tips to keep in mind after a successful migration process:
- Update your content: Even after a successful data migration, your content may need fresh updates. Ensure that all the content on the new site is up-to-date and accurate, including product descriptions, images, and pricing.
- Optimize for speed: Optimize images and media, reduce the number of HTTP requests, and minimize code and script files.
- Monitor site performance: Use tools such as Google Analytics and PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix any issues affecting website speed or user experience.
- Optimize for search engines: Update and implement on-page and off-page SEO strategies, create keyword-rich content, and ensure that the website structure is optimized for search engine crawlers.
- Integrate with third-party tools: Improve your ecommerce store by including new and better third-party tools such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and analytics tools for conversion rates and other metrics.
- Provide excellent customer support: Respond promptly to customer inquiries and complaints, and ensure that customers have a positive shopping experience.
Final thoughts: Your guide to ecommerce migration
Ecommerce migration is a necessary process for many businesses as they work to stay competitive in the modern marketplace. However, to achieve success, migration should be well-planned and systematically executed.
By following the guidelines above, you can create a functional migration plan and shift your entire website to a new and dynamic platform with ease.
Although you may face some potential challenges, working with a skilled team to manage risks, follow best practices, and optimize your website will have you back on track in no time.
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