eCommerce sites can change their platforms for various reasons.
Either their current platform isn’t performing up to the mark, or it can’t scale, or there is high-cost ownership, and whatnot. Studies show that more than 60% of eCommerce companies are planning to migrate to an eCommerce platform soon.
But with this migration comes many considerations such as what platforms to use and how to migrate your data.
What is eCommerce Data Migration?
eCommerce data migration is relocating all your assets like media, images, blog posts, products, customer accounts, customer information, internal user accounts, and website data to your new platform. It is a one-way process where data is completely transferred to a new location, and you eventually abandon the old system or database.
Although it might seem straightforward, eCommerce migration or eCommerce replatforming is complex and time-consuming, considering the massive amount of data, product pages, and user information you have to migrate and ensuring its safety while doing so.
Data isn’t always the same between systems even if you’re migrating from one eCommerce platform to another. There may be gaps in the way the information is stored or differences in data functionality.
Understanding different data migration techniques in eCommerce helps you understand which would be the best method for data migration and how it can help you meet your eCommerce migration goals faster and more efficiently.
Techniques for eCommerce Data Migration
1. Manual or In-house
If you have a small site with limited data, you can conduct data migration manually and in-house. Your team can simply export CSV files from your current cart and import them to the platform you’re migrating.
Ensure that you don’t lose data when exporting databases into CSV files and that data is located in the right folder after importing. Compare CSV file structures and make necessary changes before importing them to your new platform to ensure data compatibility and exact location.
2. Apps
Various apps in the market make it possible for you to import products, customers, and order history to your store and assist with the data migration process.
For example, if you’re transferring your site to Shopify, you can leverage Shopify’s store importer app that allows you to transfer your data from your old platform to Shopify. Other similar apps include WooCommerce Importer and Cart2Cart.
3. APIs or Data Migration Service
If you’re approaching a third party for migration, they facilitate data transfer through proprietary APIs that let you import data to your new platform.
You can consult different data migration service providers with expertise in using data migration tools. They can effectively transfer your data since they understand nuanced data structures, formats, and types that power each platform’s functionality. After migration, they also assist in continuous monitoring using an eCommerce monitoring platform and analyze performance on new sites.
4. Assisted Migration
This is similar to manual data migration, but you’re instead hiring a digital agency or a freelancer who can transfer your data for you. They also essentially use the transfer option through exporting CSV files.
However, it can be very time-consuming and expensive for you to consider this service as you’d need more than one developer, and it can also result in many errors due to a lack of understanding of the two eCommerce platforms.
Wrapping Up
For an eCommerce store, data is everything. It fuels their marketing efforts and holds valuable customer information. Understanding the data migration process and techniques helps you seamlessly transfer your data from one platform to another while also ensuring its safety and compatibility with different platforms.
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