Magento

The Ultimate Guide to Magento 2 Migration

Posted by Pixafy Team

If your business is still attached to Magento 1 Commerce, it is definitely time to begin migrating to the upgraded Magento 2. Adobe has stood firm by its deadline to end support for this software in June 2020, and urges consumers to begin their migration sooner rather than later. If your business is considering a Magento 2 migration, here is everything you need to know about this enhanced platform and how to achieve a seamless transition.

What is Magento 2?

Businesses that are hesitant to dedicate the time and effort for a migration to Magento 2 are missing out on a deeper breadth of customization and functionality. With added features like an extension marketplace, customers are able to build out their websites’ functionality that is directly compatible with Magento 2 as opposed to purchasing from multiple different software platforms. Not only is this more efficient, but customers reported back to Adobe that they were able to save 91% on average by purchasing through the marketplace extension that’s unique to Magento 2.

Security efforts have also been emphasized on the newer platform. Businesses are constantly trusting eCommerce software with their most important asset – money. Security measures should be in place not only to protect finances, but to protect your clients’ confidential information as well. Magento 2 includes a plethora of new security features, but a few stand out in particular. Passwords are usually the first and most common line of defense for keeping your business’s stored information private. Usually, password management would be the responsibility of individuals within an organization, but Magento 2 offers a password management system using hashing algorithms. At its most basic level, this specific algorithm helps businesses avoid having their information, like passwords, compromised.

Magento 2 has essentially built off everything that was great about the original software and made improvements in areas where it lacked. Customers can still expect a highly customizable platform to meet their specific needs, but now with more options that are even easier to develop. This year, Adobe commissioned global strategy consultants to evaluate how customers reacted to a Magento 2 migration, and what they found is good news for customers and partners alike. Through sampling a diverse group of customers, the report concluded that the new platform has the ability to increase site traffic and improve website conversion leads which are all crucial in driving revenue growth. Whether a business is small or large, if they are conducting sales online, increasing consumer interaction with their website is a main objective.

Don’t wait too long to migrate

Even with the clear benefits of Magento 2, some businesses may be attached to the first version with the ‘if it’s not broke why fix it?’ attitude. This is a valid point. After all, the groundbreaking features of the original Magento are the reason it has been named the No.1 eCommerce platform in the world. Despite the looming end for Magento 1 support, there are most likely other signs that your business is in need of migrating to Magento 2. Knowing it’s time for an upgrade isn’t always signaled by a red flag or system failure. If your business is showing its limitations with its website design and functionality, or if you want to simplify backend management, Magento 2 can help. Magento 2 can be your best asset in managing the backend processes of the daily operations of your business website. If you loved using Magento 1 because of the time it saved your business, Magento 2 can help you achieve that again.

Of course, one of the most important reasons why now is the time to migrate to Magento 2 is because Adobe will stop supporting Magento 1 in the upcoming year. By not migrating, not only are you missing out on the incredible new features of the leading eCommerce software, but you are compromising your business operations. Even the latest versions of Magento 1 will no longer receive maintenance for bug-fixes or security patches. This leaves your company’s information susceptible to cyberattacks and even minor glitches can seriously impede the day-to-day processes of your business. With no updates, your business will sooner than later begin to experience the limitations of Magento 1, and without Adobe support it would be your time and resources used to fix any problems.

Evaluating Magento 2 in its entirety, Adobe found that customers who have already migrated to the updated platform experienced cost savings of 62% when deploying new content. In the latest version of Magento, which is actually now version 2.3, businesses can easily create and manage content, which frees up resources for overall cost savings. If you are not convinced by now about the benefits of migration to Magento 2, you may be surprised by how simple the process can be when broken down step-by-step.

6 simple steps to implement Magento 2 migration

When you’re ready to migrate to Magento 2 Commerce, there are housekeeping and planning that should be done beforehand for a smoother transition. Preparing for a Magento 2 migration starts with taking an internal look at your businesses to address which aspects of your eCommerce could use improvement and the goals you want to achieve with updated software. Having a clear vision is the foundation for a migration plan, and when it comes to implementation, Adobe has helped provide some of the key steps in creating a successful migration plan.

1. Review current extensions
Extensions to Magentosoftware have helped businesses customize everything from the design to the shopping cart of their online stores. Before moving forward with Magento2, evaluate your existing extensions and remove any that you no longer need. As you take inventory, make sure that Magento 2 versions of your extensions exist in the marketplace so you can continue to utilize them for your site. Finally, if there is any data stored in your extensions make note of what needs to be migrated to the new platform. This is a great opportunity to declutter your site and remove useless data safely.

2. Download your tools
A Data Migration Tool is the key to efficiently move data from Magento 1 to Magento 2. There are additional Magento system requirements that you may need to download before starting the migration. While you are making downloads, make sure to install Magento 2 so it will be ready for the migration when your current system is. If you have any specifications about which data is to be migrated, adjust the Data Migration Tool accordingly.

3. Conduct a dry run
Before moving forward, make sure your computer systems are prepared for migration to avoid running into any problems during the actual process. An easy way to accomplish this is to move your current Magento 1 store to a staging server, migrate Magento 1 to Magento 2, and test out your new store yourself. Evaluate your new store from the perspective of your business and as a customer. Make sure extensions are working on both ends and the interface is to your liking. Making changes at this stage are easier than making them once the site goes live.

4. Begin migration
This is by far the most crucial step in the migration process where your Data Migration Tool will be your best asset. Stop most Magento 1 activities (except for order management so your business can still operate) so they do not create new entities or run rogue. Having access to both Magento 1 and 2, the Data Migration Tool will do exactly that – migrate data. While some extensions may need to be copied individually, the Data Migration Tool can copy data in bulk to make for a more efficient process.

5. Update incremental data
Any changes in orders, reviews or customer profiles that occurred during this process must be updated to Magento 2 before going live. Many of these updates can occur continuously while you watch for issues and once again test your new site.

6. Go live with your new website
Finally it is time to go live with your new Magento 2 website. The key to the final step is putting your Magento 1 system in maintenance mode, stopping incremental updates and starting your Magento 2 jobs. Just make sure to cache pages in advance of customers who use your online store and your new website and functions should be available after changing your systems to react to the new software. Once live you and your customers should immediately experience the benefits of Magento 2 Commerce!

Implementing a Magento 2 migration can be intimidating, but Adobe recommends that businesses work with an experienced implementation partner that can assist them with each step along the way.

Find the right provider

Finding a certified Magento developer to assist your business with Magento 2 migration is made easy with Pixafy. As one of a small number of Magento Gold Solutions Partners, our experts at Pixafy are at your service to get the most out of this leading eCommerce platform. If you are interested in migrating to Magento 2, connect with us today to see how our services can benefit your business.