The best practices for migration from Magento 1 to 2
Migration can be a tiresome and tedious process if approached in the wrong way. Here are some best practices to implement if you want to ensure a successful migration.
Work on the migration plan
First things first, you need a solid plan before doing anything. Proper planning is what ensures the success of the project from the very beginning. While working on the migration plan, pay attention to the following aspects of your online store:
Product pages Product catalogues Customer data Store configuration Theme and customizations
These are the main parts of the migration process, so tread carefully when working with them.
Choose testing environment
Once you’ve figured out all the details about the migration plan, it’s time to move on to choosing the testing environment. This is a space for you to test out all parts of your project before going live. This way, you’ll be able to notice all the issues and bugs and fix them in time.
Migrate a theme
The first thing that needs to be migrated is a theme. You will use this base later to fill in the rest of the extensions and add-ons. Migrating a theme is a complex process, so you need to follow instructions strictly. Also, when installing extensions, make sure they are compatible with Magento 2.
Tailor features and functionality
Once you’ve migrated the theme and all of the necessary extensions, you can start adding custom features and functionality. For instance, you can choose the most suitable payment methods and shipping options for your customers.
Migrate data and information
The next step is to migrate your data and information. This is one of the most complex and important steps in the migration process because it involves all the data about your customers, orders, payments, etc. Just to be on the safe side, make a full backup in case something goes wrong in the migration process. Magento 2 includes a specific Data Migration Tool that allows you to automate the process as much as possible.
Test & synchronize database
Now, when all parts of your store are migrated, it’s time to check whether migration worked as it was supposed to. Don’t overlook this step, and test all your product pages, catalogs, orders, customer accounts, etc., to ensure that the migration process is done correctly.
Go live
Last but not least, on the contrary, the most important process is to go live. After you’ve tested all parts of the store and made sure everything works properly, you can proceed with launching your Magento 2 store on a live server.
Tips for a successful migration from Magento 1 to 2
Following the steps described will help you make the migration process smooth and consistent. Let’s go over a few more details to keep in mind to ensure the success of migration from Magento 1 to Magento 2:
Review your data
Before migrating data, review it thoroughly to eliminate any mistakes or discrepancies. If you are migrating from older Magento versions, some of the data might be irrelevant or not properly structured. You must make sure you migrate only relevant data and understand how it will be structured on the new site.
Choose the migration tool
There are quite a few migration tools with different sets of features. Analyze the needs and requirements of your business and choose the tool that matches your needs.
Hardware and software configuration
Don’t forget that your hardware and software have to meet at least the minimum requirements of Magento 2 technology for a successful migration. Also, work on a realistic and durable backup plan in case things don’t work out from the start.
Test twice and then once more
When planning a migration, pay special attention to dedicate enough time and resources for testing. Some issues won’t be visible in the first run; some will reveal themselves after you fix the previous ones. The more attention and effort you invest in the testing process, the fewer mistakes you’ll need to fix after the store goes live. And it’s much easier and cheaper to fix mistakes in the testing process than when there are incoming orders and new customers.
Trust the professionals to migrate your store
If you think about migrating the store yourself, think twice before doing that. There is too much information to learn and skills to acquire. It’ll be both less costly and time-consuming to hire a professional development team that could take care of the migration process for you. A trusted development partner will analyze your store and help to plan and carry out the migration process. They will also be able to address all of the issues and complications that might appear during the migration.
Final thoughts
And that’s it. Migration is a complex process that consists of numerous stages and includes a variety of details. The consistent approach and careful planning are the keys to success, as well as an understanding of Magento 2 and how it works. In order to execute a successful migration, find a team of professionals who have experience and skills to help you. With the right development team, you won’t have to worry about anything because they will handle every detail, from carefully planning to launching your store on the live server.
