
Magento is an eCommerce platform that leverage brands in creating online stores by providing base for store setup, designing, customization, marketing, maintenance and so on. Moving to Magento 2 can be done due to multiple reasons, as it is known as the one of the leading eCommerce marketplace.
Magento 2 migration services involve moving the store smoothly to the new platform without affecting regular business activities. Thus, in this blog, we will explore the process of migrating to Magento 2.
Steps To Successfully Switch To Magento 2!
Step 1: Review Your Current Magento Store
Carefully examine your present Magento store first. Understanding every part of your store is involved in this, including custom code changes called customizations, additional tools or plugins like extensions, and stored data, which are product details, customer information, orders, etc. After review, make sure you have a detailed plan for moving from Magento 1. x to 2. x, which outlines every step that needs to be taken, assign responsibilities, and estimate the time required for each step. Having such a plan is very important since the migration process can be quite complex and requires thorough preparation to ensure everything goes smoothly during the transition.
Step 2: Set Up a Development Environment
It is advisable not to touch anything on your live website while migrating because you might end up inconveniencing some clients. Instead, create another place where tests will be done without affecting the original one; we call it a staging or development environment. In fact, it should be an exact copy of production server settings used extensions applied customized themes active just like how they are now. Work within this area until everything has been confirmed to be working okay, then apply changes to the live website.
Step 3: Check Compatibility of Extensions And Customizations
Magento 2 is not the same as the old version, so some extensions and customizations might not work. Each extension and customization should be checked to see if it will work with Magento 2. If they are not compatible, find new ones that can do what those did or ask providers to update them for you. Failure to do this could result in post-migration problems, where certain features may fail to function as required.
Step 4: Install Magento 2 in the Development Environment
Install Magento 2 in your development environment after you have a plan and have checked compatibility. Follow the official Magento guide to install a clean version of Magento 2 on your test area. This new installation will be the place where you will move all data of your store and any customizations made.
The next step is moving the data from the old Magento store to the new Magento 2 installation. You can use Magento's Data Migration Tool for this purpose or hire Magento 2 developers, which helps transfer key data such as products, customers, orders, and settings. However, it might not transfer everything perfectly, especially custom or third-party extension data. You should be ready to do some extra work to transfer all data correctly.
Step 6: Move Customizations and Extensions
Once you have moved your core data over, it's time to transfer customizations and third-party extensions. This might entail manually copying code changes, updating extensions to be compatible with Magento 2 versions, or even recreating certain customizations from scratch if they are too complex for migration. Remember that without these steps, your store will lose all its uniqueness and functionality.
Step 7: Test the New Store
Once we have everything transferred, it's time to test the new store in the development environment. We have to ensure that every part of the store functions properly. This involves checking things like product displays, order processing, customer accounts, and any systems integration with payment gateways or shipping providers, among others. Magento 2 migration services can also seamlessly integrate payment options and other customizations in your store.
Step 8: Train Your Team
If you will be in charge of a Magento store, all staff involved with the website must know how to use the new version, Magento 2. The reason for this is that there may be different features that do not exist on older versions, processes might have changed, and so on; therefore, people should know what is available for them and how best they can make use of it. Moreover, if possible, ensure every employee has at least some knowledge about these programs and any others used within company premises, too, because when they come back after migration, everything will run much more smoothly if they are already familiarized with their operation. In addition, ensure no problems are experienced once switching live websites; therefore, plan well enough while considering post-migration issues.
Step 9: Prepare for the Live Switch
When testing has been done on the new store, get ready to go live with Magento 2 on your website, where customers buy products or services directly from you as the seller of such goods but not through any other person acting as an intermediary between them and yourself. During this period, plan for some downtime when visitors cannot access their accounts in user mode while administrators can still log into backend areas if necessary, like making changes in settings, etc. However, remember also to make backups of data that are stored in the live store, such as orders placed by buyers, since these may come in handy should anything go wrong either during or after the switch. Besides, one might need to update DNS settings so they can point to the new installation location of Magento 2.
Step 10: Go Live with Magento 2
The time has come to take your new Magento 2 store live. Switch your live store to the new Magento 2 installation after taking every precaution, such as backing up data and scheduling downtime. You should monitor the process carefully and be prepared to handle any problems that may arise immediately.
Step 11: Post-Migration Tasks
After your website goes live, some important tasks remain to be completed. Update all external systems or services connected to your store, like payment gateways and shipping providers. Set up URL redirects if any product or category page URLs have changed. Also, optimize your store's performance by following best practices for caching and indexing, which will help speed up your website.
Step 12: Plan for Ongoing Maintenance
Migration is not easy, but keeping your website well-maintained is essential for long-term success. Magento will release new versions and updates, so you need to plan for future upgrades. Set up a maintenance and support plan that includes regular backups, security patches, and performance monitoring. Regular maintenance will keep your Magento 2 store running smoothly and securely.
Conclusion
By following these steps carefully, you can ensure a successful migration to Magento 2, providing a better experience for your customers and a more robust platform for your business. Additionally, you can look for a Magento 2 migration services agency like MakkPress Technologies, an eCommerce marketing and store migration company. MakkPress Technologies is an expert in in-store creation, design, marketing, maintenance, and so on. It provides all the solutions that an eCommerce store needs for better performance and smooth loading.