Many eCommerce businesses were unable to migrate their platform from Magento 1 to Magento 2. The complexity of Magento 2 migration and the robust structure of the platform led to multiple obstacles. A lot of store owners struggle with the complexities of the shift, frequently giving rise to unexpected problems that can affect their online business.
Recognizing the scale of these problems, this blog will provide a complete step-by-step guide to ensuring an effortless Magento 2 migration. By following these steps, businesses may not only effectively navigate the migration process, but also maximize the potential of Magento 2’s advanced features.
Magento 2, released in November 2015, was developed to upgrade the previous version and incorporate new or modern technologies into the platform. It involves offering new features to eCommerce businesses. The transition to Magento 2 marked an entire redesign of the platform rather than simply an upgrade.
Table of Contents
I. Benefits of Magento 2 Migration
- Modern Technology Stack: Magento 2 differs from Magento 1 as it uses PHP 7 instead of PHP 5. Magento 2 additionally utilizes the use of cutting-edge technology like Composer, Symfony, HTML 5, JQuery, CSS 3, Apache, Twig, MySQL, Nginx, Gulp, and many more. As a result, magento 1 to magento 2 migration is known for its high-performance capabilities.
- Robust SEO: Another advantage of the Magento 2 migration is that the platform includes a comprehensive set of SEO tools. It includes suffixes, prefixes, canonical tags, superior snippets, SEO-friendly URLs, and much more. In addition, Magento 2 includes XML/HTML sitemaps to improve SEO. In short, the Magento 2 migration is extremely beneficial in terms of SEO, as it helps websites achieve higher positions in search engine results.
- Practical Admin Interface: The admin interface is an important consideration when managing a large number of stuff. Magento 2 migration includes a user-friendly and detailed admin interface. It also offers an easy-to-use drag-and-drop capability, making it simple to set up goods. In addition, Magento development services can assist you in customizing the admin panel to meet your specific needs.
- Mobile Optimization: Magento 2 was developed with mobile optimization in mind. It indicates that websites built with Magento 2 may effortlessly provide a high-quality mobile experience to users, resulting in a rise in conversion rate.
- Highly Scalable: Magento 2 is highly scalable, allowing you to take your business to the next level by utilizing the platform’s robust features and flexibility. Aside from that, Magento web development is capable of handling large traffic for rapidly growing businesses in a variety of sectors.
- Premium-quality Extensions: In Magento 2, the quality of every single third-party extension is thoroughly tested and evaluated. It assures that Magento 2 extensions are of high quality and provides advanced security. Furthermore, there are numerous high-quality Magento 2 extensions available on the market.
- Fewer Database Breakdowns: In contrast to Magento 1, which comes with a single database for admins, hire magento developers, and users, Magento 2 contains different database-like fields for checkouts, item information, orders, and so on. The division method reduces the possibility of database overloading. In addition, it helps to reduce the load during product checkout, order administration, surfing, and other procedures.
- Enhanced Checkout Process: Magento 2 features an improved checkout procedure that improves the user experience. It’s because this platform provides a simplified two-step checkout process, email admission for regular users, quick purchasing alternatives, and much more. Magento 2 is approximately 38% faster than Magento 1 for visitor checkout on average.
II. Best tips for smooth Magento 2 migration
2.1. Pre-Migration Planning
- Backup Everything. It is necessary to have a safety net. Businesses should make sure that they have a full backup of their Magento 1 store including all the databases, files, and extensions. This assures that in the case of a mishap, you have the possibility to bring back their data.
- Audit Your Store. Consider this migration an opportunity for organizing. Evaluate the current store setup, finding essential extensions and those that are obsolete. Additionally, clean up your database by eliminating outdated or unnecessary data.
- Choose a Migration Time. Timing is very important in eCommerce businesses. To reduce delays and possible revenue expenses, schedule the shift during daylight hours when website traffic is at its lowest.
2.2. Theme and Customizations
- Migrate Theme. Magento 2 has come with a revamped structural framework. In this migration process, direct theme migration is not possible. You’d need to either purchase a compatible Magento 2 compatible theme or create a customized one that fits your brand’s aesthetics.
- Custom Code Adaptation. Any custom code written in Magento 1 will need to be updated to be compatible with the Magento 2 architecture.
2.3. Extensions and Custom Functionality
- Extension Compatibility. There aren’t always Magento 2 versions of plugins that work with Magento 1. It is important to verify the extension availability of Magento 2 versions. In the absence of direct versions, consider using alternative extensions or custom development.
- Custom Functionality Transition. You will need to create custom modules for Magento 2 to implement bespoke functionalities that were included in your Magento 1 store.
2.4. Data Migration
- Leverage Magento’s Data Migration Tool. Magento offers an additional tool that is specifically made to make it easier to migrate important data, including orders, customers, and products.
- Test the Waters with Data Migration. Before going into a full-fledged migration, conduct a regular test run. This preliminary test confirms data integrity and provides insight into possible challenges.
2.5. SEO Preservation
- URL Consistency. Preserving the URL structures is essential to ensuring the safeguarding of the SEO equity that has been built up over time.
- 301 Redirects. Implement 301 redirects for any URLs that you have updated. This ensures that both users and search engines can be redirected to the relevant pages on the new site.
- Optimize Robots.txt & .htaccess. Make sure that these files in Magento 2 are optimized for search engine crawling and indexing.
2.6. Testing
- Functional Testing. After migration, it is important to completely test functionalities. Product searches, the checkout process, and payment gateway processes are some examples, but they are not the only ones.
- Performance Metrics. Magento 2 should by default, provide improved performance. Test the site’s speed, load times, and overall responsiveness to validate this.
- Cross-Compatibility Checks. The user experience should be consistent for all devices and browsers when your store is presented flawlessly.
2.7. Post-Migration Steps
- Vigilant Monitoring. Once your Magento 2 store is functioning, implement a proactive monitoring strategy. Keep an eye on error logs and client feedback to quickly find and fix errors.
- Iterative Optimization. Make constant improvements in Magento web development to your store by utilizing user behavior data and performance analytics.
- Backup Protocols. Setting up regular backup routines is a smart move to keep yourself secure against unforeseen challenges or data loss.
Conclusion
We hope that our comprehensive Magento 2 migration Checklist has provided you with helpful insights into the benefits of migrating to this powerful e-commerce platform.
With the right approach and a dedicated team, you can make an effortless switch to Magento 2, making your online business for long-term growth and success.
If you are unfamiliar with Magento 2 migration, Bytes Technolab is here to help. Contact us for a free consultation, or find out more about our Magento development services.
Bytes Technolab has over 10+ years of experience in Magento development, and we can ensure a successful migration for your business. We’re here to help you convert to Magento 2 as smoothly and efficiently as possible, so contact us immediately!
