InteractOne’s Checklist for a Successful eCommerce Website Migration

Taking on site migration is like stepping into a labyrinth of complexities, challenges, and potential pitfalls. Whether prompted by a need for tech upgrades, rebranding initiatives, or evolving business strategies, the decision to migrate a website is a significant undertaking for any organization. From transferring vast amounts of content to preserving hard-earned search engine rankings, the process demands detailed planning, technical expertise, and effective communication. 

As a leading agency specializing in website migrations, InteractOne knows how to help merchants switch eCommerce platforms with focus and confidence. From meticulous content transfers to safeguarding SEO performance, we understand the intricacies and the “gotchas” of replatforming. 

Contact us today for help navigating the complexities of switching platforms with clarity and assurance.

In this guide, we delve into the common eCommerce website migration issues and how to avoid them—with help from InteractOne’s expert team.

• Assessment and Planning
• Guiding Merchants to Optimal Solutions
• Customization and User Experience (UX)
• Assisting with Data Migration to Avoid Data Loss
• Phased Approach to Website Configurations following Migration
• Getting Help with the Replatforming Headache

Listening to the Business Requirements: Assessment and Planning

Our approach to site migration is rooted in collaboration, thorough planning, and a commitment to delivering exceptional results. 

1. Evaluate the current site

We start every eCommerce platform migration project by thoroughly evaluating the current website. Our team assesses the site’s structure, content, functionality, and existing issues to understand its strengths and weaknesses. This comprehensive audit serves as the cornerstone of our migration strategy, enabling us to identify areas for improvement and develop tailored solutions to meet your business needs.

2. Define goals

Once we have a clear understanding of your current website, we work closely with you to define the goals driving the migration. Whether you’re looking to improve performance, update outdated technology, or undergo a rebranding, we’re here to help you articulate your goals clearly. By aligning our efforts with your business goals, we ensure that every aspect of the migration is geared towards delivering tangible results and driving success.

3. Set objectives

With the goals in place, we collaborate with you to set specific objectives for the project. Whether it’s maintaining or improving SEO rankings, preserving valuable customer data, enhancing user experience, or minimizing downtime during the transition, we establish clear objectives that serve as the foundation of our migration strategy. Additionally, we assist in defining key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the migration, enabling you to track progress and make data-driven decisions throughout the process.

Guiding Merchants to Optimal Solutions

4. Recommendations

Every business is unique. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to switching eCommerce platforms. That’s why our team of experts leverages their extensive knowledge and experience to recommend strategies and technologies tailored to your specific goals and objectives. Whether it’s choosing the right platform, implementing custom solutions, or optimizing performance, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. 

5. Create a migration plan

Once the optimal strategies and technologies have been identified, we work with you to create a comprehensive migration plan. This roadmap outlines the timeline, tasks, and responsibilities for each phase. Our thorough plan coordinates and executes every step of the replatforming process, from initial preparation and moving content to testing and deployment. 

Handling Customization and User Experience (UX)

6. Prioritize user experience

Creating a fantastic UX is key to delighting customers and securing their long-term satisfaction. Our team crafts visually appealing designs with intuitive interfaces to captivate your audience and drive conversions. From creating custom layouts to optimizing navigation or implementing interactive features, we focus on enhancing every aspect of the user journey to deliver a customer experience they’ll love. 

But we don’t stop at aesthetics. We strongly emphasize usability and functionality so that your website not only looks great but also performs flawlessly across devices and browsers. By prioritizing customization and UX, we help you differentiate your brand and build customer loyalty. 

Assisting with Data Migration to Avoid Data Loss

7. Product data migration

Moving your product data is often one of merchants’ most significant pain points. The process can be daunting and overwhelming, whether dealing with simple product catalogs of a hundred SKUs and basic categories or complex catalogs with tens of thousands of SKUs and categories.

Luckily, we specialize in moving product data from one platform to another, making sure that all your product information is transferred accurately and efficiently. Our team employs advanced techniques and tools to handle data migration of any scale, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuity for your eCommerce store. 

8. Customer and order data migration

Migrating customer and order data presents its own challenges, particularly when reconciling data model changes from one system to another. At InteractOne, we understand the importance of preserving customer relationships and order histories during migration. Our team works diligently to ensure that customer and order data is moved accurately, and we implement strategies to associate orders with the corresponding customers seamlessly. By leveraging our expertise in eCommerce data migration, we help you maintain continuity in your operations and provide a smooth transition for your customers. 

Phased Approach to Website Configuration following Migration

By taking a phased approach to configuration, we empower you to launch your website quickly with the essential features needed to start generating revenue and serving your customers. As the full site is developed and launched in subsequent phases, we continue to iterate and optimize, ensuring that your online store evolves to meet the changing needs of your business and your customers. 

9. What is the minimal viable product (MVP)?

At InteractOne, we advocate for a phased approach to site configuration, beginning with developing a minimal viable product (MVP). This strategic method, our ‘secret sauce,’ prioritizes the core functionality and essential features required to launch your website and start generating value for your business. By focusing on the MVP first, we can expedite the launch process and get your site up and running quickly, allowing you to establish an online presence and start serving your customers while additional features are developed and implemented.

10. Replicate the setup from the old site onto the new platform

As part of our phased approach to configuration, we prioritize replicating the critical elements of your previous setup on the new eCommerce platform. This includes configuring third-party payment methods, shipping options, customer reviews, and other essential features integral to your online store’s operation. Our team works diligently to ensure these configurations are replicated correctly, maintaining consistency with your previous setup while leveraging the new platform’s capabilities to enhance performance and functionality.

Get Help with the Replatforming Headache

In the eCommerce business, staying competitive requires embracing change. We hope you understand more of the common eCommerce website migration issues and what it takes to successfully transition to a new platform, from assessing business requirements and handling data migration to prioritizing customization and user experience.

Migrating eCommerce platforms is a complex task that requires careful planning, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of your business needs. While it may be tempting to tackle the migration process internally, the reality is that it’s best left to a team that specializes in migration work. Just as you wouldn’t attempt to build your own office from scratch, trying to migrate your eCommerce site without expert assistance could lead to costly mistakes and unnecessary headaches.

With InteractOne’s help, you can confidently and easily navigate the intricacies of site migration. Our team of experts has the knowledge, experience, and resources to ensure a smooth and successful transition to your new platform. By partnering with us, you can rest assured that your site migration will be handled efficiently, allowing you to focus on growing your business and delighting your customers. 

Don’t let the complexities of site migration hold you back. Contact InteractOne today, and let us help you elevate your online presence with a seamless and stress-free migration experience.