Updates are a novelty that you, as a business owner, just have to listen to and comply with. So, if you have an e-commerce platform built on Magento, you should prick up your ears and learn all there is about migrating from Magento 1.9 to Magento 2. While this is true that migration might feel and even become a daunting task, with the right people at your service, you won’t feel it at all. So, if you’re ready to change your business for the better, let’s dive into this topic with this clear and simple guide.
Contents
Why Migrate?
Magento 1.9 has been holding its position in the market for e-commerce solutions for the longest time. But as it happens, the support for this version ended in June 2020. Hence the platform is no longer receiving security updates and patches.
So, now migrating to Magento 2 is crucial for e-commerce solutions wanting to pursue security goals. And, more so, it opens up a world of new features, enhanced performance, and improved scalability. All this will contribute to making your business competitive in the ever-growing e-commerce industry. Companies such as WebMeridian, can help you achieve higher results when migrating. We use these steps in our practice and are happy to share them with you.
Step 1: Evaluate and Plan
- Assessment of Current Environment:
Start by conducting a thorough review of your current Magento 1.9 store, including extensions, themes, and customizations. Pay extra attention to which elements need to be migrated, replaced, or optimized for Magento 2 compatibility.
2. Backup and Staging:
Next, ensure that you have a complete backup of your Magento 1.9 store. Set up a staging environment to perform the migration process without affecting your live site.
3. Inventory Extensions and Themes:
Your thing priority in this step is to list all the extensions and themes currently in use and check for Magento 2 compatibility. Try to identify alternatives for any components that may not have a direct Magento 2 counterpart.
Step 2: Magento 2 Installation and Configuration
- Install Magento 2:
Set up a new Magento 2 instance. Magento provides a data migration tool to transfer data from the Magento 1.9 database to the Magento 2 database.
2. Configure Store Settings:
Reconfigure your store settings in Magento 2 to match your Magento 1.9 configurations. This includes store information, payment methods, shipping options, and tax settings.
Step 3: Data Migration
- Use the Data Migration Tool:
Magento provides a Data Migration Tool to facilitate the transfer of data from Magento 1.9 to Magento 2. Follow the official migration documentation and execute the necessary commands to migrate data such as customers, products, orders, and settings.
2. Address Data Discrepancies:
Make sure to inspect the migrated data in the new Magento 2 environment and rectify any discrepancies or missing information. This step is crucial to ensuring a smooth transition for your customers.
Step 4: Theme and Customization Migration
Magento 2 has a different theme structure than Magento 1.9. So, take an extra effort to decide whether to migrate your existing theme or choose a new Magento 2 compatible theme. Be sure that you check the alignment of the theme with your branding and design preferences.
If you have custom code or features in Magento 1.9, you’ll need to modify or recreate them for Magento 2. Magento provides extensive documentation to assist with code migration.
Step 5: Testing
1. Functionality Testing:
Thoroughly test the functionality of your Magento 2 store. Check critical processes such as product browsing, checkout, and payment to ensure a seamless customer experience.
2. Performance Testing:
Assess the performance of your Magento 2 store by analyzing loading times and server response. Optimize configurations and hosting infrastructure if needed.
Step 6: Go Live
Once satisfied with testing, update DNS settings to point to the new Magento 2 store. Implement 301 redirects from the old Magento 1.9 URLs to the corresponding URLs on Magento 2.
After launch, you should monitor the performance of your Magento 2 platform, and react promptly. With a reliable technical partner, you’d be able to quickly resolve any problems and react to customer’s feedback.
Conclusion
Migrating from 1.9 to Magento 2 is a pivotal step that can change your business, making the software you use more secure and scalable. If you cooperate with the right and experienced developers, you can even achieve a seamless and spot-on transition that will not disrupt your workflow.
Embrace the future with Magento 2 and WebMeridian, and propel your online store to new heights of performance, scalability, and customer satisfaction.
