Migrating to Magento 2 might have been at the back of your head for quite some time now, and as the deadline looms in the near future, you know you have to start planning the move. With limited time and running your business as usual, you are probably looking for a tried-and-tested method of fail-safe migration.
Well, search no more, you are in good hands.
We have been developing Magento stores for several years now and as certified Magento developers, we have gained first-hand knowledge on the ins-and-outs of what Magento 2 has to offer. But, most importantly of all, we have practiced migrations to the new platform with our clients. And we have learned how to do it well, fast and how to avoid troubles.
Want to know how to migrate to Magento 2 without too much stress? Read on!
What to expect from the migration?
Let’s be honest – Magento 2 is not just another update of Magento 1.X. It requires a lot more effort. So, brace yourself and prepare for a leap. It’s not going to happen overnight, and it’s going to require resources. Yet, it must be done. Preparing yourself mentally and gathering necessary knowledge is the best investment you can make at the start of the process.
Harness the process
Not too many things will surprise you if you have a plan. Depending on your shop’s size the migration might take from 2-6 months, so keep it in mind when drawing up the plan.
But, what to start with? Let us give you 5 most important first steps:
1. Review what you have
Check all the features and modules your shop is currently equipped with and verify them against your customers’ needs. Make a list of features you don’t want to keep any more, and a second list of features and modules you’d like to introduce in order to better suit your business’ and your customers’ needs.
2. Stop working on the current store
Well, you can still use it for business, of course! Just stop developing it. Why invest in a technology which will go down the drain in a couple of months? Any custom solutions or modules will have to be built from scratch after migration to Magento 2 anyway, so whatever you are trying to fix now – plan it for the migration. You will kill two birds with one stone! (Or, feed two birds with one scone.) Redesign of your store might just come naturally, as a byproduct of the migration process.
3. Schedule the migration date
Keeping in mind that the migration process may take up to half a year and needs to be finished by June 2020, try to establish a date when the actual migration will happen. You know best when your business gets most traffic – so, avoid this date and the days around it. Of course, holiday season is also not the best time for ecommerce changes, as are the period before the Black Friday and New Year sales. Choose a date within the low traffic period, and avoid losses in revenue.
4. Find the right team
Having said goodbye to your unwanted or outdated current modules and extensions, it’s time to look for new opportunities. Making a list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” is one thing. But finding the right partner for the whole operation is another.
Look for reliable companies with experience in Magento, who are not afraid of introducing most up-to-date technology and build custom solutions. Such a team will should also advise you on the best extensions for your store and provide a thorough guidance through the planning and migration process.
5. Do not panic
Yes.The last, but not least, step is to keep it cool. If you have followed the four previous steps, you have already done a lot!
With the right team of experienced Magento developers you will be able to carefully plan the migration details and bring your ecommerce to a brand new level.
Your planned date of migration to Magento 2 should still allow you for some trial-and-error period. And, with no development or design work required on the current version of your store you can devote all this time into the migration.
What if I don’t make it?
Do you consider what will happen if you stay behind? Or, what if you just figured out your perfect migration date and found the right team and it looks like you won’t make it before June 2020?
Well, your shop will not vanish after the migration deadline. But, after June 2020 no new patches will be available for Magento 1 and your old store will be more prone to hacker attacks or data leaks. No new modules will be available, and third parties may also not provide them, focusing on the Magento 2 modules only.
So, start planning the transition today.
And if you are stuck, just drop us a line and we will help you solve your problems one by one.
