Migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2 without any Roadblocks

Magento 2 is the evolved version of Magento 1 which encompasses features like enhanced architecture, database design, and coding structure to list out a few. As is with every newer version the older version is bound to be obsolete sooner or later and Magento is no different. There is an estimated total of 185,158 eCommerce websites developed in Magento but only 62,304 have migrated to Magento 2. This leaves the remaining business owners vulnerable to working with a platform that is no longer supported. With Support for Magento 1.x versions officially ending soon it has become mandatory to make the transition for running your business smoothly.

Before you initiate the process of transition to the latest version of Magento, you should consider the following factors:

1. Ensure that you have taken a complete backup of your store and all files, database and folders.

2. Initiate the migration upon a clone you have created for your Magento 1 store. Never initiate the transfer on your live store.

3. While creating a backup be sure to assess the store carefully and remove anything unnecessary.

4. Verify that your custom code, extensions and theme are working in sync with the version you are migrating to.

5. Work only on the data clone you have created for your Magento 1 store.

6. This is the perfect time to remove the unnecessary data which is occupying space in your database. Usually, this is a collection of recently viewed products, logs, products compared and similar.

7. Installing a fresh copy of Magento 2 on your existing server for Magento 1 ensures a smooth migration process. This also saves you time and money from getting a new hosting server.

8. It is good to know that before you commence the migration process all your store traffic and SEO practices have been streamlined.

MAGENTO 2 MIGRATION STAGES

The migration from Magento 1 to Magento 2 can be broadly classified into 4 stages for easier understanding and to simplify the process.

1.      Theme Migration

2.      Extension Migration

3.      Customization

4.      Data Migration

Theme Migration

Let’s make it clear that your existing theme for Magento 1 cannot be directly migrated to Magento 2. This newer version of Magento has introduced a lot of new technologies and methodologies, this enables you to deliver an enhanced shopping experience to your end customer. Developers can harness the new techniques to create stunning Magento 2 themes and even tweak & modify the current ones to make them compatible with Magento 2.

Make sure that your new theme is responsive in design, this step is commonly overlooked during the migration process.

Extension Migration

Extensions are an integral part of any Magento store, they help to add new features and enhance the overall functionality. Install the desired Magento 2 extensions to your store while initiating the migration process. Just like themes, your existing extensions from Magento 1 will not work with Magento 2, if you try to do so then a server compatibility issue is inevitable. To save space, it is suggested that you only install the Extensions you need.

Customization

Customizing your code to run on a newer version of an existing platform is an integral part for things to run smoothly. In the majority of scenarios, the code you have customized for your Magento 1 Store is compatible with the newer version of Magento. For ease of migration, Magento offers the Code Migration Toolkit. You should know that as a result of the two being different version structural issues are likely to creep up, this means that your developers will have to put in extra time to iron out these issues and ensure that your custom codes have been integrated successfully.

Data Migration

The final step in your migration process is to move all Magento 1 relevant data and settings to Magento 2. The teams at Magento are not oblivious to the tedious task migration can be, thus they have officially released a Data Migration tool to ease the task of migration for developers. This tool has globally made the migration process a breeze and assists in migrating important data like categories, products, orders, settings along with store configurations.

The newly introduced Data Migration Tool just needs you to define a few rules in the XML File and it’ll take care of migrating your database from the older to newer version. With the help of the Data Migration Tool, you can only migrate the current database and settings; themes, extensions and any customization you’ve currently done will not be migrated automatically.

The Sooner You Migrate the Better

Once you have successfully made the transition from Magento 1 to Magento 2 it is crucial that you test the system thoroughly and flatten out any issues you might face before you take the store live. There are currently 62,304 ahead of you and have already made the transition to Magento 2. Such a migration will encompass factors like your service providers’ overall eCommerce experience and expertise to ensure that you and your customers enjoy a smooth transition.

Let Us take this Journey Together

AVI Web Solutions helps clients make the easy transition from Magento 1 to Magento 2. We ensure that this process is hassle free for our clients and does not compromise on their business continuity. Our team of developers is experienced in handling transition from an earlier version of the software to the current version. We ensure that the finished product is of highest quality without compromising on any functionality and user experience.