Airsquare to Shopware Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

A Comprehensive Guide to Transitioning from Airsquare to Shopware

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration can feel like a monumental task, but with the right guidance, it’s a strategic move that can unlock new growth opportunities for your business. If you're currently running your online store on Airsquare and considering a transition to the robust and scalable Shopware platform, you've come to the right place. Shopware offers advanced features, flexibility, and a thriving ecosystem, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to expand their digital footprint.

While Airsquare does not offer direct API access for automated migrations, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of moving your valuable data via CSV files, ensuring a smooth and efficient replatforming to Shopware. We'll leverage the power of Cart2Cart for a streamlined data transfer, helping you transition your products, customers, orders, and more with minimal downtime and maximum data integrity.

Prerequisites for Migration

Before you initiate the data transfer, a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring a seamless migration process. Here’s what you’ll need:

• For your Airsquare Store (Source):
  • Data Export: Since Airsquare doesn't support direct API integration for automated migrations, you'll need to export your store data into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. This includes essential entities such as products (with SKUs, variants, images, descriptions), product categories, customer records (names, addresses, order history), and order details. Ensure your CSV files are well-organized and contain all the necessary information for a complete transfer.
• For your Shopware Store (Target):
  • Fresh Shopware Installation: Have a clean, freshly installed Shopware instance ready. This ensures no conflicting data exists before the migration.
  • Admin Access: You’ll need full administrative access credentials (username, password, URL) to your Shopware backend.
  • FTP/SFTP Access: Essential for securely uploading the Cart2Cart Connection Bridge file to your Shopware store’s root directory. If you're unsure about this, consult your hosting provider or our guide on what a root folder is.
  • Cart2Cart Shopware Migration Module: This vital plugin is required for establishing a secure connection and facilitating the data transfer to your Shopware store. Ensure it's ready for installation.
  • Prepare Your Target Store: For more detailed preparation steps, refer to our guide on How to prepare Target store for migration?

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Get Started with Your Migration

Begin your migration journey by navigating to the Cart2Cart website. Click on the prominent "Start Your Migration" button to initiate the wizard. This will be your gateway to a successful store replatforming.

Step 2: Configure Your Airsquare (CSV) Source Store

In the migration wizard, you'll first be prompted to specify your source platform. From the dropdown menu, select 'CSV File to Cart'. This option is crucial for transferring your data exported from Airsquare. You will then upload your prepared CSV files containing your product, customer, and order information.

For more details on migrating via CSV, visit our CSV.File Data Migration service page.

Step 3: Connect Your Shopware Target Store

Next, it’s time to connect your new Shopware store. Choose 'Shopware' as your target cart from the available options. You'll then need to provide your Shopware store's URL. To establish a secure and direct data link, you will be prompted to download a 'Connection Bridge' file. Unpack this file and upload the 'bridge2cart' folder to the root directory of your Shopware installation via FTP/SFTP. Additionally, ensure you install the Cart2Cart Shopware Migration module within your Shopware administration to facilitate a smooth connection.

Worried about security? Learn is it safe to provide your company with my access details?

Step 4: Select Data Entities and Additional Options

This critical step allows you to define exactly what data you wish to transfer. You can select all available entities, or pick specific ones like:

• Products (including SKUs, descriptions, images, variants)
• Product Categories and Manufacturers
• Customer data (names, contact info, order history)
• Orders (with statuses and details)
• Reviews
• CMS Pages
• Coupons
• Taxes

Beyond core entities, you'll find a range of Additional Options designed to refine your data transfer. Consider selecting options such as:

• Migrate Images in Description: Ensures all product images embedded within descriptions are transferred.
• Clear Target Store Data: Useful if you've already imported some data into your new Shopware store and want to start fresh. Read more about clearing target store data.
• Preserve Customer IDs and Preserve Order IDs: Essential for maintaining historical data integrity and linking with external systems, though be aware of potential ID preservation limitations with Shopware 6+.
• Create 301 Redirects: Highly recommended for SEO. This helps maintain your search engine rankings and link equity by redirecting old Airsquare URLs to their new Shopware equivalents.
• Migrate Customer Passwords: For a smoother user experience, allowing customers to log into their new Shopware accounts with existing credentials.

Step 5: Map Data Fields

This crucial step ensures that your Airsquare data aligns perfectly with Shopware's structure. The wizard will guide you through mapping fields such as customer groups (e.g., 'Wholesale' in Airsquare to 'B2B Customer' in Shopware) and order statuses (e.g., 'Pending' to 'Open'). Proper data mapping is vital for maintaining consistency and functionality in your new store, preventing discrepancies, and ensuring a smooth user experience post-migration.

Step 6: Run Your Demo and Full Migration

Before committing to a full data transfer, Cart2Cart offers a free demo migration. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities to your Shopware store. Use this opportunity to thoroughly review the transferred data, check product details, customer accounts, and order history to ensure everything looks correct. Once satisfied with the demo results, you can proceed with the full migration. You'll also have the option to add Migration Insurance Service, which provides a set number of re-migrations, offering peace of mind.

After the full migration is complete, you can utilize our Recent Data Migration Service to transfer any new data that accumulated on your Airsquare store during the migration period.

Post-Migration Steps

Congratulations, your data has been successfully transferred to Shopware! However, the journey doesn't end there. A few crucial post-migration steps will ensure your new Shopware store is fully optimized and ready for your customers.

• Thoroughly Test Your Store:

  Before going live, meticulously test every aspect of your new Shopware store. Check:

  • Product pages, including variants, images, and descriptions.
  • Category navigation and search functionality.
  • Customer accounts: try logging in, reviewing past orders, and updating details.
  • The entire checkout process, from adding to cart to payment gateways.
  • Forms, contact pages, and any custom CMS pages.
• Update DNS Settings:

  Once you are confident in your new Shopware store's functionality, update your DNS settings to point your domain name to the new Shopware hosting. Plan this carefully to minimize downtime and ensure a smooth transition for your visitors.

• Implement 301 Redirects:

  This is paramount for maintaining your existing SEO rankings and link equity. Create 301 redirects from your old Airsquare URLs to their corresponding new Shopware URLs. This ensures that customers and search engines are seamlessly directed to the correct pages on your new platform, preventing 404 errors and preserving your hard-earned SEO value.

• Install Essential Plugins and Apps:

  Explore the Shopware App Store and install any necessary plugins, apps, or integrations that provide functionalities crucial to your business operations (e.g., marketing tools, accounting software, shipping connectors). Shopware's plugin suite offers vast customization opportunities.

• Review and Optimize SEO:

  Even with 301 redirects, it's wise to review your Shopware store's SEO. Check meta titles, descriptions, image alt tags, and overall site structure. Optimize these elements to ensure strong visibility in search engine results from day one.

• Go Live and Monitor:

  Announce your new store! Closely monitor your website's performance, user experience, and any potential issues in the initial days and weeks after going live. Be prepared to address any unforeseen challenges promptly.

By diligently following these steps, your migration from Airsquare to Shopware will be a success, setting the stage for enhanced e-commerce capabilities and future business growth. Should you require expert assistance at any stage, remember you can always contact us.