Axis Commerce to Volusion Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Migrate Your E-commerce Store from Axis Commerce to Volusion

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration is a significant undertaking, but with the right guidance, it can be a smooth transition that propels your business forward. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every essential step of moving your online store from Axis Commerce to Volusion, ensuring your valuable data—from product listings and customer information to order history and reviews—is transferred with precision and integrity. Volusion offers robust features and scalability, making it an excellent choice for merchants looking to enhance their online presence and streamline operations.

Given that Axis Commerce is a less common platform and does not directly integrate via API with standard migration tools, this guide will focus on a highly effective method: exporting your Axis Commerce data into CSV files and then importing it into Volusion using a specialized migration service. This approach ensures maximum compatibility and control over your data transfer process, providing a path for merchants to confidently replatform and unlock new potential.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating your migration from Axis Commerce to Volusion, careful preparation is crucial. Addressing these prerequisites will lay a solid foundation for a seamless data transfer.

For Your Axis Commerce (Source) Store:

• Data Export: Since Axis Commerce does not support direct API integration with migration tools, you will need to export all your store data into CSV files. This includes products (with SKUs, variants, descriptions, images), product categories, customer records, order history, manufacturers, and potentially other entities like coupons or CMS pages. Ensure your CSV files are well-structured and accurate.
• Data Backup: Always perform a complete backup of your Axis Commerce store's database and files before beginning any data export or migration process. This is a critical safety measure to protect your business against unforeseen issues.
• Access to Data: Ensure you have full administrative access to your Axis Commerce backend to perform comprehensive data exports.

For Your Volusion (Target) Store:

• Set Up Your Volusion Store: You'll need a live and accessible Volusion store. This involves signing up for a Volusion plan and performing the initial setup of your new store. You do not need to populate it with products or customers, as the migration process will handle that. For more details on preparing your target store, refer to our FAQ on preparing your Target store.
• Install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration Module: Volusion migrations typically require a dedicated module for establishing a secure connection. This Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module acts as a bridge, facilitating the secure transfer of data between your source CSV files and your Volusion store. Follow the instructions provided to install it on your Volusion platform.
• Admin and FTP Access: You will need full administrative login credentials for your Volusion store, including the admin URL, username, and password. FTP access details might also be required for tasks like bridge placement and image migration.

General Considerations:

• Plan for Downtime: While most of the migration process can occur without affecting your live Axis Commerce store, plan for a brief period of downtime during the final data transfer and DNS updates.
• Review Data Integrity: Take this opportunity to clean up any old, irrelevant, or duplicate data in your Axis Commerce store before exporting.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparations complete, you are ready to initiate the migration process using a trusted migration wizard. Follow these steps carefully to transfer your Axis Commerce data to Volusion.

Step 1: Start the Migration Process

Begin by navigating to the migration wizard. Here, you'll choose your migration path, whether it's a DIY approach or leveraging assisted services.

Step 2: Configure Your Source Store (Axis Commerce via CSV)

This is where you'll tell the migration tool about your current Axis Commerce store. Since direct integration isn't available, you'll specify 'CSVToCart' as your source platform and then upload your exported CSV files.

• Select 'CSVToCart' from the list of supported shopping carts.
• Provide the necessary information, which typically involves uploading your carefully prepared CSV files containing your products, customers, orders, and other data entities. More information can be found on our CSV File Data Migration service page.

Step 3: Set Up Your Target Store (Volusion)

Next, you'll configure the details for your new Volusion store, which will be the destination for all your e-commerce data.

• Select 'Volusion' from the dropdown list of target shopping carts.
• Enter the full URL of your Volusion store.
• Confirm that the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module is correctly installed on your Volusion store. This module establishes a secure 'bridge' connection, essential for data transfer.
• Provide your Volusion store's administrator login credentials (adminLogin, adminPwd, adminUrl) and verify the connection.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

At this stage, you choose exactly what data you want to transfer from your Axis Commerce CSV files to your new Volusion store. Volusion supports a comprehensive range of entities, ensuring your new store is fully populated.

• Review the list of available data entities, which includes: Products, Products Categories, Products Manufacturers, Products Reviews, Customers, Orders, Invoices, Taxes, Stores, Coupons, and CMS Pages.
• You can select all entities for a complete store transfer or pick specific ones based on your needs.

Step 5: Configure Additional Options & Data Mapping

This critical step allows you to fine-tune your migration with specific options and ensures your data fields are correctly mapped between your source CSV and Volusion.

• Additional Options: Select desired options such as:
  • Clear Target Store Data: Clear current data on Target store before migration option to ensure a clean slate.
  • Preserve IDs: Options to Preserve Product IDs, Order IDs, and Customer IDs. This is vital for maintaining existing SEO rankings and internal linking structures.
  • Migrate Images in Description: Ensure product descriptions carry over associated images.
  • Password Migration: Migrate customer passwords securely.
  • SEO URLs & 301 SEO URLs: Crucial for maintaining your SEO rankings and link equity. This option helps create 301 redirects from your old Axis Commerce URLs to your new Volusion URLs.
  • Migrate Invoices: Transfer all your past invoice data.
  • Skip Custom Attributes: If you have custom attributes you don't need in Volusion.

• Data Mapping: Manually map customer groups, order statuses, and other custom fields from your Axis Commerce data to their corresponding fields in Volusion. This ensures data consistency and avoids discrepancies in your new store.

Step 6: Perform the Demo Migration

Before committing to a full migration, conduct a free demo migration. This transfers a limited number of entities (e.g., 10 products, 10 customers, 10 orders) and allows you to:

• Test Data Integrity: Verify that product details, customer information, and order data are transferred accurately.
• Check Functionality: Ensure images, variants, and other complex data elements appear correctly on your Volusion store.
• Evaluate the Process: Understand the migration flow and identify any potential issues before the full transfer.

Step 7: Full Data Migration

Once you're satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full data transfer. Review your chosen migration plan and any additional services like Migration Insurance, which offers flexibility for remigrations. For more information on how migration insurance works, see our FAQ.

The full migration will transfer all selected data entities. The duration depends on the volume of your data.

Post-Migration Steps: Securing Your New Volusion Store

After your data has successfully migrated to Volusion, a few crucial post-migration steps are necessary to ensure your store is fully functional, optimized, and ready for customers.

1. Thorough Testing and Verification:
   • Product Data: Check all product listings, including SKUs, descriptions, images, prices, stock levels, and variants.
   • Customer Accounts: Verify customer logins, order history, and account details.
   • Order Flow: Test the entire checkout process, from adding items to the cart to payment and order confirmation.
   • Internal Links: Click through various pages to ensure all internal links are working correctly.
   • Functionality: Test search, filters, and any custom features.
2. Configure Store Settings:
   • Payment Gateways: Set up your preferred payment methods (e.g., credit card processors, PayPal).
   • Shipping Options: Configure shipping zones, rates, and carriers.
   • Taxes: Set up tax rules and rates according to your region.
   • Storefront Design: Customize your Volusion theme, branding, and layout.
   • Apps & Integrations: Install and configure any essential Volusion apps for marketing, analytics, customer service, or inventory management.
3. Implement 301 Redirects & SEO Adjustments:
   • If the migration tool's 301 redirect option wasn't used or if you have specific URL changes, implement 301 redirects for any old Axis Commerce URLs to their new Volusion counterparts. This is vital for preserving your existing SEO rankings, maintaining link equity, and ensuring a seamless user experience.
   • Update your Google Search Console profile with your new Volusion site URL.
   • Resubmit your sitemap to search engines.
4. Update DNS Records: Once you are confident that your new Volusion store is fully operational and tested, update your domain's DNS records to point to your new Volusion store. This will direct your customers to your new platform.
5. Go Live & Monitor: Announce your new store! Closely monitor your Volusion store for any initial issues, performance glitches, or unexpected behavior. Keep an eye on sales, customer feedback, and website analytics. For any new data that appeared on your old Axis Commerce store after the main migration, consider our Recent Data Migration Service to ensure everything is up-to-date.

Migrating from Axis Commerce to Volusion is a strategic move that can significantly benefit your e-commerce business. By following these detailed steps, you can ensure a smooth, efficient, and data-secure transition, setting your store up for future growth and success on the Volusion platform. If you encounter any challenges or require expert assistance, our team is always ready to help. Feel free to contact us for personalized support.