bluCommerce to Volusion Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Migrating Your E-commerce Store: bluCommerce to Volusion

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration is a significant undertaking, offering immense potential for growth, enhanced features, and a superior user experience. This guide is designed to provide a clear, actionable roadmap for merchants looking to transition their online store from bluCommerce to Volusion. While bluCommerce has served many businesses well, moving to a robust platform like Volusion can unlock new capabilities, from advanced marketing tools to streamlined inventory management.

Given that bluCommerce is a less common direct integration, this migration will leverage the power of CSV file export from bluCommerce, followed by a streamlined import process to Volusion. We'll walk you through each critical step, ensuring data integrity and a smooth transition to your new Volusion store.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, careful preparation of both your source (bluCommerce) and target (Volusion) stores is essential for a seamless replatforming experience. Understanding and fulfilling these requirements will minimize potential roadblocks and downtime.

For Your bluCommerce Source Store:

• Full Data Export: You must have the ability to export all essential store data from bluCommerce into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. This includes products, categories, customer records, order history, product reviews, and any CMS pages you wish to transfer. Ensure these exports are as comprehensive as possible.
• Data Review and Cleanup: Take this opportunity to clean up your existing data. Remove outdated products, inactive customer accounts, or redundant information to ensure you're migrating only valuable assets.
• Data Backup: Always perform a complete backup of your bluCommerce store's database and files before starting any migration process. This safeguards your current store data. For more details on preparing your source store, refer to our guide on how to prepare your source store for migration.

For Your Volusion Target Store:

• New Volusion Store: Set up your new Volusion store account. It's often recommended to start with a fresh Volusion installation for the migration, though you can choose to clear existing data if needed during the process.
• Administrative Access: Ensure you have full administrative access to your Volusion store. This includes access to the Volusion admin panel.
• FTP Access: You will need FTP (File Transfer Protocol) access to your Volusion store's root directory. This is crucial for uploading the Cart2Cart connection bridge file, which facilitates the data transfer. Learn more about what a root folder is and where to find it.
• Plugin Requirement: For Volusion, the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module is required for a successful connection and data transfer. This module will need to be installed in your Volusion store.
• Prepare for SEO: Familiarize yourself with Volusion's SEO capabilities and plan how you'll manage 301 redirects to preserve link equity post-migration. For more details on preparing your target store, refer to our guide on how to prepare your target store for migration.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

This section outlines the precise steps to move your e-commerce data from bluCommerce to Volusion using a specialized migration service, leveraging CSV files for the source data.

Step 1: Export Data from bluCommerce

Begin by exporting all necessary data from your bluCommerce store. This will typically include:

• Products (with SKUs, descriptions, images, variants)
• Product Categories and Manufacturers
• Customer information
• Order history
• Product Reviews
• CMS Pages and Blog Posts (if applicable)

Ensure your CSV files are well-structured and include all relevant fields that you wish to transfer to Volusion.

Step 2: Create a Cart2Cart Account

If you haven't already, sign up for an account. This will be your control panel for the entire migration process. Once registered, you can proceed to the migration wizard.

Step 3: Configure Your Source Store (bluCommerce via CSV)

In the migration wizard, you'll specify your source platform. Since bluCommerce isn't a direct API connection, you will select 'CSV File to Cart' as your Source Cart. Upload the CSV files you exported from bluCommerce. This method ensures that all your data can be processed and prepared for transfer.

Step 4: Configure Your Target Store (Volusion)

Next, select 'Volusion' as your Target Cart from the dropdown menu. You will then need to provide your Volusion store's URL. Critical for establishing the connection is uploading the Cart2Cart bridge file to your Volusion store's root directory via FTP. Additionally, ensure the required Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module is installed on your Volusion store.

Step 5: Select Data Entities for Transfer

This step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you want to transfer from your CSV files to Volusion. You can select all entities or pick specific ones, such as:

• Products (including SKUs, descriptions, images, variants)
• Product Categories
• Product Manufacturers
• Product Reviews
• Customers
• Orders
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Coupons
• CMS Pages

Step 6: Configure Additional Migration Options

Enhance your data transfer with various additional options. These can significantly impact the quality and integrity of your new store. Consider selecting:

• Migrate Images in Description: Essential for products and CMS pages.
• Clear Target Store Data: If your Volusion store isn't empty, this option can prevent data duplication. For more info, see Clear current data on Target store before migration option.
• Preserve Product IDs, Orders IDs, Customer IDs: Crucial for maintaining existing database relationships and external system integrations. Learn more about how Preserve IDs options can be used.
• SEO URLs / Create 301 SEO URLs: Highly recommended to maintain your search engine rankings by automatically redirecting old URLs to new ones.
• Password Migration: Allows customers to log in with their existing credentials.

Step 7: Map Data Fields

Ensure consistency between your old bluCommerce data (via CSV) and your new Volusion store by mapping customer groups and order statuses. This step helps translate specific data fields from your source to their correct equivalents in Volusion, preventing inconsistencies post-migration.

Step 8: Run a Free Demo Migration

Before committing to the full migration, run a free demo migration. This transfers a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-15 products, customers, orders) to your Volusion store. It's an invaluable opportunity to:

• Verify the connection and setup.
• Check the accuracy and integrity of the transferred data.
• Identify and resolve any potential issues before the full transfer.

Step 9: Initiate Full Data Migration

Once you're satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full migration. Review the final cost and consider purchasing a Migration Insurance Plan, which offers additional remigrations. The service will then transfer all selected data to your Volusion store. You can monitor the progress, and you'll be notified upon completion.

Post-Migration Steps

The migration doesn't end when the data transfer is complete. Several crucial post-migration steps are necessary to ensure your new Volusion store is fully functional, optimized, and ready for customers.

1. Thoroughly Review and Test Your New Volusion Store

Immediately after the data transfer, conduct a comprehensive audit of your Volusion store. Verify the following:

• Products: Check product descriptions, images, SKUs, pricing, stock levels, and variants. Ensure all products are correctly categorized.
• Customers: Test customer login (if passwords were migrated) and ensure customer groups are accurately assigned.
• Orders: Review historical order data, checking statuses, line items, and customer associations.
• CMS Pages: Verify content, formatting, and internal links for pages like 'About Us,' 'Contact Us,' and 'Privacy Policy.'
• Functionality: Test the entire checkout process, search functionality, and all interactive elements on your site.

2. Configure Essential Store Settings

Beyond data, your new Volusion store needs its operational settings fine-tuned:

• Payment Gateways: Set up and test your preferred payment methods (e.g., credit card processors, PayPal).
• Shipping Methods: Configure shipping zones, rates, and carriers.
• Tax Settings: Ensure your tax rules are correctly applied for different regions.
• Store Policies: Update your store's terms and conditions, return policies, and privacy policies to reflect Volusion's capabilities and your business practices.

3. Implement 301 Redirects and Optimize SEO

Maintaining your search engine rankings and link equity is paramount. If you didn't utilize the 301 redirect option during migration:

• Manual 301s: Identify any URLs from your bluCommerce store that have changed in Volusion and set up 301 redirects to point old URLs to their new counterparts.
• Metadata Review: Review and optimize product meta titles, descriptions, and image alt tags within Volusion for improved SEO performance.

4. Install and Configure Apps, Integrations, and Theme Customizations

Recreate the functionality and appearance of your old bluCommerce store:

• Volusion Apps: Browse the Volusion App Store for integrations and apps that provide features similar to what you had on bluCommerce (e.g., marketing automation, analytics, customer service tools).
• Theme Customization: Customize your Volusion theme to match your brand's aesthetic and ensure a consistent user experience.

5. Update DNS and Go Live

Once you are completely satisfied with your new Volusion store, it's time to go live:

• DNS Update: Change your domain's DNS settings to point to your new Volusion store. Plan this step carefully to minimize downtime for your customers.
• Final Checks: Perform one last review immediately after DNS propagation to ensure everything is working as expected.

6. Inform Your Customers

Communicate with your customer base about the migration. Inform them about the new platform, any new features, and assure them that their account information and order history are intact.

7. Ongoing Monitoring and Optimization

Post-migration is an ongoing process of monitoring and optimization. Keep an eye on your store's performance, user feedback, and analytics to identify areas for continuous improvement on your new Volusion platform.

Should you require any assistance at any stage, remember you can always contact us or explore our data migration service packages for expert support.