EC-CUBE to PrestaShop Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Transition Your E-commerce Store from EC-CUBE to PrestaShop

Are you running an online store on EC-CUBE and considering a move to a more widely supported and feature-rich platform? Migrating your e-commerce business is a significant undertaking, but transitioning to PrestaShop can unlock new opportunities for growth, enhanced functionality, and a vibrant community. PrestaShop, an open-source e-commerce solution, offers a robust framework for managing products, customers, and orders, along with extensive customization options and a vast marketplace of modules.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process of migrating your store's data from EC-CUBE to PrestaShop. Since direct API connections for EC-CUBE are not typically available, we'll detail a reliable method involving CSV file export from EC-CUBE, ensuring all your essential data is transferred accurately and efficiently. We'll cover everything from crucial preparatory steps to the final post-migration checks, helping you achieve a smooth and successful platform switch.

Prerequisites for a Smooth Migration

Before initiating your data transfer, careful preparation is key to minimize downtime and ensure data integrity. Follow these essential steps for both your source (EC-CUBE) and target (PrestaShop) stores.

• Backup Your EC-CUBE Store: Always create a full backup of your current EC-CUBE database and files. This is a critical safety measure in case any unforeseen issues arise during the data export process.
• Review Your EC-CUBE Data: Take this opportunity to clean up your existing data. Remove outdated products, unused customer accounts, or redundant information. This will result in a cleaner, more efficient new store.
• Export Data from EC-CUBE to CSV: As EC-CUBE does not have a direct API integration for many migration tools, you will need to export your store's data into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. Ensure you export key entities such as:
  • Products (including SKUs, variants, images, descriptions, prices)
  • Product Categories
  • Product Manufacturers
  • Customer information (names, emails, addresses)
  • Orders (with order statuses, products purchased, customer details)
  • Product Reviews
  • Invoices
  • Taxes
  • Coupons
  • CMS Pages
  • Blogs and Blog Posts

  Confirm that your CSV files are well-structured and include all necessary fields for a comprehensive migration. For more details on preparing your source store, refer to our guide on How to prepare Source store for migration?

For your new PrestaShop store, ensure the following is in place:

• Fresh PrestaShop Installation: It is highly recommended to have a clean, newly installed PrestaShop instance. Avoid migrating to an existing PrestaShop store with pre-existing data, as this can lead to conflicts.
• Admin Access: You will need full administrative access to your PrestaShop backend. This includes the admin login credentials, Admin URL, and potentially FTP/cPanel access for uploading necessary connection bridges or modules. Consult The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart for more information.
• Hosting Environment: Ensure your hosting environment meets PrestaShop's requirements and has sufficient resources to handle your migrated data and expected traffic.
• Plugin Requirement: For a streamlined migration, the Cart2Cart Universal PrestaShop Migration module will be required for the target store connection.

For further guidance on setting up your target store, please see How to prepare Target store for migration?

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparations complete, you're ready to begin the automated migration process using a specialized migration wizard. This guide will walk you through the typical steps:

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Begin by navigating to the migration service platform. Here, you'll be presented with options to start a do-it-yourself migration using the wizard, request expert assistance, or estimate your migration cost. Choose the DIY option to proceed.

Step 2: Source Store Setup (EC-CUBE via CSV)

In this step, you will configure your source store details. Select 'CSV File to Cart' as your source platform type. You will then upload the CSV files you exported from your EC-CUBE store. This method allows the migration tool to interpret your EC-CUBE data for transfer.

Step 3: Target Store Setup (PrestaShop)

Next, you'll configure your target PrestaShop store. Select 'PrestaShop' from the list of supported platforms. You'll need to provide your PrestaShop Admin URL. The connection method for PrestaShop typically involves uploading a Connection Bridge. You can usually download a zip file, extract the 'bridge2cart' folder, and upload it to your PrestaShop store's root directory. Make sure to understand What is a root folder and where can I find it? if you are unsure.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This crucial step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you want to transfer from your EC-CUBE CSV files to PrestaShop. You can select all available entities or pick specific ones. The common data entities supported include:

• Products
• Product Categories
• Product Manufacturers
• Product Reviews
• Customers
• Orders
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Stores
• Coupons
• CMS Pages
• Blogs
• Blog Posts

Step 5: Configure Additional Options & Data Mapping

This stage is vital for customizing your data transfer and ensuring data integrity on your new platform.

Additional Migration Options

Review the list of additional options to tailor your migration:

• Clear Target Store Data: The option to Clear current data on Target store before migration option is highly recommended for a fresh PrestaShop installation to prevent data duplication or conflicts.
• Preserve IDs: Options like How Preserve IDs options can be used? for Products, Categories, Orders, and Customers help maintain SEO rankings and internal linking by keeping original IDs.
• 301 SEO URLs: Enable this to create 301 redirects, preserving your existing link equity and SEO rankings.
• Password Migration: Migrate customer passwords to ensure a seamless login experience for your existing customer base.
• Migrate Images in Description: Essential for transferring product descriptions and CMS pages with rich media.
• Create Variants from Attributes: If your EC-CUBE products have attributes that define variants (like size or color), this option ensures they are correctly recreated in PrestaShop.

Data Mapping

The data mapping interface allows you to match specific fields from your EC-CUBE CSV files to the corresponding fields in PrestaShop. This is particularly important for customer groups and order statuses to ensure a consistent user experience and backend management.

• Customer Groups Mapping: Match EC-CUBE customer groups (e.g., 'Wholesale', 'Retail') to their equivalents in PrestaShop.
• Order Statuses Mapping: Ensure EC-CUBE order statuses (e.g., 'Pending', 'Processing', 'Shipped') are correctly mapped to PrestaShop's order statuses.

Step 6: Run Demo Migration & Full Migration

Before committing to a full data transfer, run a free demo migration. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, orders) to your new PrestaShop store. Review these demo results meticulously to ensure everything appears as expected.

Once satisfied with the demo, proceed with the full migration. This step will transfer all selected data from your EC-CUBE CSV files to your PrestaShop store. You may also consider adding a Migration Insurance Service, which provides a set number of remigrations for a specific period, offering peace of mind. Learn more about How Migration Insurance works?

Post-Migration Steps for Your New PrestaShop Store

Your data is now on PrestaShop, but the journey isn't quite over. These post-migration tasks are crucial for optimizing your new store and ensuring a seamless transition for your customers.

• Thoroughly Test Your New PrestaShop Store: This is arguably the most critical step. Test every aspect:
  • Product Pages: Check product descriptions, images, pricing, SKUs, and variant selections.
  • Checkout Process: Perform test purchases using various payment methods.
  • Customer Accounts: Log in with migrated customer accounts to verify order history and address books.
  • Search Functionality: Ensure products are easily discoverable.
  • Forms: Test contact forms, newsletter sign-ups.
• Update DNS Records: Once you're confident in your new PrestaShop store, update your domain's DNS records to point to your new PrestaShop hosting. This is when your new store goes live.
• Implement 301 Redirects: Even if you used the 301 SEO URLs option during migration, manually verify and implement any additional redirects needed. This preserves your SEO rankings and link equity from EC-CUBE by directing old URLs to their new PrestaShop counterparts.
• Review and Optimize SEO: Check meta titles, descriptions, and ensure your sitemap is generated and submitted to search engines. Utilize PrestaShop's SEO tools to fine-tune your store's visibility.
• Install Essential Modules/Apps: PrestaShop has a vast marketplace. Install necessary modules for analytics, marketing, security, payment gateways, shipping, and any other specific functionalities your business requires.
• Update Payment Gateways & Shipping Methods: Reconfigure your payment gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) and shipping carriers with your PrestaShop settings.
• Inform Your Customers: Announce the new platform to your customer base. Highlight any new features or improvements.
• Perform a Full Backup: Once your PrestaShop store is live and tested, perform a comprehensive backup of all files and the database.
• Consider Recent Data Migration: If new orders or customer data appeared on your EC-CUBE store during the migration process, consider a Recent Data Migration Service to transfer only the latest updates.

Migrating from EC-CUBE to PrestaShop is an investment in your e-commerce future. By following these steps and paying close attention to detail, you can ensure a successful transition, leveraging PrestaShop's powerful features to grow your online business. If you encounter any challenges or require expert assistance, don't hesitate to Contact Us.