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

A Comprehensive Guide to Transitioning from SellerDeck to Volusion

Replatforming your e-commerce store is a strategic move that can unlock new opportunities for growth, enhanced functionality, and a superior user experience. If you're currently operating on SellerDeck and looking to transition to Volusion, this guide will walk you through the entire data migration process. Volusion offers a robust, all-in-one platform known for its scalability and comprehensive features, making it an excellent choice for businesses aiming to modernize their online presence.

Given that SellerDeck typically operates as a desktop-based solution and lacks a direct API for third-party connections, this migration will primarily involve exporting your valuable store data into CSV files and then importing those files into our migration wizard. We will then facilitate a seamless transfer of this data to your new Volusion store, ensuring data integrity and minimal downtime.

Prerequisites for a Smooth Migration

Before initiating the migration, careful preparation of both your existing SellerDeck data and your new Volusion environment is crucial. This proactive approach ensures a more efficient and error-free transition.

For Your SellerDeck (Source) Store:

• Data Export: Begin by exporting all essential store data from your SellerDeck installation into CSV files. This includes critical entities such as products, product categories, customers, orders, manufacturers, product reviews, invoices, and any CMS pages you wish to transfer. Ensure your CSV files are well-structured and accurately reflect your store's information.
• Data Backup: Always perform a complete backup of your SellerDeck database before exporting any data. This serves as a safety net in case any issues arise during the export process.

For more detailed information on preparing your source store, you may refer to our How to prepare Source store for migration? FAQ.

For Your Volusion (Target) Store:

• Volusion Store Setup: Ensure your new Volusion store is already set up and accessible. You don't need to populate it with products or customers, as the migration process will handle that.
• Plugin Installation: Volusion requires a specific migration module to establish a secure connection. You will need to install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module. This typically involves using FTP access to upload the bridge files to your Volusion store's root directory. The bridge acts as a secure conduit for data transfer.
• Access Credentials: Gather the necessary administrative access credentials for your Volusion store (admin login, password, and URL) as these will be required during the setup phase.

For additional guidance on preparing your target store, please see our How to prepare Target store for migration? FAQ. For a deeper understanding of access credentials, read The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparations complete, you're ready to use the migration wizard to transfer your data. This process is designed to be intuitive, guiding you through each stage of the data transfer.

Step 1: Get Started with the Migration Wizard

Navigate to the migration tool and initiate a new migration. You'll be presented with options to start a new transfer. Choose the option to perform a 'do-it-yourself' migration with the wizard.

Step 2: Configure Your Source Store (SellerDeck via CSV)

In this step, you'll specify where your current store data resides. Since SellerDeck data is being migrated via CSV, select 'CSV File to Cart' as your Source Cart. You will then upload your exported SellerDeck CSV files containing your products, categories, customers, orders, and other entities. This CSV.File Data Migration method ensures that all your critical information is correctly processed for transfer.

Step 3: Set Up Your Target Store (Volusion)

Next, configure your target platform. Select 'Volusion' from the dropdown list as your Target Cart. You'll then need to provide the full URL of your Volusion store. As Volusion requires a bridge connection, you will also be prompted to ensure the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module is correctly installed in your store's root directory. The wizard will help detect the bridge location to establish a secure connection.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This critical step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you want to transfer from your SellerDeck CSV files to Volusion. You can opt to migrate all available entities or hand-pick specific ones. Supported entities for migration include:

• Products (including SKUs, variants, descriptions, images)
• Product Categories
• Customers (including customer groups)
• Orders (with statuses and historical data)
• Manufacturers
• Product Reviews
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Coupons
• CMS Pages

Select the checkboxes corresponding to the data you wish to move. For a comprehensive store replatforming, selecting all entities is generally recommended to ensure a complete transition of your e-commerce data.

Step 5: Configure Additional Options & Data Mapping

Here, you'll find a range of additional options to customize your migration, optimize for SEO, and maintain data integrity. Consider these choices carefully:

• Clear Target Store Data: If your Volusion store already contains dummy data, selecting 'Clear Target' will remove it before the migration, preventing duplication.
• Preserve IDs: Options like 'Preserve Product IDs', 'Preserve Orders IDs', and 'Preserve Customers IDs' help maintain consistency, which can be vital for inventory management or accounting systems.
• SEO URLs and 301 Redirects: Enable 'SEO URLs' and 'Create 301 SEO URLs' to automatically generate permanent redirects from your old SellerDeck URLs to the new Volusion URLs. This is crucial for preserving your search engine rankings and link equity.
• Password Migration: Choose 'Password Migration' to transfer customer login credentials securely, enhancing user experience for your returning customers.
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensure product images embedded within descriptions are transferred.
• Multi-tax Allowed: Volusion supports multi-tax options, so this can be configured during migration.

Following additional options, you'll proceed to the data mapping stage. This involves aligning customer groups and order statuses from your SellerDeck data with their equivalents in Volusion. For example, ensure your 'Wholesale Customers' from SellerDeck map correctly to a corresponding group in Volusion, and 'Pending Payment' order statuses are accurately translated. This mapping ensures consistent data representation in your new store.

Step 6: Run the Full Migration

Before committing to the full data transfer, you have the option to run a free demo migration. This allows you to preview how a limited set of data (e.g., 10 products, 10 customers, 10 orders) will appear on your Volusion store, ensuring everything is configured to your satisfaction.

Once you're confident, review the final details, including the total count of entities and the migration cost. Consider adding a Migration Insurance Plan, which offers additional remigrations in case any unforeseen adjustments are needed post-transfer. This can provide valuable peace of mind. For more information, please read How Migration Insurance works?.

Initiate the full migration. Our service will handle the secure transfer of all your selected SellerDeck data to your new Volusion store. You'll receive notifications on its progress and completion.

Post-Migration Steps

After your data has been successfully transferred to Volusion, a few crucial steps remain to ensure your new store is fully operational and optimized.

• Thorough Data Verification: Systematically check all migrated data on your Volusion store. Verify product details, SKUs, variants, images, categories, customer accounts, order history, and CMS pages to ensure everything transitioned accurately.
• Configure Your New Store: Customize your Volusion theme, integrate essential payment gateways, shipping options, and any third-party applications or plugins you require for enhanced functionality.
• SEO Optimization & 301 Redirects: If you enabled 301 redirects during migration, verify their functionality. Update your sitemap in Google Search Console and monitor for any crawl errors to preserve your SEO rankings and link equity.
• Test Functionality: Perform test purchases, customer registrations, and order processing to confirm all store functionalities are working as expected.
• Go Live: Once all checks are complete and you're satisfied with your new Volusion store, point your domain to the new platform.
• Ongoing Support: If new orders come in on your old SellerDeck store immediately after migration, consider using a Recent Data Migration Service to transfer them. Should you require any adjustments or encounter unexpected issues, our Cart2Cart Remigration Service is available to help.

Migrating from SellerDeck to Volusion is a significant undertaking that, when executed correctly, can significantly enhance your e-commerce capabilities. By following this detailed guide, you can ensure a smooth, efficient, and successful transition for your online business. If you require further assistance or custom migration solutions, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.