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

Migrating Your E-commerce Store: CommerceHQ to Volusion

As your online business evolves, replatforming your e-commerce store can open new avenues for growth and functionality. If you're considering a transition from CommerceHQ to Volusion, this comprehensive guide will walk you through every critical step, ensuring a smooth and efficient data transfer. Volusion offers robust features and scalability, making it an attractive target for growing businesses. Given that CommerceHQ typically requires a file-based approach for data export, our focus will be on leveraging CSV files for a precise and secure migration using an automated tool like Cart2Cart.

This article serves as your authoritative blueprint for moving products, customers, orders, and other vital store entities, safeguarding your valuable data integrity and preserving your SEO rankings during the transition.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, careful preparation of both your source (CommerceHQ) and target (Volusion) stores is paramount. Laying this groundwork will minimize potential issues and ensure a more streamlined process.

• For Your CommerceHQ (Source) Store:

  Since CommerceHQ data will be exported via CSV files, ensure you have:

  • Full administrative access to your CommerceHQ account to export all necessary data entities, including products (with SKUs, variants, descriptions, images), product categories, customer data, order history, and any relevant CMS pages or blog posts.
  • The ability to export these entities into structured CSV files. You might need to perform multiple exports for different data types to ensure comprehensive coverage.
  • Cleaned and organized your data. Address any inconsistencies or redundant information in your CommerceHQ store before export to ensure data quality in Volusion.

  For more detailed information on preparing your source store, please refer to our FAQ on preparing your source store.

• For Your Volusion (Target) Store:
  • A newly set up or existing Volusion store ready to receive the migrated data.
  • Full administrative access to your Volusion account, including FTP access details for the Cart2Cart connection bridge.
  • Installation of the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module: This plugin is essential for establishing a secure connection and facilitating the data transfer. You will be prompted to install it during the migration setup. Volusion typically relies on a bridge connection for data transfer.
  • Review Volusion's specific limitations, such as potential multi-store limitations for BigCommerce variants (though not directly applicable here, it highlights system specificities) and the exclusion of SEO options for blogs. Plan accordingly if blog SEO is critical to your strategy.
  • Consider the initial state of your Volusion store. The migration tool offers an option to 'Clear Target' data before migration, which can be useful for a fresh start but requires careful consideration if you have existing Volusion data you wish to keep.

  For guidance on setting up your Volusion store, see our FAQ on preparing your target store.

• General Prerequisites:
  • Backup Everything: Always create a complete backup of your CommerceHQ data before export and any existing Volusion data before migration.
  • Review Data Fields: Familiarize yourself with the data structures of both platforms to anticipate mapping requirements.
  • Inform Your Customers: While the downtime during migration is typically minimal, it’s good practice to inform your customers about the upcoming transition.
  • Internet Connection: Ensure a stable internet connection for the duration of the migration process.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

This section outlines the process of migrating your store data from CommerceHQ (via CSV) to Volusion using the Cart2Cart migration wizard. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a successful transfer.

Step 1: Initiate Your Migration

Begin by navigating to the migration wizard. This is your starting point for setting up the data transfer between your two platforms.

Step 2: Connect Your Source Store (CommerceHQ via CSV)

Since CommerceHQ does not have a direct API connection for automated tools, we will use the CSV file import method.

1. From the dropdown menu, select "CSV File to Cart" as your Source Cart.
2. Upload the CSV files containing your CommerceHQ data. Ensure each data entity (products, customers, orders, etc.) is in its respective, correctly formatted CSV file. For more details on CSV file preparation, visit our CSV.File Data Migration service page.

Step 3: Connect Your Target Store (Volusion)

Next, configure your Volusion store as the destination for your data.

1. Select "Volusion" from the Target Cart dropdown menu.
2. Enter the full URL of your Volusion store.
3. You will be prompted to install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install this bridge connector via FTP. This module enables the migration tool to securely communicate with your Volusion database.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This crucial step allows you to choose exactly which data types (entities) you wish to transfer from your CommerceHQ CSV files to Volusion.

• You can choose to migrate "All entities", or selectively pick specific data such as:
  • Products (including SKUs, variants, product images)
  • Product Categories
  • Customers (including customer data, addresses, passwords if enabled)
  • Orders (with order statuses, order IDs, invoices)
  • Product Reviews
  • Manufacturers
  • Coupons
  • CMS Pages
  • Blogs and Blog Posts (note Volusion's limitation on blog SEO options)

Step 5: Configure Additional Options and Data Mapping

Enhance your migration with a variety of settings and ensure data consistency through mapping.

• Additional Migration Options: Select relevant checkboxes to tailor your migration. Recommended options include:
  • Preserve Product IDs, Orders IDs, and Customers IDs: This helps maintain data integrity and is vital for existing external systems or integrations. Learn more about how Preserve IDs options can be used.
  • Migrate Images in Description: Essential for transferring all product visuals.
  • Password Migration: Allows customers to log into their accounts on Volusion with their existing CommerceHQ credentials.
  • Create 301 Redirects & SEO URLs: Crucial for maintaining your SEO rankings and link equity from CommerceHQ. This ensures that old product and category URLs automatically redirect to their new Volusion counterparts, preventing broken links.
  • Clear current data on Target store before migration: Use this with caution. It will erase all existing data in your Volusion store before migration.
  • Create Variants from Attributes: If your CommerceHQ products use attributes to define variants, this ensures they are correctly structured in Volusion.
  • Migrate Invoices: Transfers your invoice records.

  

• Data Mapping Setup: Match customer groups and order statuses from your CommerceHQ data to the corresponding fields in Volusion. This ensures that customer roles (e.g., "Retailer" to "Customer") and order states (e.g., "Processing" to "Awaiting Fulfillment") are correctly transferred.

  

Step 6: Run Demo Migration & Initiate Full Migration

Before committing to the full transition, it’s highly recommended to perform a demo migration.

1. Run Demo Migration: This free demo allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, orders) to your Volusion store. Use this opportunity to thoroughly check the transferred data for accuracy and format.
2. Review Demo Results: Inspect product descriptions, images, pricing, customer details, and order history in Volusion. Make any necessary adjustments to your mapping or options.
3. Initiate Full Migration: Once satisfied with the demo, proceed with the full migration. You can also opt for a Migration Insurance Plan, which provides a set number of remigrations within a specific period, offering peace of mind. Learn more about how Migration Insurance works.

Post-Migration Steps

Completing the migration is a significant achievement, but the process doesn't end there. These post-migration tasks are crucial for ensuring your new Volusion store is fully optimized and ready for business.

1. Thorough Data Review: Even after a full migration, conduct a comprehensive check of all migrated data. Verify product counts, SKUs, descriptions, images, pricing, customer accounts, order history, and CMS pages. Pay close attention to details, ensuring data integrity.
2. Configure Store Settings:
   • Shipping: Set up your shipping zones, methods, and rates in Volusion.
   • Taxes: Configure your tax rules and rates to comply with local regulations. Volusion supports multi-tax configurations.
   • Payment Gateways: Integrate your preferred payment processors.
3. Update SEO & Redirects:
   • Verify that all 301 redirects are working correctly. Test critical old CommerceHQ URLs to ensure they point to the correct new Volusion pages.
   • Update any external links pointing to your old CommerceHQ store.
   • Submit your new Volusion sitemap to search engines.
   • Monitor your Google Search Console for any crawl errors or changes in search performance.
4. Install Apps and Integrations: Replicate any third-party functionalities you had on CommerceHQ by installing equivalent apps or integrating services from the Volusion App Store. This could include marketing tools, accounting software, or customer service platforms.
5. Test All Functionality:
   • Place test orders using various payment methods.
   • Create and log into customer accounts.
   • Test contact forms and newsletter sign-ups.
   • Ensure all internal and external links are functional.
6. Update Your Domain: Once you are confident that your Volusion store is fully operational and tested, update your domain's DNS records to point to your new Volusion store. This is the official "go-live" moment for your replatformed store.
7. Monitor Performance: After going live, continuously monitor your Volusion store's performance, user experience, and sales. Address any issues promptly and optimize for conversion.

Migrating from CommerceHQ to Volusion can seem daunting, but by following this detailed guide and utilizing powerful tools like Cart2Cart, you can achieve a seamless transition. For any further assistance or specialized needs, consider our Migration Customization Service or Contact Us directly.