1. Customization
PrestaShop offers great opportunities for your store customization. However, it is highly recommended to customize your store after data migration. Please, don’t install any extensions or modules before you start a migration process. It will help to avoid inconveniences during and after data transferring.
2. Redirects
In order to ensure that a Connection Bridge works properly, it is highly recommended to turn off site redirects on your VirtueMart and Prestashop stores. There are different ways to do that:
- Enter your shopping cart maintenance mode and make changes in a source code (turn off redirects).
- You will also be able to check if there are redirects on your VirtueMart and PrestaShop stores using .htaccess file. Usually, you just have to add several lines or make changes in a name of .htaccess file.
3. Firewall/Whitelist
During VirtueMart to PrestaShop migration, Cart2Cart sends and receives a huge amount of information. Your firewall, which controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic may recognize such actions as not assumed to be secure and trusted. As a result, it can block a connection with Cart2Cart server and migration will be interrupted. In order to avoid this situation you should turn off a firewall for the time of migration or add Cart2Cart’s IPs to the whitelist. You can find more detailed information on how to do that here.
4. Store Location
Before you start migration, make sure your VirtueMart and PrestaShop stores are located in different folders or subfolders at FTP. Single shopping cart has to be located in a single folder. It will help Cart2Cart to recognize each of them and perform accurate migration.
So, these are 4 things you should think about before starting VirtueMart to PrestaShop migration. If you still have some question, feel free to contact our Support Team.
Monthly Update – September 2025
As we move further into 2025, the landscape of e-commerce migration continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on pre-migration data integrity and post-migration SEO. A key trend for businesses looking to re-platform their online stores, especially from platforms like VirtueMart to PrestaShop, is the diligent use of pre-migration audits. These audits should not only check for data consistency but also identify potential conflicts with new platform features or third-party integrations. Thoroughly testing data transfer in a staging environment before going live is paramount. This includes verifying product attributes, customer data, and order histories for accuracy. Furthermore, with search engine algorithms becoming more sophisticated, ensuring that all 301 redirects are properly implemented and tested is no longer just a best practice, but a critical requirement to preserve your search rankings and organic traffic. Proactive error checking and validation can save countless hours of post-migration troubleshooting. Regularly consult platform documentation for the latest best practices in data handling and ensure your migration partner is up-to-date with current standards for data security and transfer protocols.
For more details, explore our FAQ section or schedule a call with a migration expert.
