The eCommerce world is overwhelmed with a great variety of platforms, such as Shopify, Magento or WooCommerce, that will suit every taste and budget. This fact has turned the solution switch into an ordinary online activity since merchants are in a constant search of a perfect e-cart with maximum functionality. An automated migration service, often backed by migration insurance, aims at making the store transfer as smooth and straightforward as possible. To achieve that, users must follow some rules and recommendations, especially concerning SEO URL preservation. In today's post, we would like to explain how to preserve relations between the entities of your new store. Besides, you will find some useful tips on how to benefit from saving or breaking connections between database tables of an online shop.
At first, let's explain the notion of preserving relations between entities, including products, customers, orders, etc.
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Every online store has items that belong to some specific pages, sections, etc. For example, a single order has order details that are connected to the order ID, customer ID, product quantity, price, discount, etc. Preserving these IDs can be crucial. For more information, check our guide on preserving IDs after migration. These simple connections create an entity-relationship diagram, that shows the business relations which apply to an organization's data.
Pros of Saving Relations Between Entities
In case you wish to save the logical structure of your store and preserve relations on a Target Cart, including crucial 301 SEO redirects, all the entities should be moved at once. The new order page will link to the new product pages, and customers will be able to view their orders without any modifications. To ensure a smooth transition, explore our post-migration tips. Also, a store owner will have an opportunity to manage orders in a new store with no delays. However, if you've migrated products with customers at once, but orders were transferred separately, the relations will be lost.
Useful Tip. If your entities are transferred all-at-once, the relations between the data items will be preserved on a Target Store.
Pros of Breaking Relations Between Entities
Sometimes, there is no need to preserve connections between the store's data. The reasons for that are different: from launching a completely new online retailer with old customers to creating a new accounting system for a new store. As an example, a business owner may start a new store from scratch with entirely different products. That means there is no point in migrating products from the Source to the Target cart. But, at the same time, it is essential to transfer customers.
Moreover, breaking relations can help merchants save money since the price of a transfer is calculated in depending on the number of entities that you wish to move. Therefore, the fewer items you've selected - the less money you will need to pay.
Useful Tip. Using additional option called Preserve customer IDs on a Target Store can ease the post-migration store management.
To sum up, now you know how to manage the migration process and make it more budget-friendly. So, dispel all doubts that hold off your desirable switch to a new platform. Register now, and move your entities saving or breaking relations between them.
Monthly Update – March 2026
As we move into March 2026, the landscape of e-commerce migration continues to evolve, with a particular emphasis on managing increasingly diverse and sensitive data types. Beyond the traditional product and customer information, modern online stores now regularly handle intricate data related to subscriptions, personalized content settings, loyalty program points, and consent preferences for privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Preserving the integrity and relationships of these complex entities during a platform transfer is no longer optional; it's a fundamental requirement for legal compliance, customer trust, and seamless operational continuity. A successful migration in today's environment demands sophisticated data mapping capabilities that can accurately identify, transform, and transfer these specialized data points while maintaining their original connections. Ignoring these nuances can lead to significant post-migration challenges, including legal penalties, customer churn due to lost data, or a compromised ability to deliver personalized experiences. Therefore, when planning your next move, ensure your migration strategy rigorously addresses the comprehensive scope of your data, focusing on not just quantity but also the quality and interconnectedness of every unique data entity. This holistic approach guarantees that your new platform is not just a fresh start, but a fortified foundation for future growth.
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