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

Seamlessly Transition Your E-commerce Store from AgoraCart to Volusion

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration can feel daunting, but with the right guidance, it's an opportunity to revitalize your online business. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process of moving your store from AgoraCart to Volusion, ensuring a smooth and efficient data transfer. Volusion offers a robust, feature-rich platform ideal for growing businesses, making it an excellent choice for replatforming your store. Due to AgoraCart's architecture, this migration will primarily leverage a CSV file export approach to transfer your valuable store data to Volusion.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, a few preparatory steps are essential to ensure a streamlined process and maintain data integrity.

Preparing Your AgoraCart (Source) Store

• Data Export: Since AgoraCart does not offer a direct API connection for automated migration tools, you will need to export your store's data into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. This includes critical entities such as products, product categories, customer records, order history, and potentially product reviews. Ensure all essential fields are included in your exports.
• Data Review: Take this opportunity to clean up your existing data. Remove any outdated products, inactive customer accounts, or irrelevant information. This will optimize your new Volusion store from day one.
• Backup: Always perform a complete backup of your AgoraCart store database and files before exporting any data. This provides a safety net in case any issues arise during the export process.

For more detailed preparation insights, refer to our guide on How to prepare Source store for migration?

Preparing Your Volusion (Target) Store

• Set Up Your Volusion Store: Ensure your new Volusion store is already set up and accessible. You don't need to populate it with data yet, as the migration process will handle that.
• Install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration Module: Volusion requires a specific migration module for seamless integration. You will need to install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module in your Volusion store. This plugin facilitates the bridge connection, allowing the migration tool to access your Volusion database securely.
• Gather Access Credentials: You'll need the admin login URL, administrator username, and password for your Volusion store. Keep these details readily available.

For additional information on preparing your new platform, visit How to prepare Target store for migration?

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

The migration process is facilitated through a user-friendly wizard, guiding you through each step. Here's how to execute your AgoraCart to Volusion data transfer:

Step 1: Get Started

Begin by navigating to the migration service platform. You'll typically find an option to start a new migration.

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

In the migration wizard, you'll be prompted to select your Source Cart. Since AgoraCart is not directly supported via a bridge, choose 'CSV File to Cart' from the dropdown menu. You will then upload the CSV files containing your AgoraCart data. This method is effective for migrating products, categories, customer data, and orders. For more details on this process, consider our CSV.File Data Migration service.

Step 3: Connect Your Target Store (Volusion)

Next, select 'Volusion' as your Target Cart. Provide the necessary connection details: your Volusion store's URL, administrator login, and password. Remember, you must have the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module installed on your Volusion store for this connection to be established successfully. This module ensures a secure bridge for data transfer.

For guidance on obtaining your store's access credentials, please refer to The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

Now, choose which data entities you wish to transfer from your AgoraCart CSV files to Volusion. You can select all available entities or pick specific ones like:

• Products (including SKUs and variants)
• Product Categories
• Customers (including customer groups)
• Orders
• Product Reviews
• Manufacturers
• CMS Pages
• Coupons

Step 5: Configure Additional Options & Data Mapping

This crucial step allows you to customize your migration. Select from a variety of additional options to tailor the data transfer to your specific needs:

• Clear Target Store Data: Opt to clear current data on the target store before migration to avoid duplicates.
• Preserve IDs: Choose to preserve product, order, and customer IDs for consistency.
• Password Migration: Migrate customer passwords securely.
• SEO URLs & 301 Redirects: Crucial for maintaining your search engine rankings and link equity. This option helps create 301 redirects from your old AgoraCart URLs to your new Volusion URLs, preventing broken links and preserving SEO value.
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensure product images embedded in descriptions are transferred.
• Create Variants from Attributes: If your AgoraCart products have attributes, this can help structure them as variants in Volusion.

You will also need to perform data mapping. This involves matching customer groups and order statuses from your AgoraCart data to their corresponding fields in Volusion, ensuring data consistency and proper user experience post-migration.

Step 6: Run Demo Migration & Full Migration

Before committing to the full data transfer, run a free demo migration. This allows you to see a subset of your data moved to Volusion, enabling you to verify the process and make any necessary adjustments. Once satisfied, proceed with the full migration. You might also consider a Migration Insurance Service for peace of mind, offering remigrations if needed.

Post-Migration Steps

Once your data has been successfully transferred to Volusion, there are several vital steps to finalize your store and ensure a seamless launch.

• Thorough Data Verification: Systematically check all migrated data. Verify products (SKUs, pricing, images, descriptions, variants), categories, customer accounts, and order history. Ensure all metadata and attributes are correctly displayed.
• Test Store Functionality: Place test orders, check payment gateways, shipping options, customer registration, and search functionality to ensure everything operates as expected on your new Volusion store.
• Configure SEO & Redirects: If you opted for 301 redirects during migration, verify that they are functioning correctly. This is crucial for preserving your SEO rankings and link equity. Update your Google Search Console settings and submit a new sitemap.
• Update DNS Settings: Point your domain name to your new Volusion store. This is the final step to officially go live with your new platform. Plan this during a period of low traffic to minimize downtime.
• Install Apps & Integrate Services: Set up any necessary apps, plugins, or third-party integrations that enhance your store's functionality on Volusion.
• Clean Up Old Store: Once your Volusion store is fully operational and verified, you can securely decommission your old AgoraCart store.
• Consider Ongoing Data Sync: For any new orders or customer data generated on your old store during the transition period, consider using a Recent Data Migration Service to ensure no information is lost.

By following these steps, you can confidently transition your e-commerce business from AgoraCart to Volusion, leveraging a more powerful platform for future growth and an enhanced user experience.