k-eCommerce to Volusion Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Migrate Your E-commerce Store from k-eCommerce to Volusion

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration can feel like a significant undertaking, but with the right strategy and tools, it can be a smooth transition. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of moving your online store from k-eCommerce to Volusion, a powerful platform known for its robust features and scalability. While k-eCommerce typically handles data through direct database access, for the purpose of this migration, we'll leverage a CSV file export method from your k-eCommerce store, ensuring all your valuable data, from products to customer information, is securely transferred to your new Volusion storefront.

Replatforming to Volusion offers numerous advantages, including enhanced performance, improved user experience, and access to a wider array of marketing and management tools. Our step-by-step approach ensures data integrity and minimizes downtime, allowing you to focus on growing your business on its new foundation.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before you begin the data transfer process, thorough preparation of both your source (k-eCommerce) and target (Volusion) stores is essential. This stage sets the foundation for a smooth and efficient migration.

Preparing Your k-eCommerce Source Store

• Data Export: Since a direct API connection for k-eCommerce is not universally available, you will need to export all your vital store data into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. This includes:
  
  • Products: SKUs, product names, descriptions, pricing, inventory levels, images, variants, and product categories.
  • Customers: Customer names, email addresses, billing and shipping addresses, and order history.
  • Orders: Order IDs, statuses, purchased items, customer details, and shipping information.
  • Other Entities: Manufacturers, product reviews, coupons, and CMS pages, if applicable.
• Data Cleaning: Before exporting, take this opportunity to clean up your data. Remove outdated products, duplicate entries, or irrelevant customer data. This ensures you're only migrating clean, valuable information.
• Backup Your Store: Always create a complete backup of your k-eCommerce store's database and files. This is a crucial safety measure in case any unforeseen issues arise during the export process.
• For more details on preparing your source store, read 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 add any products or customers manually, as these will be migrated.
• Install Cart2Cart Volusion Migration Module: Volusion requires a bridge connection for data transfer. You'll need to install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module on your Volusion store. This module facilitates the secure connection between the migration service and your new platform.
• Gather Access Credentials: You will need your Volusion admin login, password, and the full URL of your Volusion store. Ensure you have FTP access details as well, as Volusion supports FTP for certain operations. For a detailed guide on required access, refer to The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.
• Review Volusion's Capabilities: Familiarize yourself with Volusion's interface and features. Be aware of any specific how to prepare your target store for migration?, such as multi-store limitations for BigCommerce variants or that SEO options are excluded for blogs on Volusion.

General Preparations

• Inform Your Customers: Communicate the migration plans and potential brief downtime to your customers.
• SEO Review: Document your current SEO rankings and important URLs. This will be critical for setting up 301 redirects later to preserve link equity and traffic.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparations complete, you're ready to initiate the data transfer from k-eCommerce (via CSV) to Volusion using a specialized migration tool like Cart2Cart. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Begin by accessing the migration wizard. Here, you'll choose to start a new migration process.

Step 2: Configure Your Source Store

Select 'CSV File to Cart' as your source platform from the dropdown menu. This indicates that your data will be imported from CSV files. Upload the CSV files you exported from your k-eCommerce store, ensuring all necessary data—products, customers, orders, etc.—is included.

Step 3: Set Up Your Target Store

Now, select 'Volusion' as your target platform. Provide your Volusion store's URL. The system will then prompt you to install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module, which acts as a bridge for secure data exchange. Input your Volusion admin credentials to establish the connection.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This crucial step allows you to choose exactly which data you wish to transfer. Select entities such as Products, Product Categories, Customers, Orders, Product Reviews, and CMS Pages. You can choose to migrate all entities or pick them individually based on your business needs. Supported entities include Products, Products_Categories, Products_Manufacturers, Products_Reviews, Customers, Orders, Invoices, Taxes, Stores, Coupons, and CMS_Pages.

Step 5: Configure Additional Options & Data Mapping

Enhance your migration with a range of additional options and ensure data consistency through mapping:

Additional Migration Options

Customize your migration by selecting options like:

• Clear Target Store Data: This option will remove any existing data on your Volusion store before migration. For a new store, this is often recommended. Read more about Clear current data on Target store before migration option.
• Preserve IDs: Maintain original Product IDs, Category IDs, Customer IDs, and Order IDs on Volusion. This can be beneficial for historical data and integrations. Learn How Preserve IDs options can be used?
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensure product images embedded in descriptions are transferred.
• Password Migration: Migrate customer passwords securely.
• SEO URLs & 301 SEO URLs: Automatically generate or create 301 redirects for your old k-eCommerce URLs to new Volusion URLs, preserving your SEO rankings and link equity.
• Create Variants from Attributes: If your k-eCommerce products use attributes for variations, this option will create proper variants on Volusion.

Data Mapping Setup

Carefully map customer groups and order statuses from your k-eCommerce store to their corresponding equivalents in Volusion. This ensures that customer roles (e.g., 'Wholesale' to 'Customer Group A') and order states (e.g., 'Processing' to 'Awaiting Fulfillment') are accurately transferred, maintaining data integrity and consistent user experience.

Step 6: Run Demo Migration and Full Migration

Before committing to the full data transfer, run a free demo migration. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10 products, 10 customers, 10 orders) to your Volusion store. Review this demo data thoroughly to ensure everything looks correct and functions as expected. Once satisfied, you can proceed with the full migration. Consider adding a Migration Insurance Service, which offers additional remigrations and support.

Post-Migration Steps

Completing the data transfer is a significant milestone, but the process isn't over. Several crucial post-migration steps ensure your new Volusion store is fully operational and optimized.

• Thorough Data Verification: Rigorously check all migrated data on your Volusion store. Verify products (SKUs, descriptions, images, pricing, inventory), customer accounts, order history, reviews, and CMS pages. Ensure all links are working and images are displayed correctly.
• SEO Configuration: Implement any remaining 301 redirects from your old k-eCommerce URLs to your new Volusion URLs. Update your sitemap and check your robots.txt file. Remember that Volusion has limitations where SEO options are excluded for blogs, so plan accordingly for any blog content.
• Test All Functionality: Conduct extensive testing of your new Volusion store. Place test orders, check payment gateways, shipping calculations, customer registration, search functionality, and contact forms. Ensure the user experience is seamless.
• Update DNS Settings: Once you're confident that your Volusion store is fully functional, update your domain's DNS settings to point to your new Volusion store. This will direct your visitors to the new platform.
• Monitor Performance: After launch, continuously monitor your website's performance, traffic, and sales. Use analytics tools to track user behavior and identify any potential issues.
• Recent Data Migration: If new orders or customer registrations occurred on your k-eCommerce store during the migration period, consider utilizing a Recent Data Migration Service to transfer this latest data without duplicates.

By following this detailed guide, you can successfully navigate the transition from k-eCommerce to Volusion, unlocking new potential for your e-commerce business. Should you require expert assistance at any point, don't hesitate to Contact Us for tailored support and migration services.