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

Seamlessly Transition Your E-commerce Store from Getonic to Volusion

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration can feel like a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it's an opportunity to revitalize your online store. This comprehensive guide is designed for merchants looking to move their shop from Getonic to the robust Volusion platform. While Getonic provides a foundation, a replatforming to Volusion can unlock enhanced features, scalability, and a more streamlined management experience.

Given that Getonic is not typically supported by direct API connections for automated migrations, this guide will walk you through a proven method: exporting your critical store data into CSV files from Getonic, and then seamlessly importing it into your new Volusion store using an expert migration service. This approach ensures maximum data integrity and minimizes downtime.

Why Migrate to Volusion?

Volusion offers a powerful suite of e-commerce tools, including a comprehensive order management system, flexible product catalog features, and integrated marketing capabilities. By transitioning to Volusion, you stand to benefit from:

• Improved Scalability: Handle increased traffic and sales volumes with ease.
• Enhanced Features: Access a broader range of built-in functionalities for marketing, SEO, and store management.
• Robust Security: Benefit from enterprise-level security protocols to protect your store and customer data.
• Dedicated Support: Leverage Volusion's expert support to keep your business running smoothly.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before you begin the data transfer process, thorough preparation is crucial to ensure a smooth and efficient migration. Here's what you need to do for both your Getonic source store and your new Volusion target store.

Preparing Your Getonic (Source) Store

Since a direct API connection for Getonic is not typically available, your migration will rely on exporting data via CSV files. This method requires careful attention to detail.

• Data Export: Systematically export all essential data from your Getonic store. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Products (SKUs, variants, descriptions, images, prices, stock levels)
• Product Categories
• Product Manufacturers
• Product Reviews
• Customer Information (names, addresses, order history, passwords if available)
• Orders (statuses, details, shipping information)
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Store information (if applicable)
• Coupons and discounts
• CMS Pages
• Data Cleansing: Before exporting, take the opportunity to clean up your Getonic data. Remove old, irrelevant, or duplicate entries. Accurate and clean data will significantly streamline the import process into Volusion and improve your new store's performance.
• Backup Your Data: Always create a complete backup of your Getonic store's database and files before initiating any export process. This is a critical step for data security.

For more detailed preparation guidelines, refer to our How to prepare Source store for migration? FAQ.

Preparing Your Volusion (Target) Store

Your new Volusion store needs to be ready to receive the influx of data.

• Set Up Your Volusion Store: Create your new Volusion account and complete the initial setup. This includes choosing a domain, selecting a theme, and basic configuration.
• Install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration Module: To facilitate the data transfer, you will need to install a specific module. Volusion requires the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module required. Ensure this is installed and configured correctly on your Volusion store.
• FTP Access: Volusion migrations often require FTP access to upload a 'bridge' file, which acts as a secure connection point between the migration service and your store's database. Ensure you have your FTP credentials ready. Learn more about The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.
• Review Default Settings: Familiarize yourself with Volusion's default settings for products, customers, and orders. This will help you map your Getonic data effectively.

For further assistance, check our How to prepare Target store for migration? guide.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparation complete, you're ready to initiate the data transfer from your Getonic CSV files to Volusion. We'll use a powerful automated migration service to streamline this process.

Step 1: Initiate Your Migration

Begin by navigating to the migration service platform. This is where you'll set up and manage your data transfer.

Click on the option to start a new migration to proceed.

Step 2: Configure Your Source Store (Getonic via CSV)

In this step, you'll specify Getonic as your source platform, utilizing the CSV file method.

• Select Source Cart: From the dropdown menu, choose 'CSV File to Cart' as your source e-commerce platform.
• Upload CSV Files: Follow the instructions to upload the CSV files you exported from your Getonic store. Ensure all relevant data files (products, customers, orders, etc.) are included.

This configuration tells the migration tool where your existing store data is coming from.

Step 3: Set Up Your Target Store (Volusion)

Now, define Volusion as the destination for your e-commerce data.

• Select Target Cart: Choose 'Volusion' from the target platform dropdown list.
• Enter Volusion URL: Provide the full URL of your new Volusion store.
• Install Bridge/Module: The migration service will prompt you to install a connection bridge or the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module required on your Volusion store. This typically involves uploading a small file via FTP to your Volusion root directory. This bridge establishes a secure connection for data transfer.

Verify the connection to ensure the migration service can communicate with your Volusion store.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This crucial step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you want to transfer from Getonic to Volusion.

• Choose Entities: Select all the data entities you wish to migrate. Common choices include:
• Products (including SKUs, variants, attributes)
• Product Categories
• Product Manufacturers
• Customer Data
• Orders
• Product Reviews
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Coupons
• CMS Pages

Important Note on Blogs: While your Getonic store might have included blog posts, Volusion does not currently support direct blog migration through this automated service. You may need to transfer blog content manually.

Step 5: Configure Data Mapping

Data mapping ensures that the information from your Getonic store is correctly assigned to the corresponding fields in Volusion. This prevents data inconsistencies and errors.

• Map Customer Groups: Match customer groups from your Getonic CSVs (e.g., 'Wholesale,' 'Retail') to their equivalents or new groups in Volusion.
• Map Order Statuses: Align your Getonic order statuses (e.g., 'Pending,' 'Processing,' 'Shipped') with the appropriate Volusion order statuses.

Careful mapping is vital for maintaining data integrity and a seamless user experience post-migration.

Step 6: Select Additional Migration Options

Enhance your migration with a variety of optional features tailored to your specific needs.

• Preserve IDs: Choose to Preserve Product IDs, Orders IDs, and Customer IDs from your Getonic store, maintaining consistent records.
• 301 Redirects: Enable the creation of 301 SEO URLs to ensure that old links from Getonic automatically redirect to their new counterparts on Volusion, preserving your SEO rankings and link equity.
• Migrate Customer Passwords: Select this option to transfer customer passwords, providing a seamless login experience for your existing customer base.
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensure product and category images embedded within descriptions are also transferred.
• Clear Target Store Data: Consider using the Clear current data on Target store before migration option if your Volusion store has existing dummy data you want to remove.

Review all options carefully to ensure they align with your migration goals.

Step 7: Run a Demo Migration and Full Migration

Before committing to the full data transfer, run a demo migration. This allows you to preview how a subset of your data will appear on Volusion, identify any issues, and make adjustments.

• Demo Migration: Review the results of the demo. Check product details, customer accounts, and order information.
• Full Migration: Once satisfied with the demo, proceed with the full migration. This will transfer all your selected Getonic data to your Volusion store.

Consider adding Migration Insurance Service to your plan, which provides options for re-migrations in case you need to make further adjustments or import new data after the initial transfer.

Post-Migration Steps: Ensuring a Flawless Volusion Store

After your data has successfully been transferred to Volusion, there are several critical steps to finalize your store's transition and ensure it's fully operational and optimized.

• Thoroughly Test Your Volusion Store: This is arguably the most important post-migration step.
• Products: Check product pages, images, prices, variants, stock levels, and add-to-cart functionality.
• Customers: Verify customer accounts, login functionality (especially if passwords were migrated), and past order history.
• Orders: Ensure order details, statuses, and shipping information are correct.
• Functionality: Test search, filters, navigation, and all links.
• Checkout Process: Perform test purchases to confirm payment gateways and shipping calculations work correctly.
• Configure SEO (301 Redirects): If you haven't already, implement comprehensive 301 redirects to guide search engines and visitors from your old Getonic URLs to your new Volusion URLs. This is crucial for preserving your SEO rankings and link equity.
• Update DNS Settings and Go Live: Once testing is complete and you're confident in your new store, update your domain's DNS records to point to your Volusion store. Monitor your site closely immediately after going live.
• Review Design and User Experience (UX): Ensure your Volusion theme is aligned with your brand identity and provides an intuitive, engaging user experience. Optimize for mobile responsiveness.
• Integrate Third-Party Tools: Reconnect or integrate essential third-party services such as analytics (Google Analytics), email marketing platforms, customer support tools, and other necessary apps.
• Clear Cache and Monitor Performance: Clear any caching on your new Volusion store and monitor its performance closely, especially page load speeds and error logs.
• Communicate with Customers: Inform your customers about the migration. Provide clear instructions if there are any changes to their login process or account access.

By diligently following these post-migration steps, you can ensure a smooth transition, protect your valuable SEO, and provide a superior shopping experience on your new Volusion platform.

If you encounter any challenges or require expert assistance during any stage of your migration, do not hesitate to Contact Us. Our team of e-commerce migration specialists is ready to help you achieve a seamless transition.