Cleverbridge to Magento Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Migrating Your E-commerce Store from Cleverbridge to Magento

The decision to replatform your e-commerce store is a significant one, often driven by the need for enhanced features, better scalability, or improved user experience. If you're currently operating on Cleverbridge and considering a transition to the robust and flexible Magento platform, this comprehensive guide is for you. While Cleverbridge primarily focuses on subscription billing and payment processing, the core e-commerce data (products, customers, orders) can be effectively moved to a new system like Magento.

Since Cleverbridge is not a traditional shopping cart platform with direct migration bridges, this guide will detail the process of exporting your data from Cleverbridge into CSV files and then importing that data into your new Magento store. This method ensures that your valuable business information is transferred accurately, setting the stage for your Magento store's success.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before embarking on your data transfer journey, it's crucial to prepare both your source (Cleverbridge data via CSV) and target (Magento) environments. Proper preparation minimizes potential downtime and ensures data integrity.

• Cleverbridge Data Export: You will need to export all relevant e-commerce data from your Cleverbridge account into well-structured CSV files. This typically includes:
  • Product information (SKUs, names, descriptions, pricing, images, variants)
  • Customer data (names, contact information, addresses)
  • Order history (order IDs, items purchased, totals, statuses)
  • Categories, manufacturers, and potentially reviews.

  Ensure these CSV files are comprehensive and accurately reflect your current store's data. High-quality CSV files are the foundation of a smooth migration when using a file-based transfer method. For more details on preparing your source, refer to our guide on preparing your source store.

• New Magento Installation: Have a clean, functional Magento store installed and ready on your hosting environment. It's generally recommended to perform the migration on a fresh Magento instance to avoid conflicts with existing data.
• Magento Access Credentials: You will need full administrative access to your Magento store, including the admin URL, username, and password. Additionally, FTP/SFTP access to your Magento root directory is essential for uploading the connection bridge.
• Hosting Environment: Ensure your Magento hosting environment meets the platform's requirements and has sufficient resources to handle the migration process, especially for larger datasets.
• Magento Password Migration Module: Magento's default security measures require a specific module for customer password migration. Plan to install this module to ensure your customers can log in seamlessly to their new accounts. Reviews table checks may also be required.
• Backup Strategy: Although you're migrating to a new platform, always have a backup of your exported Cleverbridge data. Also, consider creating a backup of your new Magento installation before starting the full migration.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to effectively transfer your e-commerce data from Cleverbridge (via CSV files) to Magento:

1. Step 1: Initiate Your Migration Process

   Begin by accessing the migration wizard. This is your starting point for configuring the transfer.

   

2. Step 2: Configure Your Source Store (Cleverbridge via CSV)

   In the migration wizard, you'll need to specify your source platform. Since Cleverbridge is not directly supported by a pre-built connector, select 'CSV File to Cart' from the dropdown menu. You will then be prompted to upload your carefully prepared CSV files containing your product, customer, order, and other relevant data. This ensures all your Cleverbridge data is ready for transfer.

   

3. Step 3: Set Up Your Target Store (Magento)

   Next, select 'Magento' as your Target Cart. You will need to provide your Magento store's URL. To establish a secure connection, you will be instructed to download a unique connection bridge file. This file must be unpacked, and the resulting bridge2cart folder needs to be uploaded to the root directory of your Magento installation via FTP/SFTP. This bridge acts as a secure conduit for data transfer. For guidance on locating your root folder, please see What is a root folder and where can I find it?

   

4. Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

   This crucial step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you want to transfer. You can select all available entities with a single click or meticulously pick specific items such as Products, Product Categories, Customers, Orders, Reviews, and more. For a successful replatforming to Magento, entities like Products, Customers, and Orders are typically essential. The tool supports the migration of a wide range of data points from your CSV files to Magento, including Invoices, Taxes, Stores, Coupons, and CMS Pages.

   

5. Step 5: Configure Additional Options and Data Mapping

   This stage allows for critical customizations:

   • Additional Options: Enhance your migration with features like:
     • Migrate Images in Description: Essential for preserving product and category visuals.
     • Clear Target: Optionally clear all current data on your Magento store before migration. Learn more about clearing target data.
     • Preserve IDs: Maintain original Product IDs, Customer IDs, and Order IDs. Understanding how Preserve IDs work is important.
     • Create Variants from Attributes: If your products have attributes, this can help create proper variants in Magento.
     • SEO URLs & 301 SEO URLs: Crucial for preserving your link equity and SEO rankings. Creating 301 redirects ensures old URLs point to new ones, preventing broken links.
     • Password Migration: This requires the installation of a specific Magento module as noted in the prerequisites.
     • Migrate Store Config: Transfer core store settings.

   

   • Data Mapping: Accurately match customer groups and order statuses from your CSV data to their corresponding fields in Magento. This step ensures data consistency and a smooth transition for your customer base and order processing workflows.

   

6. Step 6: Run a Demo Migration (Highly Recommended)

   Before committing to a full data transfer, run a free demo migration. This allows you to migrate a limited number of entities (e.g., 10 products, 10 customers, 10 orders) to your Magento store. The demo serves as a crucial preview, enabling you to verify data accuracy, check for any issues, and ensure everything is set up correctly before the main event. Consider our Migration Preview Service for this.

7. Step 7: Initiate Full Migration

   Once you're satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full migration. Review your selections and chosen additional options one last time. You'll also have the opportunity to opt for a Migration Insurance Plan, which provides a set number of remigrations for a specified period, offering peace of mind. Learn more about how migration insurance works.

   

   Click to start the full data transfer. The time required will depend on the volume of your data and the complexity of the migration.

Post-Migration Steps: Ensuring a Seamless Launch

The migration doesn't end when the data transfer is complete. Several critical post-migration tasks are necessary to ensure your new Magento store functions flawlessly and maintains its SEO rankings.

• Verify Data Integrity: Thoroughly check your Magento store. Confirm that all products, categories, customers, orders, images, and reviews have been transferred accurately. Look for any discrepancies in pricing, descriptions, stock levels, and customer account details.
• Configure SEO & Redirects: If you didn't utilize 301 SEO URLs during migration, manually set up 301 redirects from your old Cleverbridge URLs to the corresponding new Magento URLs. This is paramount for preserving your search engine rankings and ensuring a smooth user experience by preventing broken links.
• Install & Configure Necessary Extensions: Install any Magento modules or extensions you plan to use, especially the password migration module if customer passwords were transferred. Ensure all are compatible and configured correctly.
• Reindex Magento Data: Magento highly recommends reindexing all data after a significant data import. This optimizes your store's performance and ensures that all new data is properly indexed for search and navigation.
• Thorough Testing: Conduct extensive testing of all core functionalities:
  • Checkout Process: Perform test purchases using various payment methods.
  • User Accounts: Test customer login, account management, and password reset.
  • Search Functionality: Ensure products are easily discoverable.
  • Product Filters & Categories: Verify navigation and filtering.
  • Responsiveness: Check your store's display and functionality across various devices.
• Update DNS & Go Live: Once you are confident that your Magento store is fully functional and all data is accurate, update your Domain Name System (DNS) records to point your domain to the new Magento hosting.
• Monitor Performance: After going live, closely monitor your store's performance, site speed, and user behavior. Address any issues promptly.
• Consider Ongoing Services: For any data that might have been updated on Cleverbridge after your initial export, consider using a Recent Data Migration Service to sync the latest information. If you encounter any issues or need further adjustments, our Remigration Service is available.

By following these steps, you can confidently transition your e-commerce operations from Cleverbridge to Magento, unlocking new opportunities for growth and providing a superior online shopping experience for your customers. Should you require expert assistance at any stage, do not hesitate to contact us.