Ascentium Commerce Server to Square Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

A Comprehensive Guide to Transitioning from Ascentium Commerce Server to Square

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it transforms into a seamless transition. This authoritative guide will walk you through the essential steps for migrating your online store from Ascentium Commerce Server to Square, a modern, feature-rich platform. Whether you're seeking enhanced payment processing, integrated POS solutions, or a more streamlined user experience, moving to Square opens up a world of possibilities.

Given that Ascentium Commerce Server typically operates without direct API integration for third-party migration tools, our strategy will leverage a robust CSV file export from Ascentium. This approach ensures all your valuable data — including products, customer records, and order history — is accurately transferred, providing a solid foundation for your new Square store.

By following this step-by-step process, you'll be able to replatform your store with confidence, minimizing downtime and preserving your critical business data. Let's begin your journey to a more powerful e-commerce presence on Square.

Prerequisites for Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, thorough preparation of both your Ascentium Commerce Server and Square environments is crucial for a smooth and successful migration.

Preparing Your Ascentium Commerce Server (Source Store)

• Data Export: Since Ascentium Commerce Server is generally a file-based system for migration, you will need to export your store's data into CSV files. Ensure you capture all supported entities, including products, product categories, manufacturers, customer data, orders, reviews, invoices, taxes, coupons, CMS pages, and blog posts.
• Data Audit & Cleanup: Take this opportunity to clean your data. Remove outdated product listings, duplicate customer entries, or irrelevant information. Clean data translates to a cleaner new store.
• Full Backup: Always perform a complete backup of your Ascentium Commerce Server store's database and files before exporting any data. This serves as a safety net in case any issues arise. You can learn more about preparing your source store by visiting our How to prepare Source store for migration? FAQ.

Preparing Your Square (Target Store)

• Set Up Your Square Account: If you haven't already, create and configure your Square account. This involves setting up your basic store information, currency, and any initial tax or shipping zones.
• Choose Your Theme: Select and install your preferred theme on Square. While data migration handles the content, the theme dictates the look and feel.
• Review Existing Data: If your Square store already contains some sample data, consider whether you want to clear it before migration. Our migration tool offers an option to Clear current data on Target store before migration option to prevent duplicates.
• API Access: Ensure you have the necessary access to generate API credentials or connect third-party apps within your Square dashboard, which will be required for the migration tool to access your target store. For more details on preparing your target store, check our How to prepare Target store for migration? guide.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparations complete, it's time to execute the migration. This section outlines the process using a professional migration tool, guiding you through each wizard step.

Step 1: Initiate Your Migration

Begin by navigating to the migration service platform. This initial page provides options to start your migration, request assisted service, or calculate your migration cost.

Step 2: Configure Your Source Store (Ascentium Commerce Server via CSV)

Here, you'll specify Ascentium Commerce Server as your source platform by selecting the 'CSV File to Cart' option. Upload the CSV files you exported from Ascentium Commerce Server.

As per the platform details, Ascentium Commerce Server uses a file-only connection method for migration, relying on CSV file imports. There are no specific plugin requirements for this source type.

Step 3: Configure Your Target Store (Square)

Next, select 'Square' as your target shopping cart. You'll then be prompted to provide the necessary connection details, typically an API key or by authenticating through the Square app ecosystem. This allows the migration tool to establish a secure link to your new store.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Transfer

This critical step allows you to choose exactly what data you want to move from Ascentium Commerce Server to Square. Based on the CSV file export capabilities, you can select from a wide range of entities including:

• Products (SKUs, variants, images, descriptions)
• Product Categories
• Manufacturers
• Product Reviews
• Customers
• Orders
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Store information
• Coupons
• CMS Pages
• Blogs & Blog Posts

You can choose to migrate all entities or select them individually to tailor your data transfer.

Step 5: Configure Additional Migration Options

Enhance your migration with a variety of optional features. These options are designed to preserve data integrity and SEO value during the transition:

• Preserve IDs: Options like 'Preserve Category IDs', 'Preserve Product IDs', 'Preserve Customers IDs', and 'Preserve Orders IDs' allow you to maintain the original identifiers, which can be crucial for internal record-keeping and existing integrations. Explore How Preserve IDs options can be used?
• Create Variants from Attributes: This is useful for product data organization.
• SEO URLs: Migrate existing SEO-friendly URLs to maintain search engine rankings.
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensures product descriptions and other content retain their imagery.
• Password Migration: Securely transfer customer passwords to ensure a smooth login experience post-migration.
• 301 Redirects: Crucial for maintaining your SEO rankings and link equity, these automatically redirect old Ascentium URLs to their new Square counterparts.

Step 6: Map Customer Groups and Order Statuses

To ensure data consistency, you'll need to map your Ascentium Commerce Server customer groups and order statuses to their corresponding equivalents in Square. This step ensures that customer roles and order workflow statuses are correctly translated to the new platform.

Step 7: Run a Free Demo Migration

Before committing to a full migration, we highly recommend performing a free demo migration. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, orders) to your Square store. The demo serves as an invaluable opportunity to:

• Verify data integrity and accuracy.
• Check the migration process for any potential issues.
• Familiarize yourself with the tool's functionality.

Step 8: Proceed with Full Migration

After reviewing the demo results and ensuring everything is as expected, you can proceed with the full migration. This final step will transfer all selected data from your Ascentium Commerce Server CSV files to your Square store. You'll also have the option to add Migration Insurance Service for peace of mind and additional remigrations, which you can learn more about in our How Migration Insurance works? FAQ.

Post-Migration Steps

Completing the migration is a significant milestone, but a few crucial post-migration tasks remain to ensure your new Square store is fully operational and optimized.

• Thorough Data Verification: Conduct a comprehensive check of your new Square store. Verify product details, images, pricing, inventory levels, customer accounts, order history, and reviews. Ensure all migrated data appears correctly and functions as expected.
• Configure SEO Settings & 301 Redirects: If not handled during the migration, set up 301 redirects for any old Ascentium URLs that changed. Update your sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console to help search engines re-index your new site. This is vital for maintaining your SEO rankings and link equity.
• Test All Store Functionality: Place test orders, process payments, check shipping calculations, test customer registration and login, search functionality, and all other interactive elements to ensure a seamless user experience.
• Update DNS & Go Live: Once you are confident in your new Square store, update your domain's DNS records to point to your Square store. Monitor your site closely for any initial issues.
• Announce Your New Store: Inform your customers about your exciting new platform!

Should you encounter any challenges or require assistance with specific post-migration tasks, consider our Migration Customization Service or Contact Us for expert support. For keeping your data updated, especially if your Ascentium store remains active for a period, explore our Recent Data Migration Service.