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

Seamlessly Migrate Your Store from Bagisto to Volusion

As an e-commerce merchant, the decision to replatform your online store is a significant one, often driven by the need for enhanced features, better performance, or improved scalability. If you're currently running your store on Bagisto and considering a transition to Volusion, this guide is designed to provide you with a clear, actionable roadmap for a smooth and efficient migration.

Volusion offers a robust, all-in-one e-commerce solution, making it an attractive target for stores seeking a powerful hosted platform. While Bagisto is a flexible open-source option, moving to Volusion can unlock streamlined operations and advanced marketing tools. Given Bagisto's open-source nature, the most effective way to transfer your valuable store data to a platform like Volusion is by exporting it into CSV files, which then serve as the source for your data migration.

This guide will walk you through the essential prerequisites, a detailed step-by-step process using a reliable migration tool, and crucial post-migration checks to ensure your new Volusion store is fully operational and ready for success. Our goal is to ensure data integrity and minimize downtime, preserving your SEO rankings and customer experience throughout this important transition.

Prerequisites for Migration

Before embarking on your data transfer journey from Bagisto to Volusion, careful preparation is key to a successful outcome. Addressing these prerequisites will streamline the process and prevent potential issues.

• For Your Bagisto (Source) Store:
  1. Data Export Strategy: Since Bagisto data will be transferred via CSV files, you will need to export your store's data into well-structured CSV formats. Focus on exporting core entities such as products (including SKUs, variants, images, descriptions), product categories, customer records, and order histories. Ensure all necessary fields are included and the data is clean and consistent.
  2. Data Backup: Always perform a full backup of your Bagisto store's database and files before initiating any data export or migration process. This safeguards your existing data against unforeseen circumstances.
  3. Review Source Store Preparation: For more details on getting your source store ready, consult our guide on how to prepare your source store for migration.
• For Your Volusion (Target) Store:
  1. Set Up Your Volusion Store: Ensure you have an active Volusion account and a basic store setup. You don't need to populate it with products yet, as the migration will handle that.
  2. FTP Access: Volusion migrations typically require FTP (File Transfer Protocol) access to install a connection bridge. Have your FTP credentials ready.
  3. Install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration Module: Volusion requires a specific migration module to facilitate the data transfer. This plugin will need to be installed on your Volusion store.
  4. Secure Access Credentials: Gather all necessary access details for your Volusion store, including admin login, password, and URL. For guidance on securing these credentials, refer to The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.
  5. Review Target Store Preparation: Get further insights into preparing your target store by reading our article on how to prepare your target store for migration.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

This section outlines the step-by-step process of migrating your data from Bagisto (via CSV) to Volusion using a dedicated migration solution. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure a seamless transition.

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Begin by navigating to the migration wizard. Here, you'll choose your migration path and set the stage for the entire process. You can opt for a guided service or perform the migration yourself.

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

Connecting your Bagisto store, which will serve as your data source, is the first major step. Since Bagisto is not directly integrated, you will use CSV files as your source.

• Select Source Cart: From the dropdown menu, choose "CSV File to Cart" as your Source Cart.
• Upload CSV Files: You will then be prompted to upload the CSV files you prepared from your Bagisto store. Ensure all relevant data, such as products, categories, customers, and orders, are included in these files. For more information on migrating via CSV, check our CSV.File Data Migration service.

Step 3: Set Up Your Target Store (Volusion)

Next, you'll configure your new Volusion store as the destination for your e-commerce data.

• Select Target Cart: Choose "Volusion" from the list of available target carts.
• Enter Store URL and Credentials: Provide the complete URL of your Volusion store. You will also need to enter your Volusion admin login and password.
• Install Migration Bridge: The system will guide you to install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module and the necessary connection bridge. This module is essential for establishing a secure connection between the migration tool and your Volusion store. Follow the on-screen instructions for bridge installation, which typically involves uploading a file via FTP to your Volusion store's root directory. For details on your root folder, see What is a root folder and where can I find it?

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

In this step, you decide exactly which types of data you want to transfer from your Bagisto CSV files to Volusion.

• Choose Entities: A checklist will present various data entities such as Products, Product Categories, Customers, Orders, Invoices, Taxes, Coupons, CMS Pages, and Reviews. You can select all entities or pick and choose based on your specific needs. It's generally recommended to migrate all relevant business data to ensure a complete and consistent store.

Step 5: Configure Additional Options and Data Mapping

This crucial step allows you to customize the migration process and ensure your data is accurately mapped to Volusion's structure.

• Additional Options: Select from a range of additional features to enhance your migration. Popular options include:
  • "Preserve Product IDs", "Preserve Orders IDs", "Preserve Customers IDs": These are vital for maintaining consistency with existing records and third-party integrations. Learn more about how Preserve IDs options can be used.
  • "Migrate Images in Description": Ensures all product images embedded in descriptions are transferred.
  • "Password Migration": Allows your customers to log in with their existing credentials on the new Volusion store.
  • "Create 301 SEO URLs": Absolutely critical for preserving your search engine rankings and link equity by redirecting old Bagisto URLs to their new Volusion counterparts.
  • "Clear Target": If you are migrating into an existing Volusion store with some data, this option allows you to clear all current data before the migration starts. Consult What does the option Clear current data on Target store before migration mean? for more details.

  

• Data Mapping: This interface allows you to match specific data fields from your Bagisto CSV files to the corresponding fields in Volusion. Carefully map customer groups, order statuses, product attributes, and any custom fields to ensure data consistency and integrity.

Step 6: Run Demo Migration & Full Migration

Before committing to a full data transfer, it's highly recommended to perform a demo migration.

• Run Free Demo: This allows you to migrate a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, and orders) to your Volusion store. Use this opportunity to thoroughly check data accuracy, image integrity, and overall functionality.
• Full Migration: Once you're satisfied with the demo results, you can proceed with the full migration. This will transfer all your selected data from your Bagisto CSVs to Volusion. Consider adding a Migration Insurance Plan, which offers a set number of remigrations for a specific duration, providing peace of mind. Learn more about how Migration Insurance works.

Post-Migration Steps

Completing the data transfer is a major milestone, but the work isn't over. These post-migration steps are crucial for ensuring your new Volusion store is fully optimized and performs flawlessly.

• Thorough Data Verification: Immediately after the migration, meticulously check all migrated data on your Volusion store. Verify:
  • Products: Ensure all SKUs, variants, descriptions, images, prices, and inventory levels are correct.
  • Customers: Confirm customer accounts, addresses, and (if migrated) passwords function correctly.
  • Orders: Check order history, statuses, and associated customer details.
  • Categories & CMS Pages: Ensure your store's navigation and informational pages are intact.
• Configure Volusion Store Settings: Customize your Volusion store to match your brand and business operations.
  • Design and Theme: Select and customize your store's theme to create an appealing user experience.
  • Payment Gateways: Set up and test all desired payment processing options.
  • Shipping Methods: Configure your shipping zones, rates, and methods.
  • Taxes: Volusion supports multi-tax options; ensure your tax settings are correctly configured for all relevant regions.
  • Domain & SSL: Point your domain to your new Volusion store and ensure SSL certificates are active for secure browsing.
• Implement 301 Redirects: If you opted to create 301 SEO URLs during migration, verify their functionality. For any URLs that were not covered or were manually changed, set up additional 301 redirects to preserve your SEO rankings and link equity. This is critical to avoid broken links and maintain organic traffic.
• Integrate Third-Party Apps: Connect any essential third-party applications, plugins, or services that your business relies on (e.g., email marketing, analytics, accounting software).
• Test Functionality: Perform comprehensive tests of all critical store functions:
  • Add to cart and checkout process
  • User registration and login
  • Contact forms and customer support channels
  • Search functionality
• Notify Customers (Optional): Depending on your strategy, consider notifying your existing customers about the platform change.
• Monitor & Optimize: Keep a close eye on your store's performance, customer feedback, and SEO metrics post-launch. You might also consider our Recent Data Migration Service to transfer any new orders or customer data that might have accumulated on your old Bagisto store during the final stages of the migration.

Migrating from Bagisto to Volusion is a significant undertaking, but with careful planning and execution, it can lead to a more robust and scalable e-commerce presence. Should you require further assistance or wish to explore managed migration services, please do not hesitate to Contact Us. Our experts are ready to assist you with everything from migration customization to ultimate data migration service packages.