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

A Comprehensive Guide to Transitioning from eComchain to Volusion

Replatforming your e-commerce store is a strategic move that can unlock new growth opportunities and enhance your online presence. If you're currently operating on eComchain and looking to transition to Volusion, this guide will walk you through every essential step of the data transfer process. Volusion offers a robust platform with features designed to scale your business, and moving your existing store data, including products, customer information, and order history, is crucial for a smooth transition.

Given that eComchain is not directly supported by most automated migration tools, we will leverage a highly effective method: exporting your eComchain data into CSV files and then importing it into Volusion. For the Volusion target, we will utilize a bridge connection to ensure a comprehensive and accurate data transfer. This approach ensures data integrity and minimizes downtime.

Prerequisites for Migration

Before embarking on your migration journey, proper preparation is key to a successful and seamless transition. Here’s what you need to have in place:

• For your eComchain Store (Source):
  1. Data Export: You will need to export all relevant data from your eComchain store into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. This typically includes products (with SKUs, variants, descriptions, images), categories, customer records, and order history. Ensure all critical data points, such as product IDs, category IDs, customer IDs, and order IDs, are included in your exports if you wish to preserve them.
  2. Data Clean-up: This is an excellent opportunity to review and clean up your existing data. Remove outdated products, duplicate customer entries, or any irrelevant information to start fresh on Volusion.
  3. For more details on preparing your source, refer to our guide on how to prepare your source store for migration.
• For your Volusion Store (Target):
  1. New Volusion Account: Ensure you have a live Volusion store set up. This will be the destination for all your eComchain data.
  2. Admin Access: You will need full administrator access to your Volusion store to install the necessary migration module and configure settings.
  3. FTP Access: Volusion requires a bridge connection for migration, which necessitates FTP (File Transfer Protocol) access to your store's root directory. This allows the migration tool to securely connect and transfer data.
  4. Cart2Cart Volusion Migration Module: Volusion requires a specific plugin for direct data transfer. You will need to download and install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module onto your Volusion store.
  5. Clear Target Data (Optional): If your Volusion store is brand new or contains only sample data, you might choose the option to clear existing data before migration to avoid duplicates.
  6. For comprehensive guidance on your target store, read how to prepare your target store for migration.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparations complete, you are ready to initiate the data transfer using an automated migration wizard. Follow these steps for a smooth transition:

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Navigate to the migration wizard interface to begin the process. This is where you'll define your source and target platforms.

Step 2: Source Store Setup

Connect your eComchain store by selecting the appropriate option. Since eComchain data will be transferred via files, choose 'CSV File to Cart' as your Source Cart type. You will then upload your prepared CSV files containing your products, customer records, orders, and other essential data. This method allows you to transfer a wide range of entities, including Products, Categories, Manufacturers, Reviews, Customers, Orders, Invoices, Taxes, Stores, Coupons, CMS Pages, Blogs, and Blog Posts.

Step 3: Target Store Setup

Next, configure your Volusion store as the migration target. Select 'Volusion' from the dropdown list of Target Carts. Provide your Volusion store's URL. For the connection, Volusion requires a 'Bridge only' method, which means you'll need to install the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module. This module acts as a secure data conduit between your exported CSV files and your Volusion store via FTP access. Ensure you've properly installed the module in your Volusion root directory. Rest assured, providing your access details to a reputable migration service is secure.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This critical step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you want to transfer from your eComchain CSV files to your new Volusion store. You can select individual entities or choose to migrate 'All entities'. Volusion supports the migration of Products, Categories, Manufacturers, Reviews, Customers, Orders, Invoices, Taxes, Stores, Coupons, and CMS Pages. Carefully review your selections to ensure all vital business data, such as product SKUs, customer historical data, and order details, are included.

Step 5: Configure Additional Migration Options

Enhance your migration with a range of 'Additional Options' to tailor the data transfer to your specific needs. These options can significantly impact data integrity and your site's SEO rankings post-migration. Consider choosing options such as:

• Migrate Images in Description: Essential for preserving product and category visuals.
• Clear Target Store Data: If your Volusion store is new, this option prevents data duplication.
• Preserve Product IDs, Orders IDs, Customer IDs: Helps maintain consistency and avoids breaking existing links or integrations.
• SEO URLs & Create 301 SEO URLs: Crucial for maintaining SEO link equity and avoiding broken links from your old eComchain store.
• Password Migration: Allows customers to log in with their existing credentials.
• Create Variants from Attributes: If your eComchain products use attributes to define variants, this will replicate them correctly in Volusion.

Step 6: Data Mapping Setup

Data mapping ensures that your eComchain data, such as customer groups and order statuses, correctly aligns with the corresponding fields in Volusion. This step is vital for maintaining consistent business logic and a smooth user experience. The wizard will guide you through matching these elements from your source CSV files to your Volusion target fields.

Step 7: Run Demo Migration & Full Migration

Before committing to a full data transfer, it's highly recommended to perform a free demo migration. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities to your Volusion store, giving you a chance to review the migrated data and ensure everything looks as expected. If satisfied, you can then proceed with the full migration. Consider adding a Migration Insurance Plan, which offers additional remigrations and peace of mind. For more information, see how migration insurance works.

Post-Migration Steps

After your data has been successfully transferred to Volusion, several crucial steps remain to ensure your new store is fully operational and optimized:

1. Thorough Data Verification: Systematically check all migrated data. Verify product details, SKUs, images, descriptions, pricing, categories, customer accounts, order histories, and reviews. Ensure that product variants and attributes have been transferred accurately.
2. Configure Store Settings: Set up your shipping methods, payment gateways, and tax rules within Volusion. These are essential for processing transactions efficiently.
3. Design and Theme Customization: Personalize your Volusion store's design to align with your brand identity. Upload your logo, choose a theme, and customize its layout to enhance user experience.
4. Test All Store Functionality: Perform comprehensive testing of your new Volusion store. This includes testing the checkout process, user registration, product search, filters, and any custom features to ensure everything works flawlessly.
5. SEO and 301 Redirects: If you opted to create 301 SEO URLs during migration, verify that these redirects are functioning correctly. This is vital for maintaining your existing SEO rankings and link equity from your eComchain store. Check meta titles, descriptions, and URL structures. Volusion has some limitations regarding SEO options for blogs, so be mindful if your eComchain store relied heavily on blog SEO.
6. Update DNS Settings: Once you are confident that your Volusion store is ready, update your domain's DNS settings to point to your new Volusion store. This makes your new store live to the public.
7. Notify Customers: Inform your customers about the transition to your new Volusion store. Provide them with any new login instructions or features they might find.
8. Decommission eComchain: Once your Volusion store is fully live and operational, you can safely decommission your old eComchain platform.

Migrating from eComchain to Volusion is a significant undertaking, but by following this detailed guide, you can ensure a smooth and successful transition, empowering your business with Volusion's robust capabilities. If you encounter any challenges or require additional assistance, don't hesitate to contact us for expert support or refer to our Frequently Asked Questions.