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

Seamlessly Migrating Your E-commerce Store from Shoplazza to Volusion

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration can feel like a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it’s a strategic move that can significantly enhance your online store’s capabilities and user experience. This comprehensive guide is designed for merchants looking to transition their operations from Shoplazza to Volusion, a powerful and robust e-commerce solution. We’ll walk you through every critical step, ensuring a smooth and successful data transfer with minimal downtime.

While Shoplazza offers a streamlined experience, moving to Volusion can unlock advanced features, greater customization, and scalable infrastructure to support your growing business. Our focus here is on ensuring data integrity, preserving your valuable SEO rankings, and maintaining a consistent customer experience throughout the replatforming process. For a broader understanding of the advantages, consider What are the potential benefits of a website migration?.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, careful preparation of both your source (Shoplazza) and target (Volusion) stores is paramount. Adhering to these prerequisites will streamline the process and prevent potential issues.

• Shoplazza (Source Store) Preparation:
  Since a direct API connection for Shoplazza isn't natively supported by standard migration tools like Cart2Cart, the migration will proceed via CSV file export. You will need to export all your vital store data—including products (SKUs, variants, descriptions, images), customer information, orders, reviews, and CMS pages—into CSV files from your Shoplazza admin panel. Ensure these files are accurately formatted for easy import. We highly recommend performing a full backup of your Shoplazza store before exporting any data. For detailed guidance, consult our article on How to prepare Source store for migration?.
• Volusion (Target Store) Preparation:
  You will need an active Volusion store where your data will be transferred. Ensure it is set up and ready to receive data. A critical step for Volusion is the installation of the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module, which facilitates the connection via a bridge. This often requires FTP or SFTP access to your Volusion store's root folder to upload the necessary files. For more information, read How to prepare Target store for migration?.
• Cart2Cart Account:
  Ensure you have an active Cart2Cart account. This platform will serve as your migration wizard, guiding you through each step of the data transfer process. Familiarize yourself with The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your preparations complete, let's dive into the step-by-step process of transferring your store data.

Step 1: Start Your Migration Journey

Begin by logging into your Cart2Cart account. You will be directed to the migration wizard, which serves as your central hub for setting up and managing the data transfer. Click on the 'Start Migration' button to initiate the process.

Step 2: Connect Your Source Store (Shoplazza via CSV)

In the 'Source Store Setup' step, you will specify where your current store data resides. From the dropdown menu, select 'CSV File to Cart' as your source platform. You will then be prompted to upload the CSV files containing your Shoplazza store's data. Ensure all relevant files (products, customers, orders, etc.) are uploaded correctly for the data transfer to proceed seamlessly.

Step 3: Connect Your Target Store (Volusion)

Next, move to the 'Target Store Setup.' Here, select 'Volusion' from the list of supported platforms. Provide your Volusion store’s complete URL. You will also need to ensure the Cart2Cart Volusion Migration module is installed on your Volusion store. This module establishes a secure bridge connection, enabling the seamless transfer of your e-commerce data. You might need FTP access to install the bridge file manually in your Volusion root directory.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This crucial step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you want to move from Shoplazza to Volusion. Cart2Cart supports a wide range of entities:

• Products (including SKUs, variants, product images, descriptions)
• Products Categories
• Products Manufacturers
• Products Reviews
• Customers (including customer data and shipping addresses)
• Orders (including order statuses, purchase history)
• Invoices
• Taxes
• Stores
• Coupons
• CMS Pages

You can select 'All entities' for a comprehensive transfer or pick specific items based on your requirements. Note that while Shoplazza may contain blog posts, Volusion's limitations indicate that SEO options are excluded for blogs, so review your blog content migration strategy carefully.

Step 5: Configure Additional Options and Data Mapping

This stage allows you to fine-tune your migration to Volusion. In the 'Additional Migration Options' section, consider selecting features such as:

• Clear Target: This option clears all existing data on your Volusion store before migration, which is often recommended for fresh installations.
• Preserve Product/Orders/Customers IDs: Vital for maintaining historical data, internal record-keeping, and external integrations. Learn how Preserve IDs options can be used.
• 301 SEO URLs: Crucial for maintaining your search engine rankings and link equity by automatically redirecting old Shoplazza URLs to their new Volusion counterparts. This prevents broken links and preserves valuable SEO.
• Password Migration: Allows your existing customers to log into their new Volusion accounts with their current Shoplazza passwords, providing a seamless user experience.
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensures all product and category images embedded within rich text descriptions are transferred correctly.

Below the additional options, you'll find the 'Data Mapping Setup.' Here, you'll precisely match customer groups and order statuses from your Shoplazza CSV files to the corresponding fields in Volusion. This ensures consistency for your customer data and order management, preserving the logic of your store operations.

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

Before committing to the full migration, Cart2Cart offers a free demo. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10 products, 10 customers, 10 orders) to your Volusion store. The demo helps you preview how your data will look on the new platform and identify any potential issues or mapping adjustments needed. This is a critical step for verifying data integrity and the overall migration process. Explore our Migration Preview Service for more insights.

Step 7: Initiate Full Migration

Once you are satisfied with the demo results and have made any necessary adjustments, proceed with the full migration. Review the summary of your selected entities and the total cost. You may also consider purchasing a Migration Insurance Service, which offers additional remigrations within a specified period, providing peace of mind during your replatforming. Learn more about how Migration Insurance works?.

Click 'Start Full Migration' to begin the final data transfer. You will receive notifications on its progress, and you can monitor it through your Cart2Cart account.

Post-Migration Steps

After your data has successfully moved to Volusion, a few crucial post-migration steps are necessary to ensure your new store is fully operational and optimized.

• Thorough Data Verification: Systematically check all migrated data on your Volusion store. Verify product details (SKUs, pricing, images, descriptions, variants), customer accounts, order history, and CMS pages. Ensure all links are functional and images are displayed correctly.
• Functionality Testing: Perform comprehensive testing of your new Volusion store. This includes placing test orders, verifying checkout processes, testing customer login functionality, and ensuring all payment gateways are working correctly. Evaluate the overall user experience on the new platform.
• Configure SEO Settings: Double-check that all 301 redirects are properly implemented to preserve your SEO rankings and link equity. Submit your new Volusion sitemap to search engines (Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools). Monitor your site's performance and crawl status to ensure minimal impact on visibility.
• Update DNS Records: Once you are completely satisfied with your Volusion store, update your domain's DNS records to point to the new Volusion servers. This is the final step in making your new store live to the public.
• Remove Old Shoplazza Store: After confirming that your Volusion store is fully functional and live, you can safely decommission your old Shoplazza store.
• Consider Ongoing Syncs: For any new data created on Shoplazza during or immediately after the migration, consider using our Recent Data Migration Service to ensure all latest updates are transferred to Volusion, maintaining data consistency.

By diligently following these steps, you can achieve a seamless and effective transition from Shoplazza to Volusion, setting your e-commerce business up for renewed success and growth. For any further assistance or specialized requirements, don't hesitate to Contact Us.