BorderFree to BigCommerce Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Transition Your E-commerce Store from BorderFree to BigCommerce

Replatforming your e-commerce store is a significant undertaking, but a strategic move can unlock new growth and efficiency for your business. If you're currently operating on BorderFree and contemplating a transition, migrating to BigCommerce offers a powerful upgrade in scalability, features, and overall control. BigCommerce is renowned for its robust capabilities, developer-friendly environment, and extensive app marketplace, making it an ideal choice for merchants seeking to expand their digital footprint and enhance the user experience.

Given that BorderFree typically functions as a cross-border e-commerce solution often integrated with an existing platform rather than a standalone shopping cart, the direct API connection for a full store migration isn't standard. Therefore, this guide outlines a comprehensive data transfer strategy primarily utilizing CSV file export from your BorderFree-enabled system and subsequent import into BigCommerce. This ensures a thorough and accurate transition of your valuable store data, including products, customer information, and order history.

This detailed guide will walk you through every critical phase of migrating your store, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal downtime and maximum data integrity.

Why Migrate to BigCommerce?

• Scalability: Grow your business without worrying about infrastructure limitations.
• Robust Features: Access powerful built-in tools for marketing, SEO, and store management.
• Customization: Extensive theme options and a developer-friendly API allow for unique store designs and functionality.
• Security: Benefit from enterprise-grade security and PCI compliance.
• Global Reach: BigCommerce supports multi-currency and international selling, complementing your existing global operations.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, careful preparation of both your source (BorderFree-enabled system) and target (BigCommerce) stores is crucial. This proactive approach helps mitigate risks and ensures a smoother, more efficient migration process.

• Data Audit and Cleanup: Take this opportunity to review and clean up your existing BorderFree product catalog, customer database, and order history. Remove any outdated, redundant, or incorrect information to ensure you're only migrating clean, valuable data.
• Backup All Data: Always create a complete backup of your BorderFree store's data before beginning any migration. This is your safety net in case of unforeseen issues.
• Plan for Downtime: While the migration process aims to minimize interruption, plan for a brief period of downtime, especially during the final DNS cutover. Inform your customers in advance if necessary.

Source Store Preparation (BorderFree via CSV Export)

Since a direct BorderFree-to-BigCommerce API connection for full store migration isn't typically available, you'll need to export your data into CSV files. This method ensures all essential information is captured for the transfer.

• Export Core Data: Systematically export all relevant data entities from your BorderFree-enabled platform into CSV files. This includes:
  • Products (with all attributes, variants, SKUs, images, descriptions, categories)
  • Product Categories
  • Product Manufacturers
  • Customer Information (names, addresses, order history, email addresses)
  • Orders (details, statuses, associated customer data)
  • Product Reviews
  • Invoices, Taxes, Coupons (if applicable and exportable)
  • CMS Pages and Blog Posts
• Format Your CSV Files: Ensure your CSV files are well-structured and properly delimited. This will simplify the import process into BigCommerce.
• No Plugin Required: For CSV-based migrations, there are no specific plugin requirements for the source store side, as you're working with exported files.

For more details on preparing your source store, read our guide on How to prepare Source store for migration?

Target Store Preparation (BigCommerce)

Your BigCommerce store needs to be ready to receive the influx of data.

• Set Up Your BigCommerce Store: Create a new BigCommerce account and complete the initial setup. Choose your store's URL and preferred theme.
• Generate API Credentials: BigCommerce utilizes API connections for data transfer. You will need to generate specific API credentials within your BigCommerce admin panel. This typically involves creating a new API account and granting the necessary scopes for data access. You will need:
  • Client ID (Username)
  • Access Token (API Token)
  • API Path
• HTTPS Requirement: Ensure your BigCommerce store is running on HTTPS, which is a standard requirement for API connections and general security.
• Consider a Custom App (if extensive customization needed): For highly customized migration scenarios beyond standard data entities, BigCommerce's API supports custom app development with required scopes. This is generally not needed for basic data transfers.

For detailed instructions on setting up your target store and generating API credentials, consult these resources: How to prepare Target store for migration? and The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once your preparation is complete, you can begin the migration process using a dedicated migration wizard, designed to simplify data transfer.

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Navigate to the migration wizard. Here, you'll typically be presented with options to start a do-it-yourself migration or opt for a guided service. Select the DIY option to proceed with the wizard.

Step 2: Connect Your Source Store (BorderFree via CSV Files)

In the source store setup section, you will indicate that your data is coming from CSV files.

1. Select 'CSV File' as your Source Cart: From the dropdown menu of available source carts, choose 'CSV File'.
2. Upload Your BorderFree Data Files: Follow the prompts to upload the CSV files you exported from your BorderFree-enabled system (containing products, customers, orders, etc.).

Step 3: Connect Your Target Store (BigCommerce)

Next, you'll configure the connection to your new BigCommerce store.

1. Select 'BigCommerce' as your Target Cart: Choose BigCommerce from the list of target e-commerce platforms.
2. Enter Your BigCommerce Store URL: Provide the full URL of your new BigCommerce store.
3. Input BigCommerce API Credentials: Enter the Client ID (Username), Access Token (API Token), and API Path that you generated earlier in your BigCommerce admin panel. This authorizes the migration tool to access and transfer data to your BigCommerce store.

Step 4: Select Entities for Migration

This critical step allows you to specify which data entities you wish to move from your BorderFree data to BigCommerce. You can choose to migrate all available data or pick specific types.

• Common Entities: Products, Product Categories, Product Manufacturers, Customers, Orders, Coupons, Blogs Posts, CMS Pages.
• Check 'All entities' for a complete data transfer, or manually select individual items like SKUs, product variants, customer data, and reviews.

Step 5: Configure Additional Migration Options

Enhance your data transfer with various optional features:

• Clear Target Store Data: This option clears current data on Target store before migration option. Use with caution, typically for fresh BigCommerce stores.
• Preserve IDs: Options like Preserve Orders IDs, Preserve Product IDs, Preserve Category IDs, and Preserve Customers IDs can maintain original identification numbers, which is beneficial for existing integrations or records.
• Create 301 SEO URLs: Highly recommended for preserving your SEO rankings and link equity. This creates redirects from your old BorderFree URLs to the new BigCommerce URLs.
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensures all product images embedded within descriptions are transferred.
• Create Variants from Attributes: If your BorderFree products use attributes (e.g., size, color), this option can help BigCommerce generate proper product variants.
• Migrate Groups to Tags: This can help organize customer groups effectively within BigCommerce.

Step 6: Map Data Fields

This crucial step ensures data consistency by matching corresponding fields between your source and target stores. You'll map:

• Customer Groups Mapping: Associate customer groups from your BorderFree data to existing or new customer groups in BigCommerce.
• Order Statuses Mapping: Match order statuses (e.g., 'Pending,' 'Processing,' 'Completed') from your source to the appropriate BigCommerce statuses.
• Product Attributes: If you migrated product attributes, ensure they are correctly mapped to BigCommerce's attribute structure.

Step 7: Run a Free Demo Migration

Before committing to the full migration, perform a free demo migration. This allows you to:

• Verify Data Transfer: Check a limited number of products, customers, and orders on your BigCommerce store to ensure they migrated correctly.
• Test Functionality: Confirm that product pages, cart, and checkout processes are working as expected.
• Identify Issues: Address any data mapping errors or other discrepancies before the full transfer.

Step 8: Perform the Full Migration

Once you're satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full migration. Review all selected entities and options one last time. You may also consider purchasing Migration Insurance, which allows for additional remigrations if needed. Learn more about How Migration Insurance works?

Post-Migration Steps

Your migration doesn't end when the data transfer is complete. Several essential steps follow to ensure your new BigCommerce store is fully operational and optimized.

1. Thorough Store Testing: Conduct comprehensive testing of your BigCommerce store. This includes:
   • Product Pages: Check all product details, images, prices, SKUs, and variant options.
   • Category Pages: Ensure categories are displayed correctly and navigation works.
   • Search Functionality: Test the store's search feature.
   • Checkout Process: Perform test orders to ensure the cart, checkout, and payment gateways are functioning seamlessly.
   • Customer Accounts: Log in as a migrated customer and check order history and personal details.
2. Verify 301 Redirects: If you opted to create 301 redirects, thoroughly test them to ensure old BorderFree URLs correctly point to their new BigCommerce counterparts. This is vital for maintaining your SEO rankings and link equity.
3. Update DNS Settings: Once satisfied with your new BigCommerce store, update your domain's DNS records to point to BigCommerce. This makes your new store live to the public.
4. Theme Customization and Design: Refine your BigCommerce theme to align with your brand identity and optimize for user experience.
5. Integrate Third-Party Apps: Re-integrate any essential third-party applications or plugins you used on BorderFree (e.g., for accounting, email marketing, shipping). Explore the BigCommerce App Store for alternatives or direct integrations.
6. Set Up Analytics: Configure Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and any other tracking tools for your new BigCommerce store.
7. Notify Customers: Inform your customers about the new store and any changes.
8. Decommission Old Store: Once you're certain everything is stable on BigCommerce, securely decommission your old BorderFree-enabled platform.

Migrating from BorderFree to BigCommerce is an investment in your e-commerce future. By following these steps and paying close attention to data integrity and post-migration optimization, you can ensure a successful transition to a more powerful and scalable platform. Should you encounter any challenges or require expert assistance, our team is ready to help. Feel free to explore our Frequently Asked Questions or Contact Us directly for personalized support.