Rakuten to Shopify Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Transitioning Your E-commerce Store from Rakuten to Shopify

Replatforming your e-commerce store is a strategic move that can unlock new growth opportunities and enhance your operational efficiency. If you're currently operating on Rakuten and considering a switch to the robust and scalable Shopify platform, this comprehensive guide is designed for you. While Rakuten does not offer a direct API for automated migrations, this article will walk you through a streamlined process using CSV file export and a specialized migration tool to ensure a smooth data transfer.

Shopify stands out for its user-friendly interface, extensive app ecosystem, and powerful sales features, making it a popular choice for merchants looking to expand their online presence. This guide will cover all essential steps, from preparing your data to executing the migration and post-transfer verification, helping you move your products, customer data, and orders with confidence and maintain your valuable SEO rankings.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before you embark on the data transfer journey, a bit of preparation is essential to ensure a smooth transition and safeguard your online assets.

• Rakuten Data Export: Since a direct API connection for Rakuten is not available through migration tools, you will need to export all your valuable store data (products, customers, orders, etc.) into CSV files. Ensure these files are well-organized and include all relevant SKUs, variants, and other product details.
• Set Up Your Shopify Store: Create a new Shopify account and complete the initial setup. Choose a theme that aligns with your brand, and consider any essential apps you'll need post-migration. While a "Pause and Build" plan allows you to work on your store without it being live, be aware that it might block orders during this phase.
• Familiarize Yourself with Shopify's App Ecosystem: Shopify relies heavily on apps for extended functionality. For instance, customer reviews will likely require an app like AirReviews post-migration, as specified in Shopify's limitations.
• Review Shopify Limitations: Be aware of Shopify's "Limitations & Notices," such as potential country restrictions for orders and the recommendation to disable notifications during the migration process to avoid overwhelming customers.
• Migration Tool Account: Create an account with a migration service like Cart2Cart, which facilitates the transfer of data from CSV files to Shopify. This tool will act as the bridge for your data transfer.
• Backup Everything: Always perform a full backup of your current Rakuten store data before starting any migration. This is a critical step for data integrity and peace of mind.

For more detailed preparation guidelines, you can refer to our How to prepare Source store for migration? and How to prepare Target store for migration? FAQs.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to migrate your e-commerce store data from Rakuten (via CSV) to Shopify using a dedicated migration wizard.

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Begin by navigating to the migration tool's website. You'll typically find a clear option to start a new migration, whether it's a DIY process or a guided service.

Step 2: Source Store Setup (Rakuten via CSV)

As Rakuten doesn't offer a direct integration for automated migration, your data will be transferred via CSV files. Select 'CSV File to Cart' as your source platform in the migration wizard. Upload your previously exported Rakuten data files containing products, customer information, order history, and any other relevant entities. This step is crucial for establishing the connection from your current data to the migration tool.

Step 3: Target Store Setup (Shopify)

Next, you will configure your new Shopify store as the target platform. Select 'Shopify' from the list of available carts. The recommended and most straightforward method to connect is by installing the Cart2Cart Store Migration App directly from the Shopify App Marketplace. Alternatively, you can provide API access credentials if you prefer a manual setup, though the app simplifies the process significantly.

Important Shopify Notices:

• Remember that if your Shopify store is on a "Pause and Build" plan, it will block orders, which can affect testing during migration.
• For transferring customer reviews, you will likely need to install a third-party app like "AirReviews" on your Shopify store.
• It's recommended to disable all store notifications during the migration to prevent sending incomplete or erroneous updates to your customers.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Transfer

This is where you specify exactly what data you want to move from your Rakuten CSV files to Shopify. You can choose to migrate all available entities or select specific ones. Supported entities for transfer to Shopify typically include:

• Products (including SKUs and variants)
• Product Categories
• Product Reviews (requires AirReviews app on Shopify)
• Customers
• Orders
• CMS Pages
• Gift Cards
• Coupons
• Price Rules
• Blogs and Blog Posts

Carefully select the data types to ensure all critical information, from product descriptions to customer purchase history, is transferred accurately, preserving your overall data integrity.

Step 5: Configure Additional Migration Options

Enhance your migration with various additional options tailored to your needs. These settings are crucial for optimizing your new store's performance and maintaining SEO value. Popular options for Shopify include:

• Clear Target Store Data: (Recommended) This option removes existing data on your Shopify store before the migration, ensuring a clean import. Learn more about clearing target store data.
• Preserve Order IDs: Maintain your original order numbering system on Shopify. Understanding how Preserve IDs options can be used is important.
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensure product images embedded within descriptions are transferred.
• Create 301 SEO URLs: This vital feature helps redirect old Rakuten URLs to their new Shopify counterparts, preserving your SEO rankings and link equity.
• Migrate All Categories: Transfer every product category, including empty ones.
• Migrate Customer Groups to Tags: Convert customer groups from your source data into tags within Shopify, which can be useful for segmentation.
• Concat Short Description: Combine short descriptions with main descriptions if desired.

Step 6: Perform Data Mapping

Data mapping is a critical step to ensure consistency between your old and new stores. You'll be prompted to match customer groups and order statuses from your Rakuten CSV files to their corresponding equivalents in Shopify. For instance, map customer roles like 'Wholesale' to a Shopify tag, and align order statuses such as 'Processing' or 'Completed' to ensure your customer data and order states are accurately represented on the new platform.

Step 7: Run a Free Demo Migration

Before committing to the full migration, run a free demo. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, and orders) to your Shopify store. It's an excellent opportunity to preview how your SKUs, pricing, images, and customer details will appear on the new platform, helping you identify and fix any potential issues before the complete data transfer.

Step 8: Initiate Full Migration

Once you're satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full migration. Review all your selected options, data counts, and the total cost. You might also consider adding a Migration Insurance Service, which offers additional remigrations if you need further data adjustments. During this phase, it's wise to plan for minimal downtime to ensure a seamless transition for your customers.

Post-Migration Steps: Ensuring Your Shopify Store is Ready

After your data has successfully moved to Shopify, there are several crucial steps to finalize your store and ensure a perfect user experience.

• Thorough Data Verification: Systematically check all migrated data. Verify products (SKUs, variants, images, descriptions, pricing), customer accounts, order histories, CMS pages, blog posts, and SEO metadata. Ensure everything is accurately transferred and displayed.
• Configure Store Settings: Set up your shipping zones and rates, tax settings, and connect your preferred payment gateways.
• Install Essential Shopify Apps: Beyond the Cart2Cart migration app, explore the Shopify App Store for functionalities you need. Remember, customer reviews typically require an app like AirReviews, as per Shopify's notices.
• Test All Functionality: Perform comprehensive testing of your new Shopify store. Place test orders, create customer accounts, test contact forms, search functionality, and ensure all links work correctly.
• Update DNS and SEO: Point your domain to your new Shopify store. If you opted for 301 redirects during migration, verify they are functioning correctly to preserve SEO rankings and link equity. Submit new sitemaps to search engines.
• Go Live: Once all checks are complete and you're confident in your new store, make it live! Announce your new platform to your customers and enjoy the benefits of Shopify.

Migrating from Rakuten (via CSV) to Shopify is a significant undertaking, but with careful planning and the right tools, you can achieve a seamless transition. Should you require further assistance or custom solutions, feel free to contact us. Happy selling on Shopify!