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

A Comprehensive Guide to Transitioning from Subbly to Shopify

Embarking on an e-commerce platform migration can feel like a daunting task, but with the right guidance, it's a strategic move to unlock greater potential for your online business. If you're currently running your subscription-based business on Subbly and are looking to scale, expand functionality, and reach a wider audience, transitioning to Shopify is an excellent choice. Shopify offers a robust, feature-rich environment designed for growth, providing extensive customization, marketing tools, and app integrations that might not be available on a specialized platform like Subbly.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps of migrating your store data from Subbly to Shopify. Since Subbly does not offer direct API integration for data migration tools, we will leverage a CSV file export approach from Subbly combined with the powerful Cart2Cart Store Migration App for Shopify. By following these clear, actionable instructions, you can ensure a smooth and successful transition, preserving your vital customer data, products, and order history.

Prerequisites for a Seamless Migration

Before initiating your data transfer, ensuring both your source (Subbly) and target (Shopify) stores are adequately prepared is crucial. This foundational work minimizes potential hiccups and guarantees data integrity during the replatforming process.

Preparing Your Subbly Store (Source)

• Data Export: As Subbly does not support direct API connections for automated migration tools, you will need to export your data manually into CSV files. Focus on exporting key entities such as products (including SKUs and variants), customer data, and order history.
• Data Cleanup: This is an opportune time to audit your existing data. Remove outdated products, duplicate customer entries, or irrelevant information to ensure only clean, essential data is moved to your new Shopify store.
• Supported Entities (via CSV): When migrating via CSV, you can typically transfer: Products, Product Categories, Customers, Orders, CMS Pages, and Blogs/Blog Posts.
• For more information on handling CSV files for migration, refer to our CSV.File Data Migration service page.

Preparing Your Shopify Store (Target)

• Active Shopify Store: Ensure you have an active Shopify store (Basic, Shopify, Advanced Shopify, or Shopify Plus plan) set up and ready to receive data. Note that Shopify's "Pause and Build" plan blocks orders, so a full subscription plan is recommended for a live migration.
• Install Cart2Cart App: The Cart2Cart Store Migration App is required for connecting to Shopify and facilitating the data import. You can easily install it from the Shopify App Store.
• Disable Notifications: It's highly recommended to disable email and SMS notifications on your Shopify store during the migration to avoid sending confusing messages to your customers. You can re-enable them post-migration.
• Review App for Reviews: If you plan to migrate product reviews, be aware that Shopify requires a dedicated reviews app, such as the AirReviews app, for full functionality post-migration.
• Consider SEO Strategy: Plan for 301 redirects to maintain your existing SEO rankings and link equity. This is critical for preventing traffic loss after your domain points to Shopify.
• For further details, consult our FAQs on How to prepare Source store for migration? and How to prepare Target store for migration?.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

This section outlines the detailed process of using the migration wizard to transfer your e-commerce data. We'll leverage a professional migration service that supports CSV imports and robust Shopify integration.

1. Step 1: Initiate the Migration Wizard

   Begin by accessing the migration tool. You'll typically find an option to start a new migration directly from the service's dashboard.

   

2. Step 2: Configure Your Source Store (Subbly via CSV)

   In this crucial step, you'll specify where your data is coming from. Since Subbly doesn't offer direct API access for migration, you'll select "CsvToCart" as your source platform. You will then upload the CSV files you exported from your Subbly store containing your products, customers, orders, and other relevant data.

   

3. Step 3: Connect Your Target Store (Shopify)

   Next, you'll configure your new Shopify store as the target. Select "Shopify" from the list of available platforms. The recommended and most straightforward method to connect is by installing the Cart2Cart app directly from the Shopify App Store. Follow the on-screen instructions to authorize the connection between your Shopify store and the migration service.

   

4. Step 4: Select Data Entities for Transfer

   Now, choose which specific data types, or entities, you wish to transfer from your Subbly CSV files to Shopify. Common entities include Products (including SKUs and variants), Customers, Orders, Product Categories, CMS Pages, and Blog Posts. You can choose to migrate all available data or select specific items based on your needs. For instance, if you're only interested in moving product information and customer profiles, you can deselect other options.

   

5. Step 5: Map Data Fields

   Data mapping is a critical stage where you align the data fields from your source (CSV) with the corresponding fields in your Shopify store. This ensures that information like customer groups, order statuses, and product attributes are correctly translated and placed in the right locations on your new platform. The wizard will guide you through matching these fields, often providing dropdowns for easy selection.

   

6. Step 6: Choose Additional Migration Options

   To further customize your migration, you'll be presented with various additional options. These can significantly impact the outcome and user experience of your new store. Consider selecting options such as:

   • Create 301 SEO URLs: Crucial for maintaining your search engine rankings and directing old links to new pages.
   • Preserve Order IDs: Keeps your original order numbers intact, which can be vital for accounting and record-keeping. (How Preserve IDs options can be used?)
   • Migrate Images in Description: Ensures all product images embedded within descriptions are transferred.
   • Clear Target Store Data: (Use with caution) This option will erase any existing data in your Shopify store before the migration. (Clear current data on Target store before migration option)

   

7. Step 7: Perform a Free Demo Migration (Recommended)

   Before committing to the full migration, it's highly recommended to 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. Use this opportunity to thoroughly inspect the transferred data for accuracy, ensuring everything appears as expected. It's a risk-free way to verify the process and make any necessary adjustments before the main event. Learn more about this with our Migration Preview Service.

8. Step 8: Launch Full Migration

   Once you're satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full data transfer. Review all your selections, confirm the total cost, and initiate the complete migration. During this process, it's advisable to avoid making any changes to your Subbly or Shopify stores to prevent data conflicts. Consider adding Migration Insurance for added peace of mind, which often includes free re-migrations should you need to adjust anything post-transfer (How Migration Insurance works?).

   

Post-Migration Steps: Ensuring a Flawless Shopify Launch

The migration doesn't end when the data transfer is complete. A few critical post-migration tasks are essential to ensure your new Shopify store is fully functional, optimized for search engines, and ready to provide an excellent user experience.

1. Verify Data Integrity and Functionality

   Thoroughly inspect all migrated data on your Shopify store. Check:

   • Products: Ensure all SKUs, descriptions, images, variants, prices, and stock levels are accurate. Test product pages.
   • Customers: Verify customer accounts, contact information, and order history.
   • Orders: Confirm that order details, statuses, and associated customer data are correct.
   • CMS Pages & Blogs: Check content, formatting, and internal links.
   • Reviews: If you used an app like AirReviews, ensure all migrated reviews are displayed correctly.

2. Configure Shopify Storefront and Settings

   Beyond data, your Shopify store needs complete configuration:

   • Theme Customization: Set up your chosen Shopify theme to reflect your brand's aesthetic.
   • Payment Gateways: Configure your preferred payment methods (Shopify Payments, PayPal, Stripe, etc.).
   • Shipping Zones & Rates: Define your shipping options and costs.
   • App Integrations: Install any necessary third-party apps for marketing, analytics, customer support, or specific business functionalities.
   • General Settings: Review taxes, notifications, and other store preferences.

3. Implement 301 Redirects

   To preserve your SEO rankings and prevent broken links, implement 301 redirects for any URLs that have changed during the migration. Map your old Subbly URLs to their new Shopify counterparts. This is vital for maintaining link equity and ensuring a smooth transition for both users and search engines.

4. Update DNS Records

   Once you are confident that your Shopify store is fully operational and verified, update your domain's DNS records to point to your new Shopify store. This makes your Shopify site live to the public. Be prepared for a short period of propagation, where your domain might alternate between the old and new sites.

5. Deactivate Your Old Subbly Store

   After your Shopify store is live and performing as expected, it's safe to decommission your Subbly store. Ensure all necessary data backups are made before fully closing the account.

6. Monitor and Optimize

   Continuously monitor your new Shopify store for performance, user experience, and SEO. Pay attention to analytics data to understand customer behavior and identify areas for further optimization. For any recent orders or data that occurred between your last CSV export and going live on Shopify, consider using a Recent Data Migration Service to ensure all latest information is transferred.

Migrating from Subbly to Shopify is a significant undertaking, but with careful planning and execution, it can lead to substantial growth for your e-commerce business. Should you encounter any challenges or require expert assistance at any stage, do not hesitate to Contact Us for personalized support.