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

Seamlessly Migrate Your E-commerce Store from Walmart to Shopify

Transitioning your e-commerce business from a marketplace like Walmart to your own dedicated platform, such as Shopify, offers unparalleled control over your brand, customer experience, and growth strategies. While the prospect of moving all your products, customer data, and order history might seem daunting, a structured approach with the right tools can make this replatforming project smooth and efficient. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps to migrate your store data from Walmart, leveraging CSV exports, to a robust Shopify setup.

Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating your data transfer, ensuring both your source (Walmart) and target (Shopify) environments are adequately prepared is crucial for data integrity and a smooth transition.

• Prepare Your Source Data (Walmart): Since Walmart is a marketplace and doesn't offer direct API integration for third-party migration tools, the migration will be performed via CSV file exports. You will need to manually export all relevant data from your Walmart Seller Center account. This includes:
  • Product data (SKUs, variants, descriptions, images, pricing).
  • Customer information (names, emails, addresses).
  • Order history (order IDs, statuses, purchase details).
  Once exported, organize these CSV files carefully as they will be your source for the migration. It is also highly recommended to create a complete backup of all your current Walmart data before proceeding. For more details on preparing your source, refer to our guide: How to prepare Source store for migration?
• Set Up Your Target Store (Shopify): Begin by setting up a new Shopify store or ensuring your existing Shopify store is ready to receive new data. Shopify requires the Cart2Cart Store Migration App for the transfer process. During the migration, it's advisable to disable any customer notifications in Shopify to prevent overwhelming your customers with messages during the data import. Be aware that if your Shopify store is on a 'Pause and Build' plan, it will block new orders, which could impact your business if the migration is lengthy. If you plan to migrate product reviews, be prepared for additional steps, as reviews on Shopify typically require an app like AirReviews for proper integration. Find out more about target store preparation: How to prepare Target store for migration?

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Using a specialized migration service like Cart2Cart simplifies the complex process of data transfer. Follow these steps to move your Walmart data to Shopify:

Step 1: Start Your Migration

Navigate to the Cart2Cart website. If you're new, you'll need to register an account. Once logged in, you can choose to start a free demo migration or proceed directly with a full migration to familiarize yourself with the process. This initial step sets the foundation for your entire store transition.

Step 2: Source Store Setup (Walmart via CSV)

On the migration wizard, you will be prompted to select your source shopping cart. Choose 'CSV File to Cart' as your source platform. This option is specifically designed for stores like Walmart that require data to be exported into CSV files for migration. You will then upload the organized CSV files containing your product, customer, and order data that you exported from your Walmart Seller Center. This action connects your exported data to the migration tool.

Step 3: Target Store Setup (Shopify)

Next, select 'Shopify' as your target shopping cart from the dropdown menu. You'll need to provide your Shopify store's URL. For connection, the recommended method is to 'Install App from Marketplace'. Click the provided link to be redirected to the Shopify App Store, where you can install the Cart2Cart Store Migration App. This app facilitates a secure and seamless connection, allowing the migration tool to access and populate your new Shopify store with data. After installation, return to the migration wizard to proceed.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration

This crucial step allows you to define exactly what data you wish to transfer. You can choose to migrate all available entities or selectively pick specific data types. Common entities include:

• Products: Including SKUs, variants, descriptions, images, and pricing.
• Product Categories: Ensuring your product organization is preserved.
• Customers: Transferring customer accounts and associated details.
• Orders: Moving historical order data and statuses.
• Product Reviews: (Note: May require the AirReviews app on Shopify for full functionality).
• CMS Pages & Blogs: For content and blog posts.

Step 5: Configure Data Mapping

Data mapping is essential to ensure that your source store's data fields correspond correctly to your Shopify store's structure. During this step, you will match various attributes, such as customer groups and order statuses, from your Walmart CSV data to their equivalents in Shopify. Accurate mapping is critical for maintaining data integrity and ensuring a consistent user experience in your new store.

Step 6: Select Additional Migration Options

Enhance your migration with a range of additional options designed to optimize your new Shopify store. Consider these valuable choices:

• 301 Redirects: Automatically create redirects for your old Walmart product URLs to their new Shopify counterparts. This is vital for preserving SEO rankings and link equity, preventing broken links, and ensuring a smooth user experience.
• Preserve Order IDs: Maintain your original order numbering sequence, which can be important for record-keeping and customer service continuity. Learn more about How Preserve IDs options can be used?
• Migrate Images in Descriptions: Ensure all product images embedded within descriptions are transferred correctly.
• Clear Current Data on Target Store: If your Shopify store has existing demo data or previous imports, this option will remove it before the new data is imported. Find out more about Clear current data on Target store before migration option.

Step 7: Perform Demo and Full Migration

It is highly recommended to perform a free demo migration first. This allows you to migrate a limited number of entities (e.g., 10 products, 10 customers, 10 orders) to your Shopify store. Review the demo results thoroughly to identify any potential issues and ensure everything is transferring as expected. Once you are satisfied with the demo's outcome, you can proceed with the full migration. Consider adding Migration Insurance Service for peace of mind, allowing for future remigrations if needed.

Post-Migration Steps

Completing the data transfer is a significant achievement, but the process doesn't end there. These post-migration tasks are crucial for launching your new Shopify store successfully:

• Thorough Data Verification: Rigorously check all migrated data. Verify products (SKUs, variants, images, descriptions), customer accounts, order histories, and other content for accuracy. Ensure all images are correctly displayed and links are functional.
• Configure Shopify Settings: Set up essential store settings, including payment gateways, shipping zones, tax rules (Shopify supports multi-tax), and general store information.
• Install Essential Apps: Enhance your Shopify store's functionality by installing apps for SEO, marketing, analytics, customer support, and specific features like product reviews (e.g., AirReviews if not already set up).
• Implement 301 Redirects: If you didn't use the automated 301 redirect option during migration, set them up manually. This is critical for maintaining your SEO rankings and link equity by guiding visitors and search engines from your old Walmart URLs to your new Shopify pages.
• Update DNS Settings: Point your domain name to your new Shopify store to make it live. This step officially switches your store's online presence.
• Perform Comprehensive Testing: Conduct extensive testing of your entire store. This includes the checkout process, customer account creation and login, product search, navigation, and mobile responsiveness.
• Monitor SEO Performance: After launch, continuously monitor your SEO rankings using tools like Google Search Console. Address any sudden drops or indexing issues promptly. A successful replatforming can bring significant benefits to your website's performance.

Migrating from Walmart to Shopify is a strategic move that empowers your brand. By following these steps and leveraging a reliable migration solution, you can ensure a smooth transition, preserve your valuable data, and unlock new growth opportunities on your independent e-commerce platform. Should you encounter any challenges or require additional assistance, don't hesitate to Contact Us or refer to our Frequently Asked Questions for support.