YoKart to PrestaShop Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Seamlessly Migrate Your Store from YoKart to PrestaShop: A Comprehensive Guide

As your e-commerce business grows, the need for a more robust and flexible platform often arises. Transitioning from YoKart to PrestaShop can unlock significant capabilities, offering greater control, extensive customization, and access to a vast ecosystem of modules and themes. While YoKart provides a solid foundation for marketplaces, PrestaShop excels in providing a powerful, open-source solution for single-vendor stores with vast scalability.

This detailed guide will walk you through the entire process of moving your store data, including products, customers, orders, and more, from YoKart to PrestaShop. Since YoKart's data export capabilities are typically based on CSV files, our migration strategy will leverage this method to ensure a smooth and efficient data transfer to your new PrestaShop store.

1. Prerequisites for a Successful Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, thorough preparation is key to a seamless transition. Ensure you have the following in place:

• YoKart Data Export: You will need to export all relevant data from your YoKart store into CSV files. This typically includes data for products, categories, customers, orders, and any other entities you wish to move. Prepare these files for upload.
• New PrestaShop Store: Have a fresh installation of PrestaShop ready on your hosting server. Ensure you have full administrative access (admin URL, username, and password) to your PrestaShop backend.
• Hosting Environment: Verify that your hosting environment meets PrestaShop's requirements and has sufficient resources to handle your store's size and expected traffic.
• Backup Your Data: Always perform a complete backup of your existing YoKart store data and database before starting any migration process. This safeguards your information in case of unforeseen issues.
• PrestaShop Plugin: The Cart2Cart Universal PrestaShop Migration module is required for connecting to your PrestaShop store. While the connection method is 'Bridge only', this module facilitates its installation and setup.

For more detailed information on preparing your platforms, refer to our FAQs: How to prepare Source store for migration? and How to prepare Target store for migration?

2. Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps using the migration wizard to transfer your e-commerce data from YoKart to PrestaShop.

Step 2.1: Start Your Migration Process

Begin by accessing the migration wizard. You'll be presented with options to start a do-it-yourself migration, request assistance, or calculate costs. Choose the DIY option to proceed.

The first step will be to select your Source Cart and Target Cart.

Step 2.2: Configure Your YoKart Source Store (via CSV)

Since YoKart data is typically exported as CSV files, you will select 'CSV File to Cart' as your Source Cart type in the migration wizard. You will then upload your prepared CSV files containing your YoKart store's data. This method allows for a comprehensive transfer of entities such as:

• Products, including SKUs and variants
• Products Categories and Manufacturers
• Customer data and details
• Orders and Invoices
• Taxes and Coupons
• CMS Pages and Blogs/Blog Posts

For detailed guidance on preparing your CSV files, consult our CSV.File Data Migration guide.

Step 2.3: Set Up Your PrestaShop Target Store

Next, select 'PrestaShop' as your Target Cart. Provide the Admin URL for your new PrestaShop store. To establish the connection, you will need to upload a Connection Bridge. This involves downloading a bridge file, extracting the 'bridge2cart' folder, and then uploading it to the root directory of your PrestaShop installation via FTP or your hosting panel. This is required because PrestaShop's connection method is 'Bridge only'.

The root directory is the main folder where your PrestaShop files reside. This Connection Bridge facilitates secure communication between your source data and the PrestaShop platform. Rest assured, providing access details is secure; read more here: Is it safe to provide your company with my access details?

Step 2.4: Select Data Entities for Transfer

In this crucial step, you choose exactly which types of data you want to transfer from your YoKart CSV files to PrestaShop. You can opt to migrate 'All entities' with a single click or meticulously select specific items like:

• Products (including images, descriptions, SKUs, and other product-related metadata)
• Product Categories, Manufacturers, and Reviews
• Customers and their associated groups
• Orders, Invoices, and order statuses
• Taxes, Coupons, and CMS Pages

Step 2.5: Configure Additional Migration Options

Enhance your data transfer with a range of additional options designed to optimize your new PrestaShop store:

• Clear Target Store Data: Select this option if you want to remove any existing demo data from your PrestaShop installation before the migration begins. (Learn more)
• Preserve IDs: Maintain original Product, Category, Customer, and Order IDs. This is highly recommended for maintaining data integrity and for internal record-keeping. (Explore ID preservation)
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensure product and category images embedded within descriptions are transferred correctly.
• Password Migration: Securely transfer customer passwords, allowing existing users to log into their accounts on the new PrestaShop store without resetting.
• Create 301 SEO URLs: Automatically generate 301 redirects for your old store URLs to the new PrestaShop URLs. This is vital for preserving your existing SEO rankings and link equity, preventing broken links, and maintaining a positive user experience. Note: SEO options are excluded for blogs due to PrestaShop's limitations.
• Multi-tax Allowed: Leverage PrestaShop's robust tax handling capabilities, mirroring your source store's multi-tax configurations.

Step 2.6: Map Your Data Fields

This step ensures that your YoKart data fields align perfectly with PrestaShop's structure. You'll map crucial elements such as customer groups and order statuses from your source store to their corresponding equivalents in PrestaShop. This precise data mapping prevents inconsistencies and ensures that customer roles and order lifecycles are accurately reflected in your new platform.

Step 2.7: Perform a Demo Migration (Recommended)

Before committing to a full data transfer, run a free demo migration. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10 products, 10 customers, 10 orders) to your PrestaShop store. The demo serves as a critical preview, enabling you to:

• Verify data integrity and accuracy on the target platform.
• Familiarize yourself with the migration process.
• Identify and resolve any potential issues before the full migration.

Step 2.8: Initiate Full Data Migration

Once you are satisfied with the demo results, you can proceed with the full data migration. Review all selected entities and options, and finalize the payment. Consider adding Migration Insurance Service, which offers additional remigrations if needed. This step will transfer all your selected data from your YoKart CSV files to your new PrestaShop store.

For those preferring expert assistance, our Ultimate Data Migration Service provides comprehensive support throughout the process.

3. Post-Migration Steps

After your data has successfully been transferred to PrestaShop, a few critical steps remain to ensure your store is fully functional and optimized:

• Thorough Data Verification: Systematically check all migrated data:
  • Products: Confirm product details, images, prices, SKUs, and variants.
  • Customers: Verify customer accounts, addresses, and order history. Test login for a few customer accounts.
  • Orders: Review order details, statuses, and associated invoices.
  • Content: Check CMS pages, blog posts, and reviews for correct formatting and display.
• Test Store Functionality: Perform comprehensive testing of your PrestaShop store. This includes:
  • User registration and login.
  • Adding products to the cart and completing the checkout process.
  • Payment gateway integration.
  • Shipping calculations.
  • Contact forms and other interactive elements.
• Update DNS and SEO:
• Update your Domain Name System (DNS) records to point to your new PrestaShop store.
• Verify that 301 redirects are working correctly to preserve your SEO rankings and link equity.
• Monitor your website's performance and search engine visibility closely after the switch.
• Install Essential Modules and Themes: Explore the PrestaShop Addons Marketplace to install themes for your desired design and modules for additional functionality (e.g., marketing, security, analytics).
• Ongoing Optimization: Regularly optimize your PrestaShop store for speed, security, and user experience.
• Consider Deactivating YoKart: Once you are completely confident in your PrestaShop store, you can safely deactivate or remove your old YoKart instance.

By following these steps, you can confidently transition your e-commerce operations from YoKart to PrestaShop, setting the stage for future growth and enhanced online presence. If you encounter any challenges or require further assistance, our team is always ready to help. Contact Us for expert support.