Both PrestaShop and Magento are key platforms for e-commerce that help online stores reach their desired goals based on conversion, traffic, SEO, and sales, among others.
However, if a company expands and needs a better and stronger organization, then Magento can outperform PrestaShop.
Therefore, many e-commerce vendors seek solutions to migrate from PrestaShop to Magento.
However, migration from PrestaShop to Magento becomes troublesome, especially when you possess an enormous customer information and product data database.
Therefore, you must be aware of the steps to protect your information and make the migration successful.
Smooth migration without losing vital information is essential in maintaining business continuity and avoiding operation delays.
Using a well-planned migration strategy and automated software ensures you avoid data loss, reduce downtime, and provide hassle-free migration.
So, how do you move successfully from PrestaShop to Magento without compromising your data?
Here is an in-depth manual to lead you through the complicated migration process.
1. Ensure Proper Preparation
Before you start the migration process, you need to prepare well for it. Much like in a WooCommerce to Magento 2 migration, a proper planning assessment plays an important role in avoiding data loss and compatibility-related issues.
The first and most important thing you need to do is back up your PrestaShop store. This helps to create a backup of the most important data just in case of some errors during the migration process.
To do this, log in to your PrestaShop account and access the back-end administration site. PrestaShop has a DB backup tool for that. The Database section also has a Download the Backup File option. Download and save the file for later use.
After backing up data from PrestaShop, you will need to install Magento. Installing it will take you through five steps: prerequisites: download the magento package, set up FTP, transfer the magento archive into the hosted system with Filizilla, and run the setup wizard.
You can also consult the Magento community, a significant source of information and relevant materials during the Magento installation process. However, ensure there is no error in the process by selecting a well-skilled developer or using automation solutions.
After installing Magento, it is time to configure it. The configuration process involves setting up your Magento store, including products, and ensuring that shipping and payment methods are configured.
2. Select an ideal Migration Method
There are various methods of PrestaShop migration to Magento available based on technical needs, cost, and business goals.
You can opt for manual migration if you have in-house technical skills. Manual migration ensures total control while transferring data. It consists of the exportation of data from PrestaShop as XML or CSV.
You may also pick Automated Migration Tools. If you want a hassle-free process, tools like LitExtension and Cart2Cart provide effortless transfers. They automate product migration, order migration, customer migration, and SEO URL migration.
In addition, as a non-technical store owner, you can hire a Magento specialist to make the transition easy. They offer personalized solutions, solve compatibility problems, and ensure seamless transfer with low risks.
3. The Migration Process
Once you’ve prepared for the PrestaShop to Magento migration and chosen the best migration method, you can proceed with the actual migration process.
Choose the data types you want to migrate, confirm that they are Magento compatible, and then find other migration options.
You can initially migrate product data such as product names, descriptions, SKUs, categories, images, and stock.
With password protection, you must also transfer customer data, such as customer accounts, contacts, purchase history, and saved addresses. Migrating order history, invoices, and payments is also necessary to provide continuity to your customers.
In addition, migrating SEO and URLs is required to maintain SEO rankings with correct URL redirects and metadata consistency.
Using automated software or outsourcing professional services, all the critical data elements are correctly mapped and transferred without loss.
After importing your data from PrestaShop into Magento, you must ensure that everything has been successfully transferred and check your Magento store for missing data.
After you have verified your data, the final step is to launch your Magento store. This means making your Magento store live on your domain and available to your customers.
4. Work On the Post-migration
With the new Magento store, you can install a new theme that suits your brand identity. Over 300 templates are available from different sources, such as the Magento marketplace and third-party vendors.
You may have the theme seller do the installation for you or install a new theme yourself using their installation and guide. Selecting a good theme beautifies your store’s appearance and helps you create your brand.
Additionally, incorporating an extension in your Magento is essential. Employing third-party extensions will allow you to promote smooth shopping experiences to online customers.
You can find an excellent source of extensions within the Magento marketplace, including marketing, customer support, accounting, reporting, and sales assistance.
However, ensure you choose compatible themes and extensions. Selecting a Magento theme to match your PrestaShop design helps improve the shopping experience.
Implementing such modules can speed up your store’s performance, boost conversion rate, acquire repeat customers, enhance security, and more.
Following your shopping cart migration, you must also rename the PrestaShop domain to Magento. You can use online tools or outsource this to a professional developer.
5. Test and Verify your Magento
Once you have successfully migrated from Prestashop to Magento, you should conduct some tests to verify its functionality. The test also ensures there are no performance-related issues or missing details.
For example, you need to verify the main categories of your data, including orders, customers, and products. You should ensure that each product has been described accurately.
In addition, verify whether the price and images have been migrated and presented accurately on the website.
Apart from this, test store functionality by conducting test purchases to ensure that the checkout, payment gateways, and customer accounts are all working as they should.
Also, correct all broken URLs and links so that proper redirects are set to maintain SEO rankings and prevent 404 errors.
Seamless testing ensures your Magento store functions perfectly well prior to launch day. Now, after all the tests that all the process functions like a breeze, you can successfully launch your Magento store.
Wrapping Up
Migration from PrestaShop to Magento is a business move to achieve scalability, security, and performance optimization.
Achieving the migration ensures data integrity and prevents data loss during migration time, ensuring a bug-free transition process.
Whether you choose manual migration, automated tools, or professional services, adhering to a systematic approach reduces risks and increases efficiency.
