Migrating an Online Store to PrestaShop: Frequently Asked Questions

By definition, e-commerce migration refers to moving your online store from your current platform to another one. It is a complex, multi-step process that includes transferring store data (transfer) such as products, categories, customer data, orders, reviews, SEO settings, and other key elements. The goal of migration is to change the e-commerce platform to improve store functionality, increase performance, and provide better flexibility and scalability. Migration can be motivated by various factors, including cost optimization or the desire to enhance user experience (UX), introduce new features, improve store management, or boost search engine rankings. Migrating to the PrestaShop e-commerce platform allows for the implementation of a new online store and access to advanced tools and modules offered by this platform. This supports further business development and online optimization.

This process often raises many questions. For many business owners, the decision to switch to PrestaShop and launch a new, improved version of their website is a key step in their business growth. Contrary to appearances, with a competent migration agency, moving an online store from another e-commerce platform (such as Shoper, Shoplo, RedCart, Selly, Magento, or WooCommerce) to PrestaShop is not difficult. It is possible to transfer almost all data—both customer and order data, as well as technical and SEO data—without loss. As a result, the migration effects will be entirely positive, which will certainly benefit your online business.

In this article, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about migrating your store to PrestaShop to help you make an informed decision and carry out the entire process without stress, difficulties, or negative consequences.

Benefits of Migrating an Online Store to PrestaShop

What Makes PrestaShop Stand Out Compared to Other E-commerce Platforms?

PrestaShop is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, known for its flexibility, scalability, and rich features. Its open-source code allows entrepreneurs to customize the store to their specific needs. Additionally, PrestaShop offers a wide range of modules and templates, making it easy to expand the store’s functionality.

What Are the Benefits of Migrating an Online Store to PrestaShop?

Migrating to PrestaShop offers numerous advantages, including:

• Better scalability: Ability to grow the store alongside your business growth.
• Greater flexibility: A rich ecosystem of modules and add-ons.
• More effective store management: Thanks to its advanced system and flexible approach, you can tailor the platform to your individual needs.
• Technical optimization: The PrestaShop engine comes equipped with numerous useful solutions and features. It is also optimized for technical performance, including loading speed optimization (Google Speed Insights). Smooth store performance combined with dynamic growth is the foundation of success!
• Better SEO optimization: Advanced tools for optimizing the store for search engines.
• Community support: A large and active community of users and developers contributes to the dynamic growth and support of the platform.
• Lower store operating costs: Compared to subscription-based solutions, PrestaShop is almost cost-free. You do not incur any recurring fees for using it.
• Store security: The platform is very secure and compliant with all standards. The fact that many of the largest companies rely on it is a testament to its reliability.

We understand that choosing an e-commerce platform is never easy. We want to help you with this decision. Did you know that Astrabit is an official, certified PrestaShop expert? This means we know the system inside and out. If there are any specific areas or functionalities of the system that you are unsure about, we are happy to clarify them. We are open to meetings where we can discuss your needs and match them with PrestaShop’s capabilities. We want you to be confident that migrating your online store will positively impact your business.

How to Prepare for the Migration Process – E-commerce Migration Strategy

What Steps Should Be Taken Before Starting the Migration?

Before starting the process, it is worth thoroughly planning the entire migration and setting a clear strategy. Here are some key stages (forming the migration checklist) that should be followed to properly migrate your online store:

1. Choosing the e-commerce platform: This is the first and fundamental step in determining the stages of migration. You must make a firm decision about which e-commerce platform best meets your expectations and optimizes areas that you are dissatisfied with on your current platform. As mentioned above, PrestaShop is an excellent solution for most businesses—small, medium, and large e-commerce operations. The benefits include both lower costs and greater functionality. However, it is up to you to decide if this is the direction you want to take.

2. Choosing a migration agency and launching the new store: While it is technically possible to perform the migration yourself, it is far safer to do this with a professional agency. Beyond data migration, you will also need to set up the new store on the PrestaShop platform. While you can migrate your current store’s visual design 1:1, this is the perfect opportunity to refresh the store’s layout. Therefore, selecting the right migration agency is crucial. Your partner should be experienced, knowledgeable, and flexible enough to handle any potential issues.
3. Analyzing your current store: Prepare a detailed migration checklist—listing all elements that will be migrated, such as products, categories, customers, orders, etc. At this stage, also consider the complexity of product pages (such as multi-variant products or configurators). Additionally, list all existing integrations, modules, and custom functionalities as part of the pre-implementation analysis.
4. Creating a project for PrestaShop: As mentioned, migrating store data to another platform is the perfect time to refresh the website. It is worth preparing a PrestaShop project that includes all necessary modules and templates. You can create this design internally with your designer or outsource it to the migration agency.
5. Data backup: Perform a full backup of your current store to ensure complete data migration. This will reduce migration risks and the potential for data loss. Usually, the agency handling the migration will take care of this for you.

The above steps form the basic migration checklist. However, a deeper perspective is needed for full planning to avoid potential migration errors. If you decide to proceed, you and your agency should work together to create your own checklist as the foundation for a successful migration.

Migrating Store Data – What Data Can Be Migrated to PrestaShop?

During the migration of an online store to PrestaShop, you can transfer nearly all data from the existing store. This is crucial to ensure business continuity and minimize disruptions for customers. Here is a detailed list of the data that can be migrated:

Products and Categories

Migrating the entire product catalog is one of the most important migration steps. This includes:

• Product information: Names, descriptions, prices, SKUs, stock levels.
• Product attributes: Sizes, colors, variants, weight, dimensions.
• Categories: Category structure, product-to-category assignments, category descriptions.
• Images and media: Product images, galleries, multimedia files linked to products.

Customers and Contact Information

Migrating customer data is essential for maintaining purchase history and enhancing customer relationships. This includes:

• Contact data: First and last names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping and billing addresses.
• Accounts and login data: Customer accounts, encrypted passwords, login credentials.
• Customer segmentation: Customer groups, newsletter subscription preferences, discounts and promotions linked to specific customers.

Orders and Purchase History

Maintaining purchase history is important for accounting and customer service. This includes:

• Orders: Order numbers, dates, order statuses, product details, prices.
• Invoices and payments: Invoice details, payment statuses, payment methods used by customers.
• Order history: Chronological list of orders, details of each transaction, order change history.

Reviews and Product Ratings

Migrating reviews and product ratings helps maintain store credibility and customer trust. This includes:

• Reviews: Review content, ratings, publication dates, reviews linked to specific products.
• Customer comments: Customer comments, replies to reviews, average product ratings.

SEO Settings

Migrating SEO settings helps maintain your store’s search rankings. Previously implemented SEO optimization will carry over to the new PrestaShop store. This includes:

• Metadata: Meta titles, meta descriptions, meta keywords for products, categories, and pages.
• URLs: URL structure, 301 redirects from previous URLs to new ones.
• SEO content: SEO descriptions, image alt tags, canonical settings.
• Redirect map: If the URL structure changes, create a 301 redirect map to preserve search engine rankings.

Other Data

Migration can also include other important store components such as:

• Information pages: “About Us,” “Contact,” “Privacy Policy,” “Terms of Service” pages.
• Blog: Blog articles, blog categories, tags, comments.
• Store settings: Payment configurations, shipping methods, currency settings, tax zones.
• Analytics data: Sales statistics, reports, traffic analytics.

Migrating all this store content ensures that your new PrestaShop store operates smoothly from day one, retaining all critical information and settings from the previous system. This minimizes migration risks and allows you to focus on growing your business with a solid foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Store Migration

What Steps Should Be Taken After the Migration?

After completing the e-commerce migration process, it is important to take several key steps to ensure that the new store operates correctly and to eliminate any potential negative effects of the migration:

1. Data verification: Ensure that all data has been correctly transferred and is complete. Verify products, categories, customers, orders, and other key elements to confirm the migration was successful.
2. Functional testing: Test all store features such as checkout, customer login, payments, shipping, product filters, search functionality, etc. Make sure everything works as expected.
3. New system testing: Comprehensive testing of the new system is crucial to ensure everything operates as intended. This includes:
   • Load testing: Verify that the new store can handle high traffic and that the server infrastructure can support increased demand.
   • Security testing: Ensure there are no security vulnerabilities and that the store is protected against potential threats.
   • Compatibility testing: Ensure the store functions correctly across various devices and browsers, both desktop and mobile.
   • User testing: Invite users to test the store and provide feedback or suggestions for improving functionality and usability.
4. SEO optimization: Adjust SEO settings to ensure good search visibility. Verify that meta titles, descriptions, keywords, and URLs are properly transferred and optimized. Implement 301 redirects to preserve SEO rankings and avoid 404 errors.
5. Customer communication: Inform your customers about the migration and any changes that may affect them. Send emails about the new store design, features, and benefits. Reassure customers that their data is safe and migrated according to the highest standards.
6. Monitoring: Regularly monitor the store’s performance and address any issues promptly. Use analytics tools to track traffic, user behavior, conversions, and other key performance indicators. Make necessary adjustments and optimizations as needed.
7. Updates and support: Keep the store, modules, and templates updated to maintain security and functionality. Stay current with PrestaShop updates and new features. Ensure you have access to technical support to quickly address any problems.

Once all of the above steps are completed and verified, the migration process can be considered successful. However, it is recommended to continue monitoring the store and its components closely for a period to ensure stable and correct operation.

What Are the Best Practices for Managing a New Store on PrestaShop?

To effectively manage your new store on PrestaShop, follow these best practices:

• Regular updates: Keep the PrestaShop platform, modules, and templates up to date. Updates often include security fixes and new features that can significantly improve store performance and functionality.
• Performance optimization: Monitor store performance and implement optimizations to ensure fast page loading. Use caching, CDN (Content Delivery Network), and optimized images to enhance store speed.
• SEO maintenance: Continue SEO efforts to maintain good search rankings. Regularly update meta titles, descriptions, keywords, and website content. Create valuable content to drive organic traffic. If you remove pages, ensure proper 301 redirects are in place.
• Data analysis: Use analytics tools to monitor traffic and customer behavior to tailor your offerings. Track metrics such as conversions, bounce rate, average session duration, and other key performance indicators. You can use PrestaShop statistics, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or our proprietary SalesBit sales management tool.
• Customer relationship management: Communicate regularly with customers through email marketing, social media, and other channels. Offer promotions, discounts, and loyalty programs to increase customer engagement and encourage repeat business.
• Security: Ensure store security by performing regular updates, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and implementing other security measures. Perform regular backups so you can quickly restore your store in case of an emergency.

Implementing these steps after completing the migration will ensure that your new PrestaShop store operates efficiently and smoothly, providing an excellent shopping experience for your customers.

Migration Cost

The cost of migrating an online store to PrestaShop can vary significantly depending on several factors. Here are a few elements that affect the total migration cost:

1. Store size: The larger the store, the more data needs to be transferred. The number of products, customers, orders, and the complexity of the category structure all influence the time and complexity of the migration. Professional agencies ensure the safe import of all data to the new platform so that nothing is lost.
2. Scope of migration: Migration may involve anything from basic data transfer to complete customization of functionality, integrations with external systems, modules, and templates. The broader the scope, the higher the cost.
3. Complexity of the current platform: Migration from some platforms is more complex than from others. For example, migrating from a custom-built platform or an older system may require more effort than migrating from a popular e-commerce platform.
4. Customization: Tailoring the store to specific business needs (such as unique modules, features, templates, or integrations with ERP, CRM, or inventory systems) increases the migration cost.
5. Testing and optimization: The cost also includes time spent testing the new store, optimizing SEO, improving performance, and ensuring that all features work correctly.
6. Technical support: Professional technical support, both during and after the migration, is crucial. The cost depends on the level of support and its duration.

The estimated cost of migrating an online store to PrestaShop can start from several thousand PLN for basic services. For more complex projects, the cost can reach several tens of thousands PLN. However, this investment always pays off through better functionality, greater flexibility, and improved scalability of the store, leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

Each migration project is unique, so it is worth consulting professionals to obtain an accurate estimate tailored to your business needs and migration strategy.

Summary

Migrating an online store to PrestaShop may seem like a complex process, but proper preparation and awareness of potential challenges can greatly simplify it. With PrestaShop, you gain a flexible, scalable, and functional platform that will support the growth of your e-commerce business. Working with official PrestaShop migration experts ensures a smooth and seamless process, giving you confidence that your data is secure and that your new store will perform flawlessly from day one. If you are looking for an official PrestaShop Expert to handle your store migration to this platform, feel free to contact us. We are on the list of authorized experts, so you can be sure that we know what we’re doing and will perform the migration safely and professionally.