Ecommerce Platform migration and replatforming have become important strategies for businesses aiming to enhance their online presence, optimize performance, and unlock new growth opportunities in 2023.
In this blog, we will delve into the world of ecommerce platform migration and replatforming, providing you with a comprehensive guide for navigating this complex process in 2023.
We will explore the reasons why ecommerce businesses choose to replatform, the statistics that shed light on the current landscape, and the different ecommerce platforms and types to consider.
By the end of this blog, you will have a good understanding of ecommerce platform migration and replatforming, empowering you to make informed decisions for your business’s digital future.
What is Ecommerce Platform Migration?
The process of moving an online store or e-commerce platform from one technology or system to another is known as “Ecommerce Migration.”
It involves migrating all of the required data, features, and design elements from the existing platform to the new one.
Are you ready to revolutionize your product information management?
Sign up for Apimio PIM and experience the power of centralized, streamlined product information management.
What are the Reasons to Begin Ecommerce Platform Migration?
The goal of ecommerce platform migration is to make the online store better in several ways;
- Improving the user experience
- Increasing performance and scalability
- Adding new features and functionalities
- Resolving issues or limitations with the current platform
What are the Types of Ecommerce Migration and Replatforming
There are three primary methods of ecommerce migration and replatforming. Here we have listed them down;
1. Platform-to-Platform Migration
This type of migration involves switching from one monolithic ecommerce solution to another that offers more advanced features, integrations, or scalability.
It could involve transitioning between different types of platforms, such as moving from a self-hosted solution like Magento or BigCommerce to a cloud-based platform like Shopify Plus.
2. Phased Migration
With phased migration, businesses opt to transition their online store in stages rather than executing a full-scale migration all at once.
This approach allows for a more gradual and controlled transition, minimizing disruption and allowing for careful testing and adjustment.
For example, a business might begin by migrating their content management system (CMS) while keeping other elements of their existing tech stack intact.
3. Monolithic to Microservices
This method involves adopting a microservices architecture where different platforms and third-party applications are layered on top of each other to handle specific components of the customer or product journey.
This approach offers greater flexibility and modularity, allowing businesses to adapt and scale different parts of their ecommerce ecosystem independently.
It is particularly relevant for ecommerce stores operating under a headless commerceWhat is Headless Commerce? Headless commerce allows companies to become more agile by separating the front end and back end of their e-commerce experience. What are... More model, where the front and backend are separated for more seamless integration with multiple touchpoints.
What are E-commerce site migration statistics?
Migration has emerged as a pressing priority as businesses acknowledge the need of modernizing their e-commerce platforms.
Let’s look at some interesting statistics that show why businesses are moving to e-commerce sites and how important it is to get there.
1. The Urgency for Migration
Due to issues with outdated systems, 67% of respondents to a Deloitte survey identified ecommerce platforms as a top investment priority.
Digital Commerce 360 found that 61% of B2B ecommerce sellers and 18% of retailers are actively looking to switch commerce platforms within the next year.
2. Size of the Market and User Behavior
The web-based business stage market is projected to reach $7.4 billion by 2023, mirroring the critical interest around here.
58.4% of working-age web clients internationally make online buys consistently, showing a developing interest in web-based shopping.
Concerned about potential challenges and risks of ecommerce migration?
Don’t worry, Apimio’s experienced team of professionals is here to guide you every step of the way.
3. Significance of Versatile and Installment Choices
Since mobile devices account for 61% of e-commerce traffic, platforms that offer the best user experiences across devices are essential.
By 2024, digital and mobile wallets will account for half of all e-commerce payment transactions worldwide.
4. Problems with the Conversion Process
In 2022, the average reported rate of cart abandonment will be 69.99%.
Slow-loading websites, complex checkout processes, and website errors or crashes contribute to cart abandonment issues.
Web-based business destinations can accomplish a 35% increment in transformation rates by enhancing their checkout plan.
5. Cost and Resources Considerations
Although migration can be expensive, with 29% of respondents anticipating costs between $100,000 and $500,000, the benefits in the long run frequently outweigh the initial investment.
Legitimate preparation and a professional movement system can assist with overseeing costs and limit disturbance.
What does an Ecommerce Platform Migration look like?
While the specific details of an ecommerce platform migration can vary based on a company’s complexity and size, a few general steps are usually taken to ensure a smooth transition.
Let’s take a closer look at the key stages of an e-commerce platform migration;
1. Gathering Partners
Explain the limitations and challenges of the current platform to key stakeholders and decision-makers.
Find out what problems, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement a new platform can solve.
2. Purchasing a New E-Commerce Platform
Investigate the various e-commerce platforms on the market by conducting research.
Assess potential sellers in view of highlights, customizations, reconciliations, versatility, security, and backing.
Arrange exploratory calls with shortlisted platforms to pose appropriate inquiries and gather necessary data.
3. Arranging the Migration
Define the migration project’s work scope, timeline, and milestones.
Distinguish specific sub-activities, for example, satisfied relocation, front-end configuration, back-end improvement, Website optimization arranging, and data migration.
Collaborate with an agency partner or solution provider to determine the required resources and get direction.
4. Planning and Fostering the New Online Business Webpage
Draw in planners and designers to make the front-end and back-finish of the new online business site.
Ensure a smooth transition by migrating data from the existing platform to the new website.
Make use of this phase to make the changes and enhancements to the user experience and design that you want to make.
5. Advancing the Checkout Experience
Alter and streamline the checkout interaction to further develop speed, security, and client stream.
Implement third-party checkout apps and ensure that the user experience satisfies customer requirements and best practices.
6. Conducting an SEO Review before launching
Optimize metadata and schema markups, get rid of old or duplicate content, and conduct an audit of the content that is already there.
Create a comprehensive plan for redirecting the page to ensure a smooth transition and minimize the impact on SEO.
Screen natural traffic, search rankings, and specialized website design enhancement angles when send off.
7. Testing
Test the website’s functionality, performance, navigation, and checkout experience thoroughly.
Perform performance audits to check for speed and usability issues and ensure that pages load quickly.
Consider beta testing with select customers to discover and address any remaining issues, and gather feedback from internal stakeholders.
8. Launching the Site
Plan the lunch window to limit interruption to clients and direction with your office or solution partners.
Follow a launch checklist to make sure that all of the necessary tasks are done in the right order.
Why do Ecommerce Businesses Replatform?
Replatforming is done by e-commerce businesses to address issues like poor site performance, missing functionality, difficulties with maintenance, and limitations in scalability.
Additionally, they replatform for benefits such as enhanced analytics, modern integrations, improved customer experience, and convenience.
Moreover, a desire to take advantage of new opportunities for growth and innovation drives the decision to replatform.
Types of E-commerce Platforms to Consider
There are three primary types of ecommerce platforms to consider: On-premise, cloud, and SaaS solutions.
Before making a decision, it is essential to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each type.
1. SaaS (Programming as a Help)
Third-party vendors offer subscription-based solutions as SaaS ecommerce platforms. Organizations pay a repetitive charge to utilize the stage without expecting to maintain or keep up with their own framework.
Lower costs, the absence of dedicated technical staff, access to ongoing support, scalability, security compliance, extensive integrations, and automatic updates are among the advantages of SaaS platforms.
An important example of a SaaS e-commerce platform is Shopify Plus.
2. On-premise
E-commerce platforms built and hosted on-premise are built and hosted within a company’s infrastructure. The internal or external development teams are in charge of development and maintenance.
Complete control over code and hardware, highly customized optimizations, and security control are all advantages of on-premise solutions.
On the other hand, on-premise platforms need to pay a lot of money upfront and on a regular basis.
These costs include the cost of the infrastructure, salaries for technical staff, and relying on internal resources for performance, security, and scalability.
3. Cloud
SaaS and on-premise solutions are combined in cloud e-commerce platforms. Through infrastructure as a service (IaaS) providers like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, businesses can host their e-commerce websites in the cloud.
While they actually need to create and keep up with the center online business stage, they benefit from staying away from framework costs, simple adaptability during busy times, and utilizing the security given by significant IaaS suppliers.
Cloud arrangements offer adaptability for customizations, highlights, and client experience. However, they still involve licensing fees for the IaaS infrastructure and a technical team.
What to Consider while Creating Ecommerce Platform Migration Plan?
A comprehensive ecommerce platform migration strategy is essential to the project’s success. If you don’t plan well, you might encounter problems, go over your time and money limits, and harm your business.
Here is the list of five essential considerations you can concentrate on to guarantee a smooth transition;
1. Check out what your company needs
Gain a detailed understanding of your business’s current and future necessities for the new web-based business platform. In order to get their input, include all important stakeholders.
Create a plan for any necessary upgrades, identify your objectives, and evaluate the limitations and costs of your current platform.
2. Create an RFP (Request for Proposals)
Create an RFP to describe your company’s plans and needs for the new platform. This internal document will direct your discussions with vendors and helps you in conducting an objective evaluation of potential solutions.
Include details about the migration’s timeline, objectives, peak volumes, current procedures, strategy for international commerce, necessary integrations, and operating costs.
3. Determine the entire ownership cost
Assess the all-out cost of ownership for each ecommerce business platform under consideration.
Consider additional investments like infrastructure, personnel, traffic surcharges, hosting, security, testing, customization, and ongoing maintenance in addition to the initial purchase price.
Learn about the price differences between on-premise, cloud, and SaaS solutions.
4. Recognize necessary integrations
Take a look at the technologies you currently employ and choose the ones that need to be integrated with the new e-commerce platform.
Take into consideration marketing automation, CRM, and ERP systems. Examine joining abilities with potential internet business accomplices, including out-of-the-container choices and any extra work or speculation required.
Assess your general tech stack and conclude what ought to be moved and what can be eliminated.
5. Plan the data transfer
An important step in the e-commerce replatforming process is migrating data.
Choose the best approach to transferring your customer and product data, such as using data transfer apps, and APIs, or manually importing CSV files.
Before beginning the transfer, back up your data and think about implementing a delta migration for busy sites to accommodate new customers and orders during the transition.
Finally, make sure that the right people are involved. Participant selection should be deliberate to avoid confusion and ensure clear responsibilities.
This might incorporate interior partners, platform accomplices, showcasing and IT groups, organizations, and movement advisors.
A dedicated project manager can ensure a coordinated effort and help keep everything on track.
What’s the checklist for E-commerce Migration and Replatforming?
Here is a simplified checklist for ecommerce migration and replatforming:
1. Examine the current system
Conduct a thorough audit of your existing ecommerce platform, identifying any issues and limitations.
2. Get stakeholders involved
Gather key internal stakeholders and explain the reasons for the migration, ensuring their understanding and support.
3. Define your company’s needs
Define your company’s needs and long-term objectives for the new e-commerce platform in detail.
4. Request for proposal (RFP)
Make an RFP or proactively assess potential online business answers to track down the best fit for your business.
5. Migration planning
Create a pre-launch strategy that addresses a variety of topics, such as the migration of data and content, organization, page creation, site navigation, design, responsiveness, integrations, staff training, and more.
6. SEO strategy
Make a plan for SEO that takes technical considerations, redirect mapping, benchmarking traffic and key performance indicators (KPIs), keeping an eye on post-launch metrics, and strategies for dealing with problems like 404 errors, traffic drops, and changes in rankings into account.
7. Preparation for launch
Create a comprehensive launch strategy that includes;
- Extensive testing of the website’s functionality
- A specific launch time
- The identification of individuals accountable for the launch and resolution of issues
- Adjusting TTL settings for quick propagation
- Launching via DNS
- Securing the previous store during DNS changes
Create a plan of action in case something goes wrong.
8. Post-Launch Activities
Execute a post-launch plan that includes;
- Observing and testing checkout functionality
- Email affirmations and warnings
- Examination and revealing
- Specialized Web optimization inspecting
- Continuous traffic and positioning checking
- Confirmation of email joins and downloadable resources
- Guaranteeing the use of client streams for downloads and bulletin information exchanges
Conclusion
Ecommerce platform migration and replatforming are complex processes that require careful planning, thorough evaluation, and effective execution. Failing to plan properly can lead to costly mistakes, delays, and negative impacts on your business.
With proper planning and execution, your business can transition to a new ecommerce platform smoothly, enabling growth and success in the digital marketplace.
What to do next?
- Revolutionize your product information management strategy and skyrocket your online sales with Apimio PIM – Sign up now
- Read more about our Product Information related Guides here.
- Contact our support or comment your thoughts under the blog section if you have any further questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning is important because it helps you identify your business needs, set clear goals, and address any limitations or issues with your current platform.
Key stakeholders should include internal teams, platform partners, marketing and IT teams, agencies, and migration consultants if necessary.
While each e-commerce platform migration is unique, the following are the most typical steps:
1. Gathering stakeholders
2. Defining business requirements
3. Searching for a new platform
4. Performing an SEO audit before the launch
5. Testing the website
Some common challenges include data loss, downtime, customer experience disruptions, SEO impact, and integration issues.
