Best Magento 2 Data Migration Tools:

Tips for Trouble-Free Magento Migration

Magento migration can often be a tough decision. However, it is crucial to maintain your website’s excellent performance, security, usability, and high search engine ranking. But how can you complete Magento 2 data migration without any issue? It is important to take care of all parameters of your online store during the data transfer and keep numerous technical aspects in mind.

In this post, you will find the answers to the following questions:

• What is Magento data migration?
• What are the top solutions for Magento data migration?
• How do you use the Magento Data Migration Tools?
• What are the most common Magento 2 after-data migration issues and solutions?

What Is Magento 2 Data Migration?

Data migration is the process of transferring all your website’s assets, including products, customer data, and order history to the latest version of Magento 2 platform. The process of transferring data is one of the most important steps of Magento migration.

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Magento 2 Migration Guide

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Most merchants find the process of Magento data migration challenging, but we hope our tips will be useful for you.

Types of data that can be transferred during Magento migration

The first thing you need to know is the types of data you will need to transfer. So, here is a list of data that should be successfully moved.

Products

One of the biggest volumes of data that should be migrated is related to products. This means that Magento database migration will include the following:

• Product data. This includes product names, descriptions, prices, SKU (Stock Keeping Unit), and meta information.
• Product attributes. Custom attributes such as size, color, and material.
• Product images. All associated images for the products.
• Inventory data. Stock levels, inventory statuses, and warehouse locations.
• Product categories. Categories and subcategories that organize the products.
• Reviews and ratings. Customer reviews and ratings for products.

Customers

One of the most valuable data of any e-commerce store is the information about its customers. Therefore, the following information should also be carefully moved:

• Customer accounts. Customer names and email addresses.
• Customer addresses. Billing and shipping addresses.
• Customer groups. Groups of customers segmented by pricing, discounts, special offers, etc.
• Newsletter subscribers. List of customers and guests subscribed to newsletters along with their unique preferences.

Sales data

Any e-commerce website is like a living organism with its constant activities. There is no perfect time for Magento 2 data migration because you will always have some orders waiting for approval, invoices to be paid, and other common commercial activities. Anyway, you will need to transfer the historic and current data on:

• Orders. Order information, including order numbers, statuses, dates, and totals.
• Invoices. Invoice details associated with each order.
• Shipments. Shipment data, including tracking numbers and shipping methods.
• Credit memos. Data related to refunds and returns.
• Transaction data. Payment methods, transaction IDs, and other related information.
• Promotions and discounts. Rules and conditions for discounts applied to shopping carts, existing coupon codes, and directly to products in the catalog.

SEO settings

SEO is a unique complex of measures, tools, and settings that make your e-commerce website hit Google search rankings. Therefore, it is important to transfer data related to search engine optimization, including meta titles and descriptions for products, categories, and other pages.

Well, there is plenty of work to do and massive loads of data to transfer. However, if you follow some basic tips, you will likely complete the process much easier. You can use the checklist above as a hint for successful migration, which will not let you forget any important step.

Before You Start Magento 2 Data Migration Process

To migrate data, you need to create a detailed plan to make sure the process will be smooth and error-free. Before you start choosing a handy Magento data migration tool, make sure to complete the following pre-migration activities.

Backup your data

First of all, it is crucial to back up your target store’s database. This means you need to back up all your files, folders, and the database itself. This approach will help you not to lose any data if something goes wrong during migration. All the backups are usually stored in the var/backups directory, so you can revert undesirable changes anytime.

Audit your current store’s data

Before using any Magento migration tool, it is important to perform a detailed audit of your e-commerce website. You will need to evaluate the current store’s theme, customizations, and extensions and check whether they are essential and compatible with Magento 2. It is better to delete the data you don’t plan to use, including unused products, attributes, and categories. This solution will allow you to streamline your data transfer process.

Magento Data Migration: Top Third-Party Tools to Use

Now, it’s time to choose a Magento 2 data migration tool. The right tool will ensure that your store’s data is transferred seamlessly, minimizing downtime and preserving critical information. If you need to migrate from Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, and dozens of other popular platforms, you have a wide choice of data migration tools.

Automated data migration tools are developed to help you successfully transfer data from any platform to your new Magento 2 store. These apps don’t require an advanced technical background and can perform the entire process of data transfer for you. However, the migration process is complicated and consists of multiple steps, so it is better to check all the settings, configurations, and crucial parameters before and after migration. Here are the most helpful tools you can use in 2024.

Cart2Cart

Cart2Cart is one of the popular Magento data migration services developed for the seamless transfer of data between different e-commerce platforms. It allows migration from dozens of the most common platforms, including Magento, BigCommerce, Shopify, Volusion, Wix, OpenCart, DrupalCommerce, and others. The platform’s main features are the following:

• Supports the transfer of various data types, including products, customers, orders, categories, reviews, and more
• The migration process runs without affecting your live store’s performance. It has zero downtime and guarantees uninterrupted business operations
• Allows you to customize your migration process and select specific data to transfer, apply filters, and map data fields
• Implements advanced encryption methods and secure data transfer protocols
• Provides post-migration services and can help you with any issues that may occur after the migration

LitExtension

LitExtension is ready to give you a helping hand when it comes to different types of data migration. The service supports over 100 different e-commerce platforms, so you can easily migrate from almost any platform to your new Magento 2 store. You can use the data migration tool and get the following benefits:

• Perform a demo migration to test the service and see how your online store’s data will be transferred before committing to a full data transfer
• Use an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that will guide you through the migration process step-by-step
• Select one of the migration insurance plans to cover any potential issues or additional migration needs
• Preserve your SEO settings, including URLs, meta titles, and descriptions, during the transition

All these Magento data migration services are third-party platforms with paid plans and features.

Manual data migration: Magento Data Migration Tool

The most important thing is that the Magento Data Migration Tool can help you migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2. Therefore, it doesn’t support migration from platforms other than Magento.

Magento Data Migration Tool is a built-in Magento utility, so you don’t need to search or download any third-party tools or extensions to start migration. Magento Data Migration Tool allows transferring data from Magento 1 to a new Magento 2 store, including information about products, customers, orders, and content. To put it simply, if you want to upgrade from Magento 1 to Magento 2, this tool is a good choice.

Benefits of Magento Data Migration Tool:

• Data integrity. Magento data migration tool uses mapping and validating data fields between Magento 1 and Magento 2. This means the platform automatically verifies that all your essential data is accurately transferred to the new platform.
• Reduced downtime. You can minimize your e-commerce store downtime during the transition period. Therefore, you can operate your website with little to no disruption while gradually moving to Magento 2.
• No extra costs. You don’t need to pay for any extra features. The Data Migration Tool is a free built-in Magento option.
• Data flexibility. You can easily select any migration mode for your store to move data as accurately and securely as possible while saving time.

Cons of Magento Data Migration Tool:

• Strong technical background needed. Using the Data Migration Tool requires developer skills and a deep understanding of the core migration principles.

Step-by-step migration with Magento Data Migration Tool

Although the process of Magento 1 database transfer with the Data Migration Tool is considered to be automated, there are plenty of things you will need to perform manually. Therefore, you will need to have a decent technical background to complete the migration without any critical errors. The best solution in this case will be to hire a professional Magento development team that will take care of your entire data transfer process.

However, if you decide to move data by yourself, make sure to follow these steps:

Step 1. Install the Magento Data Migration Tool

To install the data migration tool, you need to update composer.json in the Magento root installation directory. This measure will help you select the location of the Data Migration Tool package.

If you use GitHub, the tool installation process will look like this:

• 1. Log in to your Magento server or go to the Magento file system owner
• 2. Switch to Magento 2 root directory
• 3. Add the following commands:

composer config repositories.data-migration-tool git composer require magento/data-migration-tool

If you downloaded the Adobe Magento software using a Composer meta package, run the following command using your command-line interface:

php /bin/magento –version

Note: Don’t forget to backup your Magento 1 store before moving to the next step.

Step 2. Data migration

Now, you will need to transfer products and categories, which are critical to the structure and organization of your online store. This involves migrating product attributes, images, pricing, inventory levels, and category hierarchies. The migration must maintain data integrity to make sure that your product relationships, such as cross-sells, upsells, and related products, are preserved.

After completing the product and category migration, the process moves on to transferring the customer database. This includes all customer profiles, order histories, addresses, and payment information. It’s crucial to securely migrate sensitive data.

To perform Data Migration, use the following command in your terminal:

php bin/magento migrate:data -a vendor/magento/data-migration-tool/etc/opensource-to-opensource/your_magento1_version/config.xml

Step 3. Delta migration

During the migration process, your Magento 1 store is available: the customers can place orders, update existing orders, and you can even update your products. Once your Magento 2 store is ready to open (most preparation and migration steps have been successfully completed), it is necessary to transfer the remaining data from your Magento 1 to Magento 2 store. In other words, delta migration ensures that your new Magento 2 store is up-to-date with the most recent transactions and customer interactions.

To perform migration in the Delta mode, use the following command in your terminal:

php bin/magento migrate:delta -a vendor/magento/data-migration-tool/etc/opensource-to-opensource/your_magento1_version/config.xml

Step 4. Fine-tuning

Fine-tuning involves the final adjustments needed to ensure your Magento 2 store operates smoothly after migration. During this phase, you will need to detect and resolve issues that may arise, which often require the expertise of technical professionals. For example, you may need to solve discrepancies in the migrated data, adjust custom code, and ensure that your Magento 2 extensions are functioning correctly.

Note: Even in case you carefully planned your migration, some unexpected issues can still occur. These might involve conflicts between custom modules and extensions, performance bottlenecks, or minor data inconsistencies.

Step 5. Test your new Magento 2 store

Testing is one of the most important steps of the migration process. You need to make sure all the settings, configurations, and crucial parameters of your store are working properly. For these purposes, you can follow this simple steps:

• 1. Compose a list of all your Magento 1 features and check them in Magento 2.
• 2. Double-check whether the payment methods are working flawlessly and money can be received.
• 3. Make sure all types of shipping methods work as required.
• 4. Check the products, categories, customers, and orders.
• 5. Test your Magento 2 website from the customer’s point of view: add products to the shopping cart, choose one of the payment methods, and complete a purchase.
• 6. Check your website’s performance.

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What to Expect After Migrating to Magento 2

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The data migration from Magento 1 to 2 is a challenging process, so some errors and crashes might occur. We’ve prepared a list of the most common after-migration issues and advice on how to solve them.

Common Magento 2 After Data Migration Issues & Solutions

Every e-commerce website has loads of data. Therefore, moving all this stuff from the Magento 1 database to Magento 2 database may cause some of the following issues.

Data issues

Data-related issues are among the most common post-migration issues. For example, data loss, product editing errors, inconsistencies in data formatting or conflicts with custom attributes can arise. Addressing these issues promptly is essential to make sure your store runs smoothly and customer experience is not impacted.

Data loss or corruption

If you are a non-professional Magento developer, the risks of data loss or corruption significantly increase. Unfortunately, there is no win-win solution to solving this problem except transferring your data with extra care. Moreover, you can also follow these migration best practices:

• Backup before launching a migration
• Use data filtering to identify and remove unnecessary information

Category or Product editing error

The most common reason for this issue is losing product attributes. Moreover, the accidental deletion of attribute media_gallery from Magento 2 core files of Magento 2 might cause the same error.

Solution:

Check the eav_attribute and catalog_eav_attribute tables for the product attribute.

Invoice creation or placing the order errors

Customers incapable of placing orders on the new store is one of the most common post data migration issues. As a rule, it happens when your system can’t generate the order incremental ID.

Solution:

Update your Magento 2 database and create new tables for your sub-stores.

Performance issues

Data migration is one of the most complicated processes when moving to Magento 2, sometimes causing significant performance issues:

• Unacceptably low search speed
• Website loading speed is slowed down
• Insufficient database setup
• Unoptimized cache configuration

Solution:

Check the bottlenecks of your website with the performance optimization tools. You can also improve your store’s performance with some smart code scripts.

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Magento Performance Optimization

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SEO issues

Short-term traffic drops are common for most websites right after migration. The reason is that the search engines require some time to find and index all the pages. Therefore, it is a good idea to give your store some time to achieve its previous SEO scores. However, in some cases, incorrect data transfer can cause numerous SEO issues. For example:

• Incorrect Robots.txt file
• Double indexing because of using both HTTP and HTTPS versions
• Incorrect redirects from old to new web pages
• Changes in URL

Solution:

To improve your traffic and sales levels, make sure to use HTTPS version only, check whether redirects on different pages work properly, and fix your robots.txt file by correctly setting User-agent, Disallow, and Allow rules in the root directory.

FAQ

How long does Magento data migration take?

The duration varies based on the complexity of the data and the tools used, ranging from a few hours to several days.

What steps should I take before starting the Magento 2 migration?

Before starting the Magento 2 migration, you should back up your data, review and audit current extensions and themes, plan for downtime, and ensure you have a staging environment.

What types of data are migrated?

Typically, customer data, product information, order histories, CMS content, and configuration settings are migrated.

What is the Magento Data Migration Tool, and how does it work?

The Magento Data Migration Tool facilitates the transfer of data from Magento 1 to Magento 2 by using command-line scripts to map and migrate data efficiently.

Can all Magento data be migrated?

While most data can be migrated, some custom functionalities or legacy data might require special handling or adjustments.

What are the common challenges faced during Magento 2 migration?

Common challenges include data compatibility issues, extension and theme migration, downtime, and potential performance dips during the transition.

What are the common issues of Magento data migration?

Common issues include data corruption, category or product errors, and a decrease in SEO rankings.

Final Thoughts

Magento migration is a long and complicated process that requires advanced technical knowledge and skills. However, following a step-by-step process of migration and a thoughtful approach to transferring data will ensure a smooth transition. Still, every e-commerce store is absolutely unique and might require a careful and exceptional approach to data migration. Moreover, even if you use the most up-to-date Magento 2 data migration tools, you are at risk of facing some performance, incompatibility, data loss, and SEO issues.

At Whidegroup, we can help you migrate your Magento website seamlessly and efficiently. By understanding your business needs, we’ll recommend the best solutions tailored to your specific situation. If you require professional assistance in Magento migration, feel free to contact us anytime.