BigCommerce Migration: A Step-by-Step Tutorial for Success

A lot of current merchants need to switch to another eCommerce platform like BigCommerce to change their business model. In order to keep the data from the previous store, the BigCommerce migration is a must-have stage to make sure the business operation can continue smoothly.

Learn everything about the BigCommerce migration process within our blog below if you are using a BigCommerce alternative and want to migrate your store’s information/ data into a new BigCommerce store.

What is BigCommerce migration?

BigCommerce migration is moving an online store from one existing platform to BigCommerce. It involves transferring all ecommerce website data, including products, customers, orders, and design elements, to the BigCommerce platform. 

You can migrate BigCommerce with various platforms like Magento, Shopify, Amazom, etc. Choose the appropriate platform and start the migration process with our guide below

How to migrate to BigCommerce?

Step 1: Preparation Phase

Source and Target Cart Setup

To perform BigCommerce migration process, you must set up both the source (your current online store) and the target (BigCommerce) carts. 

• First, select your current cart, the source store, from the supported ecommerce platforms list. 
• Provide all the necessary login credentials and access details for your source store.

• Next, in the migration wizard, select BigCommerce as the target store where you want to migrate your online store. 
• Fill in essential details such as your BigCommerce username, API token, and API path. 

Note: Ensure you accurately input all the required information to perform BigCommerce migration process smoothly. Following the instructions will help streamline the setup and ensure a successful transfer of your online store to the BigCommerce platform.

Data Entity Selection and Additional Options Consideration

When migrating to BigCommerce, you can transfer essential data entities like products, product categories, manufacturers, customers, orders, coupons, reviews, blogs, and blog posts from your current store.

Moreover, you have the option to include extra features, although they’re not mandatory:

• Preserve order IDs on Target Store: This option retains your source store’s order IDs after migration.
• Skip product thumbnail images migration: It prevents duplication of product images during migration.
• Create 301 redirects on your target store after migration: This feature generates 301 redirects, helping maintain the SEO status of your new BigCommerce store by directing traffic from old URLs to new ones.
• Migrate categories and products SEO URLs: This feature helps preserve current product links, ensuring customers and SEO rankings aren’t affected by the migration.

Note: These options may vary depending on your source cart, and they provide additional functionalities to enhance the migration process and maintain the integrity of your online store’s data and SEO performance.

Step 2: Demo Migration Initiation

You can initiate a demo migration to BigCommerce for free, which typically takes about 30 minutes. This option allows you to transfer up to 30 data entities from your current store to preview how your new BigCommerce store will look. 

While the demo migration isn’t mandatory, it’s highly recommended as it allows you to test our service and explore your new BigCommerce store setup. It’s a valuable step in ensuring a smooth transition to BigCommerce.

Step 3: Full Migration Execution

Once you’re happy with the outcome of the Demo Migration, you can move forward to the Full Migration process. Simply click the “Start Full Migration” button. This process ensures a seamless transition of all your store’s information, allowing you to transition to your new platform smoothly.

Step 4: Post-Migration Recommendations

After receiving notification of the completion of the Full Migration, it’s essential to:

• Check your store thoroughly for any potential errors or discrepancies that may have occurred during the migration process.
• Download and install all the required apps and extensions to ensure the proper functioning of your BigCommerce store.
• Ensure that your store’s information is up-to-date.

Overall, these steps cover the critical aspects of transferring to BigCommerce, ensuring a smooth and successful transition for your online store.

Costs of BigCommerce Migration

Consider migrating to a new platform like BigCommerce, even though it might cost anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000. It’s a worthwhile investment for the long-term success of your ecommerce platforms.

Let’s break down the costs associated with BigCommerce ecommerce platform migration in straightforward terms:

Migration Services: 

BigCommerce offers expert support to help you transition smoothly. You can choose from the following migration options:

• BigCommerce Migration Team Support: Collaborate with BigCommerce migration experts for a seamless transition.
• Expert Agency Migration: Engage a specialized agency to handle the migration process.
• Data Migration Tools and Apps: Utilize available tools to transfer customer data efficiently.

Cost Estimate: 

The hourly rate for data migration services typically ranges from $50 to $80. Web agencies or freelancers will export and migrate data from your old platform (such as Excel or CSV files) and import it into your new BigCommerce store. You can send the costs through BigCommerce’s authorized payment gateways.

Additional Considerations:

If you’re migrating from WooCommerce, the data migration app is free for the first 1,000 data resources (including products, options, categories, and customers). Beyond this limit, there may be a fee for transferring additional resources.

Tips for conducting BigCommerce Migration smoothly

Here’s a simple overview of how to migrate to BigCommerce:

• Assess if Replatforming is Necessary: Decide if your business situation warrants an eCommerce migration, considering factors like poor platform performance or limited growth potential.
• Evaluate BigCommerce Suitability: Ensure BigCommerce meets your store’s requirements. If your store is small-scale, you might not need to switch until you aim for higher revenue, like $5+ million annually.
• Organize Your Data: Clean up your databases and gather all necessary information about your products and customers, which might take some time, depending on your database’s condition.
• Select Data for Transfer: Choose which data to migrate to BigCommerce, focusing on essential elements like products, customers, orders, and critical functionalities.
• Execute the Migration: Moving your existing ecommerce site from its current platform to BigCommerce once everything is prepared.

In conclusion

By carefully assessing the need for a migration journey, evaluating BigCommerce’s suitability, and organizing and transferring data efficiently, companies can seamlessly transition to a new ecommerce platform that better meets their needs.

Read more: Shopify To BigCommerce Migration: Our Step-by-step Guide

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