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Magento 1 to Magento 2 Migration – Things to Consider

Magento 1 to Magento 2 Migration – Things to Consider

Why magento 2 migration is important

Why magento 2 migration is important

Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration is the process of upgrading an eCommerce store from the older Magento 1 platform to the newer Magento 2 platform. This migration is necessary as Magento 1 faces challenges in meeting today’s eCommerce demands. The store becomes vulnerable to security risks without security patches or updates.

The Tech graveyard is littered with companies that were once market leaders. Yet, they got overrun by competitors who push forward with innovation in both marketing and technology.

The Magento eCommerce platform has gone through tremendous redefinition in the form of Magento 2. It also struggles with improved performance, scalability, and the necessity for data migration to Magento 2. It must address the optimization of mobile sites and it must provide a flexible architecture. Tekglides Magento developers ensure a seamless transfer of all your data. This includes orders, products, and customers to the latest version of Magento.

 Magento 2 will help redefine the market. It will have the following upgrades:

  • Data improvements

One of Magento 1’s main drawbacks has been the database. With Magento 2, you can have stand-alone databases for order management, customer and catalog databases, and checkout databases.

Unlike in Magento 1, you are no longer stuck with MySQL. Magento 2 also works with Oracle SQL or MySQL.

Magento 2 offers a dedicated database that makes it faster and easier for people to check out. With database improvements, you can have 25 concurrent admins updating the catalog.

  • Speed and Scalability

Magento 2 is 25% faster for end-users browsing the website and 52% faster to add products to the cart. This is using standard out-of-the-box configurations. With the Magento 2 version, you can support 10 million views per hour, whereas Magento 1.9 supports only half a million views.

  • Functionality:

Magento 2 introduces a range of new features and functionalities that are not available in Magento 1. Advanced reporting capabilities, and enhanced product management tools are some of the key features that make Magento 2 a preferred choice for online retailers.

  • End of Support for Magento 1:

Magento 1 reached its end of life in June 2020. Adobe, the company behind Magento, stopped providing support and security updates for Magento 1. Running a Magento 1 store without security updates exposes your store to potential security vulnerabilities and compliance risks.

  • Checkout

The checkout process has to be seamless and fast to have more conversions. Although Magento 2’s default checkout is now simplified to 2 pages compared to 6 on Magento 1, it is still not state-of-the-art. Many merchants are happy to keep the One Page Checkout experience they implemented on Magento 1. In that case, migration is simple if you choose the right vendor. Not all extension providers offer great quality products compatible with most shipping, payments, and popular third-party solutions. The original OneStepCheckout would be our go-to vendor based on our experience and feedback from merchants. Here are their migration tips.

Magento Migration Process

Migrating to Magento 2 is a three step process.

  • Migrate the data

This involves you taking the existing Magento data and making it compatible with Magento 2. Again, this is a straightforward process.

The Magento team has provided a tool, the Data Migration Tool. It allows users to migrate their key data from Magento 1 to Magento 2, facilitating the data migration Magento 1 to 2 process. This critical data includes your eCommerce website, store, products, customers, orders, and all other tertiary data.

The data Migration tool connects to the database you configure holding Magento 1 data and performs ETL (extract, transform, and load process) over to Magento 2. This performs three functions as follows:

  • Settings Migration

It means migrating settings in your system configuration in Magento 1 (M1).

  • Data Migration

This involves migrating all the data that you will need.

  • Delta Migration

One of the most excellent functions of the data migration tool is the delta migration. Delta migrations bridge the gap between its last data import and any new information that has come across. The advantage is that you don’t have to take your Magento 1 store offline during the data migration.

  • Migrate the extensions

There are two kinds of extensions, one for functionality and the other for integration. Unfortunately, you cannot carry existing extensions forward since they are all new.

  • Themes and customizations

This step involves migrating all the front end and those cute customizations you might have made

Things to Consider

Who can Migrate the Data from Magento 1 to Magento 2?

Anyone who is a Magento programmer, or has experience to migrate Magento 1 to Magento 2, can migrate data. Besides, you can outsource Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration services if you don’t have an on-site programmer on your team.

Things to Consider Before Migrating

Before migrating, you will need to prepare several components. First, you’ll need an instance of your Magento 1 database. Second, you’ll need a working copy and an active copy of the Magento 2 code base. Last, you’ll need the database where you intend to migrate your Magento 1. It would help if you also had a tool, Composer. To summarize, a composer is a package manager for PHP. We use Composer to install Magento 2 and the migration tool.

Import the clean copy of your database from Magento 1 over to a local or a separate server. If you have it on a different server, you must ensure that you are configuring your MySQL settings.

Things to Consider During Migration

During migration, you will have to rewrite all the extensions. Most of the algorithms and functionality of Magento 2 are like Magento 1. This part is tricky and impossible for someone new to Magento or PHP. Magento 2 has architectural and platform differences from Magento 2; for example, the front-end theme designs are different.

After installing and setting up everything, you must review the configuration. To review:

Start with a clean copy and perform a test run.

During this process, check whether something is working.

Check for any failures to see what needs to be mapped, and then map the shortcomings to the new database through mapping files.

Repeat this procedure to check for failures until you reach a good point and ensure that data migration is successful.

Magento’s own website, magento.com, is a prime example of a successful migration from Magento 1 to Magento 2. Additionally, the fashion brand Rebecca Minkoff and the outdoor apparel brand Helly Hansen have also migrated their eCommerce platforms to Magento 2. These examples show the feasibility and benefits of migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2 for various businesses. The migration improved the site’s performance, scalability, and user experience.

Technical Considerations:

  1. Familiarize Yourself with Magento 2 Architecture and Features: 

Before migrating, it’s crucial to understand the architecture and features of Magento 2. This will help you better plan your migration strategy and take advantage of the new capabilities offered by Magento 2.

  1. Check Extension and Theme Compatibility: 

One of the key considerations when migrating to Magento 2 is the compatibility of your current extensions and themes. Not all extensions and themes designed for Magento 1 will work with Magento 2. Check with the extension and theme developers for Magento 2-compatible versions or alternatives.

  1. Identify Customizations and Integrations: 

Take stock of any customizations or integrations you’ve made to your Magento 1 store. These could include custom modules, third-party integramtions, or unique features. To ensure your new store functions as expected, you need to determine which customizations or integrations need migration or rebuilding in Magento 2.

  • Best practices for migration:
  1. Plan Ahead: 

Create a detailed migration plan that includes timelines, resource allocation, and testing procedures.

  1. Test: 

Before migrating your live site, test the migration process on a staging environment to identify and resolve any issues.

  1. Backup Data: 

Ensure you have a backup of your Magento 1 store’s data before starting the migration process.

  1. Use Magento’s Migration Tools: 

Magento provides official migration tools to help with the migration process. Use these tools to simplify and automate the migration process.

  1. Consult Experts: 

Consider hiring Magento experts or agencies if you’re unsure about migrating your store yourself.

  • Pro tip for Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration:

Audit and optimize your data before migration. Clean up your database, remove unnecessary data, and ensure data integrity before migration. This reduces migration data, streamlines the process, and boosts your Magento 2 store’s performance

Magento 2 Migration- FAQs

Q: What is Data Migration in Magento 2?

Data Migration means migrating data from Magento 1 to Magento 2. The data migration tool migrates data. The tool transfers data from Magento 1 to Magento 2 and carries out data verification tests.

Q: Why do I migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2?

There will be no support available for Magento 1, making it more prone to vulnerabilities.

Q: Will it Cost to Upgrade to Magento 3?

Yes, it will cost to upgrade from Magento 1 to Magento 2. Yet, the cost of upgrading from Magento 1 to Magento 2 will be less than that of migrating your Magento 1 store to a non-Magento platform. This makes Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration cost effective in comparison.

Key Takeaways

Magento 2 makes existing software obsolete. As with every software, this is inevitable. Every software usually has a shelf life of 1 to 3 years. Remember how awesome the iPod was? But then came the iPhone.

Magento 2 is an upgraded version. Magento 2 websites have more speed, scalability, data improvements, and enhanced checkouts. All these features enable higher conversions.

Before moving ahead to migrate, you will need an instance of your Magento 1 database. You will also need a working copy and an active copy of the Magento 2 code base. Additionally, you will need the database where you want your Magento 1 migration to take place. Data Migration Tool enables migration of crucial data to Magento 2. Critical data includes all your business information

You will need Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration. Yet, sharp merchants know that waiting until you are forced to change is not worth it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Magento 1 to Magento 2 Migration is essential for keeping up with the latest in eCommerce. It offers faster speeds, better scalability, and improved data management, leading to a smoother shopping experience and more sales. While the migration process may need some effort, the benefits of Magento 2 are worth it. By upgrading, businesses can stay competitive and ready for the future of online selling. Tekglide Magento developers guarantee a smooth transition of your entire data set, and customer information, to the latest Magento version.