Magento 2 Migration
Currently, there are almost 450,000 successfully operating Magento websites. If you think migration to a new version is a cumbersome necessity, you couldn’t be more wrong - it is a great opportunity for your business.
Magento 2 was officially launched at the end of 2015. The new version boasts a modernised and more user-friendly administrator panel. More importantly, though, as in the case of every piece of software, is how it works.
Magento 2 offers plenty of improvement related to platform architecture. Also, the system currently has more possibilities in terms of its scalability – it will undoubtedly find application in dynamically growing online sales. These changes should especially please owners of large and medium-sized enterprises, who are interested in the development of B2C and B2B sales, as well as in the implementation of the omnichannel strategy.
The most important improvements to Magento 2
Magento 1 struggles with several problems – these are, among others, decreases in performance and poor implementation quality, which may adversely affect the stability of the platform. Of course, Magento 1 is still a great tool, but its latest version is another big step forward. Check out the great benefits that Magento 2 can give you:
The speed
Magento 2 works faster by min. 20% than its older version. The new platform can handle more orders, and the same speed translates into better visibility of the store in search engines. It is worth noting that this also reduces the number of abandoned baskets.
A user-friendly shopping path
An unintuitive shopping path contributes to frequently abandoned baskets. In the older version of Magento, the buyer had to pass even 6 stages whereas in Magento 2 this number has been reduced to 2. Thanks to this, even unregistered users can quickly make purchases.
Mobile first
Adjusting an e-commerce platform to mobile devices is today more important than ever before. In some industries, more than half of online shopping is done on smartphones. That is why the proper operation of the site on mobile devices is a priority in Magento 2.
Easier scalability
Improvements introduced in Magento 2 reduce server load, which translates into better platform performance for users. The backend quality has also been improved. In addition, an option to scale the database has been introduced to optimise the operation of the site. It can be useful, for example, during periods of increased traffic as during holidays or sales.
More convenient updates
When running a store online, you need a platform that can be easily updated. Neglecting this process can bring many complications in the form of security problems. With this in mind, the Magento 2 developers took care of a quick upgrade process to the newer versions of the software.
Effective testing
The Magento 2 platform has been equipped with an improved Testing Framework. Thanks to it, developers can even automatically test new functionalities and introduce appropriate optimisations to the system even faster. It has a lot of benefits, because it strongly reduces the risk of transferring bugs from the test version to the production version (i.e. available to customers of the store).
Simpler integration
Magento API gives the possibility to integrate the store with external systems. An example is the creation of a separate mobile application or the automation of data exchange between the ERP system and the store. In Magento 2, API operation has been further improved, thanks to which the same functionalities are available for both SOAP and REST.
An improved administration panel
In Magento 2, an administrative panel was redesigned. Thanks to this, the navigation is better organised, which makes the platform easier to use. This, for instance, reduces the time needed to service orders or edit products.
Four stages of migration to Magento 2
Migration to Magento 2 is not just a simple upgrade to a newer version, but an advanced process. It must necessarily be preceded by the possibly detailed pre-implementation analysis. It is also important that the implementation of the new system takes place in accordance with the Magento guidelines, which will translate into even the stability of operation. It is worth outsourcing this task to specialised and experienced programmers.
It should also be mentioned that the store’s appearance cannot be automatically transferred, so you have to create it again. Just like the store layout, extensions from Magento 1 cannot be automatically transferred to the new version. Before you start work, you cannot forget to make a backup. It is better to protect yourself in this way than to risk losing important information. The migration process itself can be described in 4 stages.
Database migration
Database migration boils down to the transfer of old information to the new version of the store. This information includes data on customers, orders, payments, or products and stock levels. You can also transfer customer passwords from the older version to the newer version. At this stage, it is worth taking care of removing unnecessary records, thanks to which we will improve the operation of the store in a newer version.
Template migration
As we have already pointed out, it is not possible to transfer the template to the new version of Magento. There are three options available: ask programmers to create a template again, buy a commercial template and then adapt it to your requirements, either buy or download a free template and leave it as it is. Unfortunately, it may not be compatible with all shop owner’s requirements.
Migration of extensions
Extensions should be written by developers anew or equivalent modules for Magento 2 could be purchased. The same module equivalents have identical functionalities but they are adapted to the latest version, and also have support from the creators.
Migration of dedicated solutions
This stage is probably the most time-consuming one. It is necessary to create dedicated solutions from scratch – this cannot be done on the basis of previously prepared modules. At this point, it is also worth analysing the current operation of the modules from Magento 1. This will allow you to remove possible bugs and improve the operation of their counterparts in Magento 2.