BigCommerce to Shopify Migration Checklist

BigCommerce to Shopify Migration Checklist

Your ultimate DIY migration checklist

Use this step-by-step checklist to keep track of your migration progress and maximize the chances of a successful migration.

Pre-Migration steps

Decide on the platform you want to host your business

Pause your new store from search engine indexing

Find the stores’ access credentials

Audit your current store database

Consider the new store design

Migration itself

Connect your existing & new stores

Select the data entities to migrate

Customize the migration

Map the corresponding fields

Run a Demo migration

Check Demo migration results

Launch the Full migration

Post-Migration steps

Perform a post migration data audit

Check your SEO configurations

Prepare email notifications

Transfer customers’ passwords

Expand the new store

Test your new store

BigCommerce to Shopify migration is quite a complex and challenging experience even for high-skilled developers, not to mention do-it-yourselfers. However, with proper planning and the right tools at hand - the time and money spendings can be decreased significantly. So, take your time to go through this step-by-step transfer checklist to ensure your BigCommerce to Shopify migration will be seamless and trouble-free.

Pre-Migration recommendations

No matter what migration method/tool you use, consider the following steps and make the recommended configurations. It will help you minimize any potential risk during the migration.

Languages

Set up the language of your current BigCommerce store on the new Shopify one.

Taxes

If taxes are used on the BigCommerce store, configure them on the Shopify using the same settings.

Plugins

If plugin installation is necessary for the data transfer, you’ll be prompted about that on the Migration Wizard.

If there are plugins installed on the BigCommerce store that affect the eCommerce data performance (especially if it is a change in the structure of the database or API), you should:

contact the Support Team

consider buying a

Data Migration Service Package

If you’re not sure whether the installed plugins are affecting the overall data performance, it is recommended to and check the result. run a Demo migration

SAAS

If large amounts of data need to be transferred from BigCommerce to Shopify, consider buying a more expensive Shopify plan, at least for the time of migration. The reason is the API limits the number of requests per unit of time. In other words, migration time depends on the available API limit and can increase from a few hours to several days and even weeks (depending on the platform).

Migration itself

There’s a lot of information provided on the Migration Wizard - just pay attention to the instructions (hints) displayed on the right side (hover the mouse over the required field and read the explanation). Also, don’t forget about the FAQs - there, you’ll also find your specific BigCommerce to Shopify migration-related questions answered.

Account selection step (only for partners)

If you’re partnering with Cart2Cart and want to create a migration for a client, choose a sub-account linked to that partner to proceed with the data transfer.

Stores setup step

BigCommerce store setup

When migrating data from BigCommerce, you’ll be asked to provide:

Store URL - enter the domain URL of the store

API access - set up the access using the store admin and enter the required keys in the corresponding fields of the Migration Wizard.

Shopify store setup

When migrating to Shopify, you have to install the Cart2Cart plugin from the . Shopify official marketplace

To start the installation process, just activate the Install lugin utton

When activated, the access details are automaticall filled in.

run free Demo migration

You can to the Cart2Cart Shopify test store to see how it works. But

Onl Demo migration can e performed to the test store, not Full

You re onl required to tick the check ox and select Shopif as a platform ou want to migrate to. Once the Demo is finished, ou ll e provided with the admin access credentials so that ou can see the result of the Demo transfer.

Entities & extra options selection step

Cart2Cart has all the necessary functionality to migrate every possible eСommerce data type and its accompanying attributes from BigCommerce to Shopify. So, specify the entities you want to transfer by ticking the matching checkboxes or click on the All Entities checkbox to get all the BigCommerce data automatically migrated to the new Shopify store.

You’ll see notices about necessary plugins. Their installation is optional but desirable if you need the appropriate entities to be transferred.

What data can be migrated from BigCommerce to Shopify:

PRODUCTS

Name, SKU, Full Description, Images in Description, Status, Manufacturer

Price, Special Price

URL , Meta Title, Meta Description

Weight Variants (SKU, Attributes, Price)

Base Image, Additional Images

Quantity

UPC.

PRODUCT CATEGORIES

Name, Description, Status

Image

URL, Meta Title, Meta Description.

MANUFACTURERS

Name.

CUSTOMERS

First Name, Last Name, Email

Billing Address (First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone)

Shipping Address (First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).

ORDERS

ID , Order Date , Order Status, Order Products (Name, SKU), Product Price, Quantity, SubTotal Price, Discount Price, Tax Price, Shipping Price, Total Price, Order Comments

Email, Billing Address (First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone)

Shipping Address (First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).

COUPONS

Name, Coupon Code, Type Discount, Discount Amount.

REVIEWS

Created Date, Rate, User Name, Comment, Product, Title .

BLOG POSTS

Title, Full Description, Short Description, Tags, SEO URL, Author, Post Redirects Images.

Cart2Cart offers a list of additional options that allow you to expand the migration possibilities. They make the process of data transfer flawless and the results accurate.

Before ordering the additional options, you should note that

Additional options are not obligatory and can be performed only upon your request

Additional options are not included in the migration cost and are also charged.

The most popular migration add-ons among store owners migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify include:

1 Clear current data on the Shopify store before migration

Upon activation, the option deletes the data on your new Shopify store in compliance with the BigCommerce entities selected for the automated migration. For example: if you’re migrating “Products” and “Taxes” entities from BigCommerce, this function will delete such entities on your new Shopify store before starting the transfer.

The option is irreversible. It is recommended to back up your eCommerce data manually before enabling this action for your store. Simply export data to CSV files and save them on your PC.

2 Preserve order IDs on the new Shopify store

This function provides the ability to migrate order IDs to the Shopify store without making changes. For instance, order #13 in your BigCommerce store will be moved to Shopify as order #13.

This requires another option - Clear current data on Shopify store before migration. It helps to ensure accuracy and avoid duplication in case your new Shopify store is not clean and already has some items on it.

3 Migrate categories into Shopify automated collections

This guarantees that the product categories from your BigCommerce store will be transferred to automated collections on the new Shopify store; the products will receive tags, and will be arranged to the corresponding collections on Shopify with all the relations between subcategories of the current BigCommerce store preserved.

4 Migrate customer groups into customer tags

The function makes it possible to migrate the customer groups from the BigCommerce store into customer tags of the new Shopify store.

5

Create

on the Shopify store after migration 301 redirects

This additional option automatically creates 301 redirects from your current BigCommerce store’s URLs to the corresponding ones in your new Shopify store during the migration. As a result, you can maintain your SEO ranking and customer experience after the migration is over.

6 Migrate categories and products SEO URLs

If activated, the function preserves the store products and categories URLs while migrating from the BigCommerce store to the Shopify one. Moreover, it facilitates the post-migration store management process and saves product search engine rankings.

7 Migrate images from product descriptions, category descriptions, and blog post descriptions

It allows migrating images contained in product descriptions and category descriptions from your BigCommerce store to the Shopify one alongside other data.

301 redirects

Mapping step

Connect the data fields from your current BigCommerce store to the respective data fields in the new Shopify store. Doing this minimises the potential for errors and standardises your data, making it easier to understand it by correlating it with identities - for instance. When migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify, you can map the following:

Order statuses

If the Orders entity is selected.

Customer groups

If the Customers entity is selected.

Demo migration step

While it is possible to skip the Demo, we strongly recommend against it.

A Demo is simply a demonstration of the service in action aimed at showing users the basic functionality of the migration tool. You can set up the service, see how it works with a limited number of items, and make sure it is suitable for your needs. It is essentially a “minimised” trial version of the Full data migration.

Demo migration can be utilised an unlimited number of times until you’re satisfied with the outcome (it’s free).

The process takes 10 to 30 minutes and allows you to transfer up to 10 products, customers, orders, and other data related to them. Once you migrate the specified data, you will get an email notification with a link to your new cart.

If you want to preserve the store configurations integrated while in Demo mode, you can transfer them during the Full migration phase.

Don’t close your browser window when the Demo migration is in progress. You can minimise your browser window if you need to work on something else while the Demo migration completes.

If the Demo has been completed, you’ll see the following information displayed on your Migration Wizard:

Details about the transferred entities, with links to your current BigCommerce and new Shopify stores.

Entity counts and additional options list.

Total migration price.

At this point, you can also choose the Migration Insurance plan. There are with different prices and different conditions for remigration. The "No insurance" option is also offered. three types of Insurance,

If you are happy with the outcome, you can proceed with the Full migration. If the Demo helped you detect some issues, contact the , and we will help you fix them before starting the Full migration.

Cart2Cart Support Team

How to check demo migration results

Once your free emo migration is finalised, you will receive an email alert. To check the results on your new store, go back to the Migration Wizard and follow the listed U Ls to see what they look like on Sho ify

On the front page of the shop (if the migrate entity is to be isplaye there)

In the categories that were move , an In the search results by title.

When done, log in to the admin anel of the new Sho ify store and check out how your entities are dis layed from the backend.

Once you’re satisfied with the outcome, you can roceed with the Full migration. If the emo flagged some issues, contact the to get everything resolved before embarking on the Full migration. Cart2Cart Support Team

Support team

Full migration step

Once you initiate the BigCommerce data migration to Shopify, you’ll first need to fund your account balance and then finish the data migration to your new store. Keep in mind that you only pay for the data you transfer — you won’t be charged any additional fees.

The Migration details section shows a variety of migration information. You can also choose the , , or services at this step by clicking the matching buttons. Note that the Smart Update option is available for partners only.

Post-Migration suggestions

Even if you’ve gone through the migration procedure seamlessly and everything appears to be error-free, take the time to check whether all the BigCommerce data has been accurately imported to the new Shopify platform. Check each transferred entity, taking into account the data of the entity itself (e.g., in products: name, descriptions, prices, discounts, etc.) and links to categories, brands, reviews, etc.

We recommend comparing the fields of each particular entity on the admin side of the BigCommerce and new Shopify stores.

Bottom line

This BigCommerce to Shopify Migration Checklist covers all the critical points to keep in mind when migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify. If any additional questions arise during the migration process, do not hesitate to . We’ll be more than happy to help. contact us