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
Volusion 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 Volusion 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.
Taxes
If taxes are used on the Volusion store, configure them on the Shopify store using the same settings.
Plugins
If plugin installation is required before data transfer, you’ll be prompted about that on the Migration Wizard.
If you have plugins 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 migrated from Volusion to Shopify, consider buying a more expensive Shopify plan, at least for the time of migration. The reason is the API’s a limit on the number of requests per unit of time - which means migration time depends on the available API limit and can increase from a few hours to several days and 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 Volusion 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
Volusion store setup
When migrating data from Volusion, you’ll be asked to provide:
Store URL - enter the domain URL of the store.
Shopify store setup
When migrating to Shopify, you have to install the Cart2Cart plugin from the. Shopify official marketplace
To start the i stallatio pro ess, just a tivate the I stall Plugi butto
Whe a tivated, the a ess details are automati all filled i .
run free Demo migration
You canto the Cart2Cart Shopify test store to see how it works. But
O l Demo migratio a be performed to the test store, ot Full
You re o l required to ti k the he kbox a d sele t Shopif as a platform ou wa t to migrate to. O e the Demo is fi ished, ou ll be provided with the admi a ess rede tials so that ou a see the result of the Demo tra sfer.
Entities & extra options selection step
Cart2Cart has all the necessary functionality to migrate every possible eСommerce data type and its accompanying attributes from Volusion 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 Volusion 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 Volusion to Shopify:
PRODUCTS
Name, SKU, ull Description, Images in Description, Status, Manufacturer
Price, Special Price
Weight
Meta Title, Meta Description
Variants (Weight, Attributes, Quantity, Images, Price, Special Price )
Base Image, Additional Images
Quantity, Stock Status.
PRODUCT CATEGORIES
Name , Description, Status
Image
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, Tax Price, Shipping Price, Total Price, Order Comments
Customer 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).
COUPONS
Gift Card, Name, Coupon Code, Coupon From Date, Coupon To Date, Uses Per Coupon, Uses Per Customer, Type Discount, Discount Amount, Minimum Spent.
REVIEWS
Created Date, Rate, User Name , Comment, Product, Title.
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 Volusion 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 Volusion entities selected for the automated migration. For example: if you’re migrating “Products” and “Taxes” entities from Volusion, 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 new Shopify store without making changes. For instance, order #13 in your Volusion 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 Volusion 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 Volusion store preserved.
301 redirects
4 Create on the Shopify store after migration
This additional option automatically creates 301 redirects from the current Volusion store s URLs to the corresponding ones in the new Shopify store during the migration. As a result, you can maintain your SEO ranking and customer experience after the migration is over.
301 redirects
5 Migrate images from product descriptions, category descriptions, and blog post descriptions
It allows migrating images contained in product descriptions and category descriptions from the Volusion store to the Shopify one alongside other data.
Mapping step
Connect the data fields from your current Volusion 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 Volusion 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 Volusion 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
Cart2Cart SupportTeam
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.
How to check demo migration results
Once your free Demo migration is fina ised, you wi receive an emai a ert. To check the resu ts on your new store, go back to the Migration Wizard and fo ow the isted U Ls to see what they ook ike on Shopify
On the front page of the shop (if the migrate entity is to be isplaye there)
n the categories that were move , an
n the search results by title.
When done, og in to the admin pane of the new Shopify store and check out how your entities are disp ayed from the backend.
Once you’re satisfied with the outcome, you can proceed with the Fu migration. If the Demo f agged some issues, contact the to get everything reso ved before embarking on the Fu migration. Cart2Cart
Team
Full migration step
Once you initiate the Volusion 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 Volusion 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 Volusion and new Shopify stores.
Bottom line
This Cart2Cart Volusion to Shopify Migration Checklist covers all the critical points to keep in mind when migrating from Volusion 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