With the end of life of Magento 1 approaching fast, it’s high time that you start contemplating migration to Magento 2 if you have already not done it. However, the road seems to be a long one as there is a lot of work involved when it comes to the transition of a running e-commerce store. Though engaging a professional Magento 2 development company would be the right thing to do, you should still know all about the steps of migration. Let us highlight all that you need to know about the move.

Before you migrate: How to gear up?

Even before you migrate your Magento store to the next version, there are some steps that you need to follow to make the move completely smooth and seamless. Here is a checklist of pre-migration recommendations:

• Make a full backup of the existing Magento 1 store, including the entire files, folders, and database.
• Create a clone of the store and make sure that the live store is not used for the migration.
• Throughly analyze the store and keep only the necessary elements while eliminating the redundant ones.
• Verify whether the current extensions, themes, and custom code are fully compatible with the Magento 2 version.
• Migrate the store’s data from the cloned database of the Magento 1 store.
• Get rid of useless and outdated data from the database. This includes elements such as logs, compared products, recently viewed products, etc.
• Installation of a copy of Magento 2 on the same server where the Magento 1 store is located with make the migration process hassle-free.

Starting with the migration process

Once you are geared up for the change, it is time to make the move. Here are the key steps that Magento e-commerce development experts follow during the migration process.

Theme Migration

Magento 2 brings innovative features that aim to deliver enhanced experiences for customers and merchants alike. These features can be leveraged by modifying the current themes or creating new themes to give your store the right look and feel. You need to bear in mind that it is not possible to migrate your Magento 1 theme directly to Magento 2. Rather, you need to create a new one or buy one from the Magento marketplace and have it installed as a part of the migration process.

Extension Migration

Another key aspect of Magento migration is extension migration. Essentially, extensions are the components used to add new features and functionalities to a Magento store. Once again, you can pick the desired Magento 2 extensions from the official marketplace and have it installed in your store. There is also the option of custom extension development if you prefer building to buying This is a mandatory action as you can encounter compatibility issues if you try integrating Magento 1 extensions to the upgraded website.

Code Customization

in several cases, there is a possibility that the custom code used in the Magento store is compatible with the new version. If it is not the case with your store, you can use the Code Migration Toolkit to facilitate the code customization for the seamless migration. Code customization has to be done to ensure that the structural differences between the platforms are taken care of, even if it means that a lot of work has to be done.

Data migration

The final phase of Magento 2 migration involves the migration of data and settings to the new version of the store. The platform has come up with Magento 2 Data Migration Tool to ease the process for the developers. Not only does it make data migration hassle free, but also ensures that all the critical data elements such as products, categories, orders, and store settings and configurations are moved to Magento 2 safely.

What after: Post-migration steps

You may have done everything right during the migration process, but don’t expect things to be closed with the completion of the aforementioned steps. Though you may have ceased all activity in the Magento 1 panel before initiating migration, there could still be some order processing during the course of migration. Further, there could be changes in customer profiles and new reviews as well. These incremental updates also have to be migrated after the actual migration has been completed. Once you are sure that all data, including the incremental one, has been transferred to Magento 2 store, it is time to go live. The steps involve putting the Magento 1 store into maintenance mode, stopping the migration tool, starting Magento 2 cron jobs, and pointing the DNS load balancers to new production hardware. Once all these steps are completed, you are ready to go.

What to consider during migration from Magento 1 to Magento 2?

Now that you know all about what goes into the planning and implementation phases of Magento 2 migration, it will probably get much easier to understand. Hiring a professional is the right approach and so is knowing some more facts about making your move an easy one. Let is list a few more considerations that you must bear in mind while migrating to Magento 2.

Don’t expect it to be a cakewalk

The hard truth is that migrating to Magento 2 is not going to be the easiest of processes because its architecture and database design is completely different from that of its predecessor. The amount of time and efforts that may be needed for completing the entire process varies depending on the number of customizations involved, number of extensions on the site, and the general complexity.

Performance matters as well

While migrating to the new version will definitely bring a host of new opportunities for your business, you cannot afford to compromise with performance at any cost. There is always a risk that things may not work perfectly post-migration and you can come across some critical glitches. There is no need to panic in such a situation; rather you need to seek support of an expert to handle the issues and get your store back on track. Once done, you will be all set to avail the unmatched benefits of Magneto 2.

Migration is desirable sooner rather than later

Another key fact about migration from Magento 1 to 2 is that it is desirable sooner rather than later. This is said considering the fact that Magento 1 end of life is slated to take place in June 2020, which is approaching fast. This means that you will no longer receive official support after this date and neither will have access to new themes, extensions, and security patches. You can still wait for a few months if your store is running fine. However, when you do plan migration, ensure that it is not done in the peak season.

Conclusion

Making a move to the newest platform version is not a choice but necessity for any business. It keeps you abreast of the latest innovation as well as gives you access to all the offerings that new versions bring. Moreover, the fact that Magento 1’s EOL is drawing close makes it all the more critical to initiate the move. With so many good reasons for migrating to Magento 2, it is just the right time that you collaborate with an expert and get going.

This article is contributed by Mayank Sharma, Magento developer at Magentoindia — Magento development company

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