In the ever-evolving world of ecommerce, businesses often find themselves at a crossroads when it comes to choosing the right platform for their online store. Even after a couple of years of operation, you may start lacking some functionality, and Shopify or BigCommerce can stop satisfying your needs.
However, switching to a new ecommerce platform or a new content management system (CMS) isn’t easy. It demands careful planning, preparation, and a balanced approach.
To migrate BigCommerce to Shopify or migrate Shopify to BigCommerce, for example, you need to select and connect the target store to ensure a smooth transition. In our 10+ years of ecommerce experience, our team has migrated dozens of online stores from Shopify to BigCommerce (and in the other direction). Shopify and BigCommerce are at the top of our clients’ list of ecommerce platforms, each offering a unique set of features and benefits.
Are you thinking about switching from BigCommerce to Shopify for your online business? Or maybe you’re considering a move in the opposite direction?
Either way, we’ve got you covered!
In this article, we dive deep into why you might want to make the switch, give you a handy checklist to figure out if it’s the right time, and walk you through the whole migration process.
Key reasons why our clients choose to migrate from the BigCommerce platform to Shopify
Ease of use
Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation, making it easy for merchants to set up and manage their online stores without extensive technical knowledge.
Large app ecosystem
Shopify offers an app store with over 6,000 apps, providing more options compared to BigCommerce for extending functionality and integrating with third-party services.
Robust theme selection
Shopify provides a wider variety of professionally designed, responsive themes that cater to various industries and store types, making it easier for merchants to create visually appealing storefronts.
Shopify Payments
With Shopify Payments, merchants can easily manage transactions without the need for a third-party payment gateway, streamlining the payment process and potentially saving on transaction fees.
Multichannel selling
Shopify offers seamless integration with various sales channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon, enabling merchants to expand their reach and sell products across multiple platforms.
Shopify POS
Shopify’s built-in POS system allows retailers to sell both online and in person using the same platform, providing a unified experience for managing inventory, sales, and customer data.
Excellent customer support
Shopify is renowned for its 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat, ensuring that merchants can get help whenever they need it.
Shopify Plus for enterprise
For larger businesses, Shopify Plus offers enterprise-level features and dedicated support, making it a suitable option for high-volume merchants looking to scale their operations.
Despite all these benefits of Shopify, the eternal battle of BigCommerce vs Shopify has no obvious winner. There are too many factors that you need to consider when deciding on an ecommerce platform. But we have you covered! We’ve carefully analyzed the pros and cons of both Shopify and BigCommerce, polling our clients and spending hours talking with our business analyst to finalize this complete guide comparing BigCommerce and Shopify.
While Shopify is an awesome platform with a ton of happy users, if you’re feeling like it isn’t quite meeting your needs, it might be worth taking a peek at what BigCommerce has to offer.
Shopify vs BigCommerce: Choose your winner
Remember that switching platforms isn’t a decision to be made lightly.
Take your time, do your research, and maybe even set up a test store to get a feel for how BigCommerce or Shopify works before you take the plunge. Your online store is your baby, and you want to make sure it’s got the best possible home.
Read BigCommerce vs Shopify: How to choose your ideal platform for more detailed information on BigCommerce vs Shopify.
Key steps in preparing for the Shopify data migration process
You’ve decided to switch from BigCommerce to Shopify. Congrats! But before you start packing your virtual boxes, there’s some prep work to be done.
Don’t worry — we’ve got your back and can take the migration hassles off your shoulders with our expert BigCommerce migration services.Here’s how to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify, and vice versa:
Make a game plan
First things first: You need to know what you’re getting into. Sit down with your team or schedule a consultation with your trusted ecommerce development partner to map out the whole migration process from start to finish. Figure out who will be in charge of what, and make sure everyone’s on the same page. Trust us: A little planning goes a long way.
Take inventory
Before you start moving things to Shopify, you need to know exactly what you’re dealing with. Take a good, hard look at your BigCommerce store and make a list of all your products, categories, customers, customer data, and orders — basically, everything that makes your store tick. This will help you figure out what needs to be moved and what can be left behind.
Clean house
Now’s the perfect time to do a little spring cleaning. Go through your inventory and get rid of any products that aren’t selling or that you don’t plan on keeping around. The fewer things you have to move, the easier the whole process will be.
Get your data ducks in a row
This is where things get a little techy. You’ll need to export all your important data from BigCommerce, including your products, customers, and orders. Make sure to save it all in a format that Shopify can understand, like CSV files. If you’re not sure how to do this, don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who knows their way around a spreadsheet.
Give your store a makeover
Before you start bringing everything over to Shopify, take some time to think about how you want your new store to look and feel. Shopify and BigCommerce have a ton of great themes to choose from, so pick one that fits your brand and start customizing. This is also a good time to think about any new features or functionality you want to add to your store.
Rally the troops
Migrating to a new platform is a big deal, so make sure everyone on your team is ready for the change. Schedule training sessions to get everyone up to speed on how Shopify or BigCommerce work, and make sure they know who to go to if they have any questions or run into any issues.
Call in the pros
If all of this sounds like a lot of work (and it is!), don’t be afraid to bring in some outside help. There are plenty of ecommerce development agencies who specialize in platform migrations. An agency can take care of all the heavy lifting and make sure everything goes smoothly.
And there you have it!
With a little bit of planning and a professional ecommerce development agency by your side, you’ll be ready to tackle BigCommerce to Shopify migration like a pro.
Just remember to take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Our experts are ready to hop in at any stage of your migration process.
How we migrate Shopify to BigCommerce or vice versa with little to no downtime
Our team of ecommerce development pros has helped tons of businesses make the switch, and we’ve got the process down to a science. Here’s how we’ll work together to make your migration a success:
Step 1: Back up your data
Before we do anything else, we make sure all your important data is safe and sound. We’ll work with you to back up your products, customers, orders, and anything else you need so you can rest easy knowing nothing will get lost in the shuffle.
Step 2: Take inventory of your current setup
Next, we’ll take a deep dive into your current store setup. We’ll look at everything from your theme and apps to your payment and shipping settings so we know exactly what needs to be moved to Shopify or BigCommerce.
Step 3: Notify stakeholders and customers
Communication is key during a migration. We’ll work with you to craft the perfect message to let your stakeholders and customers know about upcoming changes so everyone’s in the loop.
Step 4: Set up your Shopify / BigCommerce store
Now for the fun part — setting up your shiny new store! We’ll work with you to choose the perfect theme, customize your design, and make sure everything’s looking just the way you want it.
Step 5: Migrate your data
Remember all that data we backed up in step one? It’s time to put it to use. Our team will carefully migrate all your products, customers, orders, and other data to your new platform, making sure everything’s accurate and in the right place.
Step 6: Implement customizations and integrations
Every store is unique, and yours is no exception. We’ll work with you to add any custom features or integrations you need, whether that’s a special app or a custom tool.
Step 7: Test
Before we flip the switch and go live, we’ll put your new store through its paces. We’ll test every feature, button, and integration to make sure everything’s working just the way it should.
Step 8: Go live
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for — launch day! We’ll work with you to pick the perfect time to go live, and we’ll be there every step of the way to make sure the transition is smooth and stress-free.
Unlike any other ecommerce development company, we will stay by your side after you go live. Check out what you need to know to ensure a seamless shopping experience for your customers post-migration.
What else should you know to successfully migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify?
When moving from BigCommerce to Shopify, there are several essential factors to consider to ensure a seamless transition. Beyond the technical aspects of data migration, it’s crucial to keep in mind the following checklist of items:
Theme and design
Evaluate Shopify’s theme options and determine whether you need to customize your store’s design to maintain brand consistency and optimize the user experience.
Apps and integrations
Assess which BigCommerce apps and integrations you currently rely on and find suitable alternatives or equivalents in the Shopify app store.
Payment gateways
Verify that your preferred payment gateways are compatible with Shopify and configure them accordingly in your new store.
Shipping and taxes
Set up your shipping zones, rates, and tax settings in Shopify to ensure accurate calculations and smooth order processing.
URL redirects
Implement 301 redirects from your old BigCommerce URLs to corresponding new Shopify URLs to maintain SEO rankings and avoid broken links.
Staff training
Allocate time to train your staff on the new Shopify interface, features, and processes to ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted operations.
Customer communication
Inform your customers about the upcoming migration, assuring them of a seamless transition and providing them with updated information on how to access their accounts and place orders on your new Shopify store.
By addressing these key items alongside the technical migration process, you’ll be well-prepared to successfully transition from BigCommerce to Shopify.
Remember to allocate sufficient time for each step and collaborate closely with your ecommerce development partner to ensure a smooth migration with minimal disruption to your business.
Essential things you need to know to ease your post-migration period
Testing and validation
After successfully migrating your ecommerce store, it’s crucial to thoroughly test and validate the new platform to ensure a smooth transition. This involves:
- Checking the functionality of all website pages, including product listings, checkout processes, and payment gateways
- Verifying that all store data has been accurately transferred, such as product information, customer accounts, and order histories
- Testing the performance and load times of the new site across various devices and browsers
SEO optimization
Migrating to a new platform can impact your website’s search engine rankings if not handled properly. To maintain and improve your SEO, consider:
- Setting up 301 redirects from your old URLs to corresponding new pages
- Updating your sitemap and submitting it to search engines
- Optimizing your store for on-page SEO factors, such as meta titles, descriptions, and heading tags
Employee training
Ensure your team is adequately trained on the new platform to maintain operational efficiency. This may involve:
- Providing comprehensive training sessions on the back-end interface, order management, and inventory control
- Sharing documentation, tutorials, and best practices for managing the new store
- Assigning specific roles and responsibilities to team members for different aspects of the store
Monitoring and maintenance of customer data
Even after successful migration, it’s essential to continuously monitor your store and address any issues that may arise. This includes:
- Regularly checking for software updates and security patches from Shopify or BigCommerce
- Monitoring site performance, uptime, and user experience metrics
- Promptly addressing customer support inquiries and feedback
- Conducting routine maintenance tasks, such as data backups and plugin updates
Ready to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify?
Transferring from BigCommerce to Shopify can be a transformative decision for your ecommerce business. Shopify’s user-friendly interface, extensive app ecosystem, and robust features make it an attractive option for businesses looking to scale and streamline their online presence.
However, making the switch from Shopify to BigCommerce, or vice versa, can be a complex process, requiring careful planning and execution. That’s where our team of expert ecommerce developers comes in. As a certified Shopify partner, we’re here to help you move from BigCommerce to Shopify with little to no downtime.
Our comprehensive migration service includes:
- A detailed data audit and migration planning for your BigCommerce or Shopify store
- Seamless transfer of products, customers, orders, and content
- Custom theme development and design optimization
- App and integration setup to replicate and enhance your Shopify or BigCommerce store functionality
- Thorough testing and quality assurance for your ecommerce business
We understand that every business is unique, which is why we take a personalized approach to each migration project. Our team works closely with you to understand your specific requirements, goals, and challenges, tailoring our services to meet your needs. There is no fixed algorithm we use to migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce or BigCommerce to Shopify. Each migration follows a detailed and Agile roadmap for a smooth transfer.
By partnering with Dinarys to export BigCommerce to Shopify, you can rest assured that your store is in capable hands. We’ll handle the technical complexities, allowing you to focus on growing your business and providing exceptional customer experiences.
We can also move your store from Shopify to BigCommerce if BigCommerce is a better match. Our teams have 10+ years of hands-on cross-platform experience, allowing us to smoothly transfer Shopify stores to BigCommerce or BigCommerce stores to Shopify.
Don’t let the fear of migration hold you back from unlocking the full potential of your ecommerce business. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a successful migration.
Summing up
Migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify (or vice versa) can be a game-changer for businesses seeking a more scalable, feature-rich, and user-friendly ecommerce platform.
While BigCommerce is a robust solution, Shopify offers advanced functionality, seamless integrations, and an intuitive interface. Which is the best choice for your business will depend on your current goals and needs.
Setting up and managing your Shopify online store offers numerous benefits, including better scalability and ease of use. And there you have it — the ultimate BigCommerce to Shopify migration plan from your dedicated ecommerce development partner.
We know migrations can be stressful, but with our team of experts on your side, you can sit back, relax, and watch your e-commerce dreams come true. So what are you waiting for? Let’s do this!
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