Even if you’re well aware of the flaws within your website, you might hesitate to relocate your website. eCommerce migration can be expensive and time-consuming, and the main question is whether it’s all worth it arises.
When looking for a new solution, there are several things to consider: do you go with a headless commerce platform or an out-of-the-box solution? Or do you stick with your current platform and try to update it instead? What data do you need to move? Should you switch hosting companies? Should you get a makeover for your storefront?
When choosing a new eCommerce solution, it’s important not to jump in headfirst. After all, this is a decision that will (should) last a long time. It will almost certainly put a financial strain on the company during the transition. Therefore, you want to make sure you’ve taken the best long-term decision possible.
Define the scope of the project
It’s important to know what you want from your new platform to succeed. This is not just for the present but also for the future. Some questions to ask yourself are:
- Do you want customization and personalization?
- Are you considering further expand your eCommerce networks in the future?
- Do you want to make your content more localized?
- Is there any complex business software stack that your preferred solution would integrate with?
Create a diagram of the technology stack and design
Make sure you have a clear picture of your technology stack before you relocate. This enables you to understand how many changes your business is going through. Discuss with your team:
- How can your processes work together?
- How can your new eCommerce solution fit into your current operation?
- Is it simple or difficult to incorporate your current infrastructure into the new platform?
In addition, your team should be reliable to determine what work needs to be done to ensure that the processes necessary to enable the technology infrastructure you want are in place.
Product catalog
The product catalog is the most critical data of your content and your source of profits. Make sure you move to a solution that can easily replicate your catalog layout. Otherwise, it’ll negatively affect the production time. Similarly, ensure that your inventory management system is compatible with the latest approach.
Orders and customers
Customers and orders must be migrated, especially those still unfulfilled or unprocessed, for the migration to go smoothly. It’s necessary to discuss privacy protection during an eCommerce migration. Make sure your customers’ passwords are updated by sending them a password reset connection. Another way is to send them an email explaining the migration and the need to change their password.
Taxes, reporting, and shipping
Make sure you don’t forget about the cornerstones of what makes your store tick, such as the customer support service or shipping partners. Creating a custom solution is akin to kicking at an open door as many third-party providers are dedicated to these areas. Even if your current solution has served you well for years, take a look at what best third-party solutions are offering. Then consider plugging in a third-party service that will save you a lot of development time and money while also allowing your company to expand.
