Shopware 6 Migration: How to successfully switch to the Shopware alternative Shopify.

Are you planning to migrate from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6? Personnel costs, organisational work and, above all, quite a bit of effort go hand in hand with this. The questions you may be asking yourself now are, "Is it worth it?" or even "Is it possible to switch from Shopware to Shopify?"

Questions, like these, reach us frequently. So frequently, in fact, that we've decided to dedicate a separate blog post to this topic. However, before we dig deeper into the matter, we'll deliver the answer in advance: "Yes, indeed!".

In the following, we will present to you why a migration from Shopware to Shopify - especially now - is worthwhile and what it is absolutely necessary to consider.

New update and problems: Migration from Shopware 5 to 6

Shopware dropped the bombshell last year that Shopware 5 would only be supported until July 2024. Security updates will then be taken over by savefive.

This news is currently putting pressure on merchants who have relied on the system. If they want to continue to benefit from Shopware support or need new features for their store, they will have to switch to Shopware 6. However, a simple update is out of the question, as the new version has been programmed from scratch. Rather, a complex store migration must take place.

Why some merchants decide at this point not "just" to migrate to Shopware 6, but to change providers and move to Shopify, will be explained in the following.

Why should you consider migrating from Shopware 6 to Shopify?

The decision to switch from the existing store system to a new one can be difficult and is by no means made overnight. After all, the system forms the basis of the company's success. A change is a far-reaching intervention in the business processes, which may first have to be re-installed with a new store. Nevertheless, there are a number of good reasons for migrating from Shopware to Shopify. Switching from Shopware to Shopify makes sense when...

• ... an upgrade to a new version is pending.

• ... you want to cope with an increased number of visitors.

• ... you want to simplify your processes.

• ... you want more flexibility and customization.

• ... you want to save time, effort and costs in the future.

Features in comparison: Shopware 6 vs Shopify Plus

Below, we compare the two store systems - Shopify vs. Shopware- once again in a more descriptive way to make the differences in the various categories clear.

Tips that help before and during the migration

Latori has already implemented the system change to Shopify for some customers. In the process, the following points have proven their worth, which we would like to share with you as tips.

• Implement the data transfer in two stages: Transfer your data up to one day before your new store goes live. Since new customers are registered and orders are received even after the go-live, you should arrange another data transfer immediately after the launch.

• Allow enough time for the domain changeover: it can take up to two days for your store to be switched to a new domain. So wait until then to shut down your old store.

• Create an incentive for your existing customers to sign up again: Offer your customers a discount so they will also register in your new store and you can continue to work with their customer data.

• Customize your design: A migration is an optimal time to refresh your design. Take your corporate identity into account here so that existing customers can also find their way around the new store without any problems.

• Plan the functions of your store: Consider which old features you want to carry over to your Shopify store and which ones you want to add on top of that. Advanced features can be easily implemented with Shopify Apps. 

Challenges that a migration brings with it

A store migration is not an easy task, and you may encounter several challenges that need to be overcome during this process. For example, the previous links need to be redirected so you don't link to a 404 page and your customers need to be prompted to re-register. Probably the biggest, however, is migrating customer, order and product data.

Especially third-party plugins and their data often cannot be transferred without problems, because the necessary automatisms and structures are missing here. These usually have to be considered individually.

What data can be migrated from Shopware to Shopify?

Now that we know that data transfer can be one of the biggest challenges of a store migration, let's take a look at what data can be transferred at all:

• Products and categories can be fully transferred to Shopify. So this includes information such as: Name, description, SKU, price, URL & meta data, images, manufacturer, variants, number of goods in stock.

• Customers: Of course, you can also take your customer data such as name, billing and shipping address, email address and customer data ID to your new system.

• Order History: You can also transfer data such as purchase amounts, lists of purchased goods, payment details, order dates, status and quantity, discount prices, subtotals, amount of taxes, shipping prices, order comments, etc.

• Product and store reviews can also be migrated from Shopware to Shopify.

• Discount codes, gift certificates and loyalty points are also transferable.

• You can transfer your previous page structure so that your store still has, for example, an about us page, a blog and a contact page. Associated images can also be transferred.

How does a move from Shopware to Shopify work?

In order to migrate your store from Shopware to Shopify, you need to go through the following 9 (simplified) steps:

1. Configure your elementary administrative settings

2. Import all relevant data and content

3. Arrange your products

4. Design your new Shopify store visually according to your wishes

5. Set up your desired domain

6. Set your shipping rates and types

7. Determine the taxes

8. Select payment providers

9. Set up URL redirects

In addition, it is recommended to, firstly, place test orders after configuring payment settings and, secondly, invite customers to create an account for the new store.

If you do not have the necessary resources for a migration yourself, we are very happy to be there for you. We make sure that everything important, like navigation, pages, SEO data, prices, etc. is in place. In addition, we help you add your desired integrations (e.g. local payment providers) and synchronize them with your Shopify Plus store. To help you as a merchant focus on what's important, we'll not only make sure the entire migration process goes as smoothly as possible, but we'll also be happy to advise you on the systems you need to quickly grow your online presence and scale your business.

Live Fast Die Young: An Example of Successful Migration from Shopware to Shopify

As an agency partner and specialist for Shopify development, we have already migrated a number of stores from Shopware to Shopify and supported companies during their relaunch. The fashion label Live Fast Die Young, LFDY for short, is just one example of many.

LFDY decided to switch from Shopware to Shopify due to increasing traffic. Latori implemented this in just 12 weeks.

At that time, an exact reproduction of the layout in the frontend was desired, which our developers were of course happy to implement. Subsequently, all data was successfully transferred and further functions were programmed. Since then, we have been continuously developing further features with and for the brand. In addition, for example, the marketing automation platform Klaviyo, the proprietary search engine offering Algolia and the warehouse management system Peoplevox were integrated.

Conclusion

If you too want to change store systems and migrate to Shopify, this can definitely have a positive impact on your future business success. But one thing is the be-all and end-all when it comes to store migration: good planning! This is the only way to avoid as many mistakes as possible and save a lot of nerves. If you take the tips presented in the article to heart and ideally enlist the help of an expert, such as Latori, you will be well prepared for the changeover. Especially with a view to the future, no Shopware merchant should shy away from such a sensible and necessary step.