Migrating your online store from one provider to another is a huge task.
We will show you how to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify as hassle-free as possible, but it will still be a lot of work.
So make sure you are certain it is the right move for you and your store, before you get the process started.
How To Migrate From BigCommerce To Shopify
There are a number of ways to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify. We will cover all four of them below. Choose the one that makes the most sense to you (step 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, or 2-4).
Step 1: Download Your Current BigCommerce Store Data
This is the first thing to do when it comes to migrating your data from one e-commerce store to another. You need to do the following process irrespective of the method of migration you choose.
- Login to your BigCommerce account
- Go to the dashboard and navigate to the products section. Go to bulk actions and select the export option.
- Choose the data fields you want to include in the export. You may want to export product details like SKU, title, description, price, etc.
- Select the option to save the data to a CSV file. Bulk edit in the Export Template and File Format Options, and press continue.
- Open the CSV file and ensure that you have got all the data you need. Once exported, press close. This will save another CSV file with variant data to your downloads folder on your computer.
- You might have to repeat the steps for other data like customer information or order history. For this, look for similar export options in the respective sections (Customers, Orders, etc.).
- If needed, you may create a dedicated folder on your computer or an external drive to store all the exported CSV files. This ensures you have a centralized and easily accessible backup.
If needed, work with the Data Migration teams either at Shopify or BigCommerce to ensure that you have backed up your existing store properly.
The next four steps are the options you have when migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify. You can choose either one of these steps.
Step 2-1: Use The Shopify Store Importer App
Shopify has a store importer function that allows seamless and hassle-free data migration from other platforms like BigCommerce to Shopify. The advantage of using this method is that it is free and the process is also quite simple. The entire data migration can be done in a few simple steps.
- Head over to your Shopify account.
- Go to admin->apps->store importer.
- Select BigCommerce from the dropdown.
- Click on it and click upload.
- Upload the CSV files downloaded on your device (step 1). You can drag and drop the files in the import section. Add the files for both default and bulk edits for the templates to import properly.
- Click import->import.
- The migration should be complete.
Proceed to Step 3 below.
Step 2-2: Use Manual Migration
Use this step instead of step 2-1, if you are familiar with both the Shopify and BigCommerce platforms. Manual migration offers greater control over the migration process unlike in step 2-1, where, if you face a problem, you need to rely on the application’s customer service.
The downside to manual migration is that you need to keep an eye on things and it can also be a time-consuming process. There is also a high likelihood of errors, if you aren’t familiar with any of the platforms.
- Create a Shopify account if you haven’t already.
- Complete all your basic administrative settings on Shopify. Set up the basic store settings, including currency, payment gateways, shipping options, and tax settings.
- Organize the BigCommerce data that you need to import. This includes organizing the products and meta descriptions. Use the steps given in Step 1 to download CSV files from BigCommerce.
- Shopify needs this data in a particular format, so you need to organize your downloaded CSV file according to this format. You can only import files less than 1 MB so you may have to download several small-sized files.
- Your customers will need to re-enter their details.
- Go to Shopify admin
- Go to import your data into Shopify
- Select BigCommerce from the drop-down.
- In the Upload Files tab, click Add File and select your downloaded CSV file. Choose files for both Default and Bulk Edit.
- Click Continue import->import.
- Review your products after migration.
- Choose your Shopify theme and complete your store setup by purchasing a domain.
Proceed to Step 3 below.
Step 2-3: Use Automated Migration Apps
Several apps like Cart2Cart, Matrixify, and LitExtension ease the migration process between BigCommerce and Shopify. They require just a few steps and offer good security.
They also reduce the risk of data loss. Also, these apps have 24/7 customer support so their representatives are available to help should you face any issues during the migration.
Here are the steps if you use Cart2Cart:
- Choose your source and target carts.
- You need to provide the URL, API path, client ID, and access token of your BigCommerce store.
- Set Shopify as your target.
- Click to install plugin.
- Download the Cart2Cart store migration app.
- Choose the entities button: this lets you select the data types you’d like to migrate.
- Also, choose additional options like 301 redirects, migrate categories, SEO URLs, preserve order IDs, and products.
- Click the ‘hamburger’ button to match the BigCommerce store customer groups and order statuses to the corresponding new ones on your Shopify store.
- Click the demo button to see the sample migration. Once you are satisfied, you can go in for full migration.
Proceed to Step 3 in this guide.
Step 2-4: Hire A Professional Developer
As you can see, the methods suggested above are time-consuming and sometimes, they also require you to understand both platforms. If you are unsure about the migration process, you could consider hiring an expert developer or an agency to do the job for you.
The advantage of using a professional is that you can have a stress-free migration process and not worry about losing data. You can also give them your exact requirements to ensure that they do the job well.
The downside is that this can be expensive an option. Also, you need to be up-to-date with the process to ensure the agency is doing things the way you want.
If you do have the budget, you can visit the Shopify Experts Page to find a professional. Check for reviews (Google/Trustpilot) and also make sure that they provide after-sales support.
Step 3: Check The Imported Data
After you have completed the import, it is important to double-check the imported data to make sure it is all there and that it has been imported correctly.
- Once you have imported the data from BigCommerce to Shopify, check the data by visiting your Shopify store page by page.
- Make sure the products are all there with variants, sizes, and colors.
- Check customers and order details.
- If there are any changes needed, visit the import section, click ‘View Items’, and make edits.
- You might need to manually add orders and customers that were not imported.
- Sometimes, if a product has multiple variants in BigCommerce, you might need to manually add these variants in the Shopify store.
BigCommerce To Shopify: Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify, you should be able to pull off the switch as quickly and easily as possible. But, unless you hire someone to do it for you, it will be some work and take some time, especially if your store is large.
So make sure you have thought about the migration carefully, and considered all possible pros and cons of moving to Shopify. You want to be absolutely sure it is the right move for you, before you get started on this undertaking.
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