Shopify Store Migration: Moving from WooCommerce or BigCommerce

Why Stores Migrate to Shopify

The most common migration path to Shopify is from WooCommerce (WordPress-based, requires hosting and constant plugin management) or BigCommerce (feature-rich but often more complex to manage). Stores migrate for several reasons: lower maintenance overhead, better checkout conversion, superior app ecosystem, or frustration with technical complexity and hosting issues.

Migration done badly can destroy SEO, lose customer data, and cause revenue dips during a critical transition period. Migration done well is invisible to customers and search engines. This guide covers how to migrate correctly.

Pre-Migration Audit

Before migrating anything, audit your current store:

• Export all data: Products (with all variants, images, descriptions), customers (with purchase history), orders (for records and LTV analysis), blog posts, pages
• Record all URLs: Every product, collection, blog, and page URL on your current site. These must be preserved or redirected.
• Check organic traffic sources: Which pages currently rank on Google and drive traffic? These pages need special attention during migration.
• List all active integrations: Email platform, review platform, loyalty app, payment processors, shipping integrations — check Shopify compatibility before migration.

URL Structure: The Most Critical Migration Step

Shopify uses a fixed URL structure: /products/[slug], /collections/[slug], /pages/[slug], /blogs/[blog-handle]/[post-slug].

WooCommerce typically uses /product/[slug] (note: no “s”). BigCommerce uses similar variations. Any product URL that changes without a 301 redirect loses its Google ranking.

Create 301 redirects for every URL that changes. Shopify’s URL redirects tool (Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects) handles this. For large catalogues, import redirects via CSV. Map every old URL to its exact Shopify equivalent.

Migrating Product Data

Option 1: Matrixify (Excelify)

The most powerful Shopify import tool. Handles products, variants, images, metafields, collections, customers, and orders in a single CSV/Excel file. Best for complex catalogues. Paid app (from £15/month), but worth it for the time saved and data accuracy.

Option 2: Shopify’s Native Import

Shopify has basic product import via CSV. Works for straightforward product catalogues but doesn’t handle variants, metafields, or customer data as well as Matrixify. Good for small stores under 200 products.

Option 3: Cart2Cart / LitExtension

Automated migration services that connect your existing store directly and migrate all data automatically. Handles WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, and more. Less control than manual migration but significantly faster for large, complex stores.

Migrating Customers and Order History

Customers cannot migrate their passwords (hashing is different between platforms). Options:

• Import customer data (email, address, order history) via Matrixify
• Send a “Your account has moved” email asking customers to set a new password on Shopify
• Use Shopify’s passwordless login (account invitation emails) to prompt re-activation

Order history (for reference, LTV tracking, and loyalty programme starting points) can be imported as “draft orders” or via a specialised import tool. Not strictly necessary for operations but valuable for customer service context.

DNS Cutover: The Launch Moment

Point your domain to Shopify’s servers via DNS. This should be done after all content is migrated, reviewed, and tested. Steps:

• Add your domain in Shopify (Online Store > Domains)
• Update your DNS records at your domain registrar: A record to Shopify’s IP, CNAME for www
• SSL activates automatically once DNS propagates (up to 48 hours)
• Test your store on Shopify’s .myshopify.com URL before switching DNS

Post-Migration Checklist

• All 301 redirects working (test 20 random old URLs)
• Google Search Console updated with new sitemap
• Google Analytics tracking active
• All payment methods tested
• Shipping rates configured and correct
• Email flows updated with new Shopify webhooks
• Google Merchant Center product feed refreshed
• Customer notification emails updated (your logo, brand colours)

Expect 2–4 weeks of preparation for a mid-sized store migration (500–5,000 products). Don’t rush the URL redirect work — a SEO drop from missed redirects can take 6–12 months to recover.