Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Adobe Commerce to Square Online Migration Guide

Adobe Commerce

Square Online

This guide walks you through migrating from Adobe Commerce to Square Online to achieve seamless POS and online store integration. Learn how to transition from enterprise-level complexity to Square's streamlined omnichannel solution.

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Adobe Commerce to Square Online Migration Guide

A comprehensive preparation checklist for migrating from Adobe Commerce to Square Online, focusing on achieving unified POS and online store operations while leveraging Square's integrated ecosystem.

Audit Current Adobe Commerce Data Structure

Export your complete product catalog, customer database, and order history from Adobe Commerce using the platform's native export tools or API access. Document your current product variants, custom attributes, and pricing structures since Square Online has different limitations for product options and SKU management.

Set Up Square Account and Choose Plan

Create your Square account and select the appropriate Square Online plan (Free, Plus $29/mo, or Premium $79/mo) based on your feature requirements. Configure your Square POS system if you haven't already, as this will be the foundation for your unified omnichannel experience.

Prepare Product Data for Square Online Format

Reformat your Adobe Commerce product data to match Square Online's structure, including product descriptions, images, and inventory levels. Note that Square Online has specific requirements for product variants and may require consolidating complex Adobe Commerce product configurations into simpler options.

Configure Payment Processing and Tax Settings

Set up Square's integrated payment processing to replace your current Adobe Commerce payment gateways, ensuring all transaction fees and processing rates meet your business requirements. Configure tax settings in Square to match your current Adobe Commerce tax rules and regional requirements.

Design and Customize Your Square Online Store

Select and customize a Square Online template that matches your brand, uploading your logo, brand colors, and content from Adobe Commerce. Set up your navigation structure, policies, and any custom pages needed to maintain your current customer experience.

Test Integration and Plan Go-Live Strategy

Import a subset of products and test the complete customer journey from browsing to checkout, including POS integration if applicable. Plan your domain transfer, URL redirects, and customer communication strategy to minimize disruption during the migration from Adobe Commerce to Square Online.

Adobe Commerce to Square Online Migration Process

A comprehensive 12-step migration guide for transitioning from Adobe Commerce to Square Online, designed to achieve unified POS and online store experience while preserving critical business data and maintaining SEO rankings.

Data Audit and Export Planning

2-3 days

Conduct a comprehensive audit of your Adobe Commerce store to identify all data requiring migration including products, customers, orders, and digital assets. Use Adobe Commerce's native export functionality to extract product catalogs via System > Data Transfer > Export, and prepare customer data exports. Document your current store structure, custom attributes, and any third-party integrations that need consideration during migration.

Tips:

• Export data during low-traffic periods to avoid performance issues
• Create a detailed inventory of all custom product attributes and categories
• Document all active payment gateways and shipping methods currently in use

Important:

• Adobe Commerce exports may contain sensitive customer data - ensure secure handling
• Large product catalogs may require segmented exports to avoid timeout issues

Square Account Setup and POS Integration

1 day

Create your Square business account and set up Square Online store, ensuring you select the appropriate plan that supports your product volume and feature requirements. Configure your Square POS system if you have physical locations, as this will be the foundation of your unified omnichannel experience. Link your existing Square POS data if you're already using Square for in-store transactions.

Tips:

• Choose a Square Online plan that accommodates your current product count and expected growth
• Ensure your business verification documents are ready for Square's approval process
• Set up Square POS first if you have physical locations to establish inventory sync

Important:

• Square account approval can take 1-2 business days
• Some advanced Adobe Commerce features may not have direct Square Online equivalents

Theme Selection and Design Setup

2-3 days

Select an appropriate Square Online theme that matches your brand aesthetic and functional requirements, considering that customization options are more limited than Adobe Commerce. Upload your brand assets including logos, color schemes, and custom fonts to maintain brand consistency. Configure the basic site structure and navigation to mirror your current customer journey flow.

Tips:

• Choose themes with built-in mobile responsiveness as this cannot be easily customized later
• Prepare high-quality brand assets in multiple formats for optimal display
• Plan your navigation structure to accommodate Square Online's menu limitations

Important:

• Square Online themes have limited customization compared to Adobe Commerce
• Some design elements may require workarounds due to platform constraints

Product Catalog Migration

3-5 days

Import your product data into Square Online using CSV uploads through the Square Dashboard's Items section, mapping Adobe Commerce product attributes to Square's product fields. Configure product variants, pricing, and inventory levels, ensuring that SKUs remain consistent for inventory tracking. Set up product categories and organize your catalog structure to optimize navigation and search functionality.

Tips:

• Maintain consistent SKU formatting to enable seamless POS integration
• Use Square's bulk import templates to ensure proper data formatting
• Test product variant configurations with a small batch before full import

Important:

• Complex product configurations may need simplification for Square Online
• Image imports may require manual adjustment for optimal display

Customer Data Migration

2-3 days

Transfer customer information from Adobe Commerce to Square Online, noting that direct customer import capabilities are limited and may require manual processes or third-party tools. Focus on migrating essential customer data including contact information and purchase history where possible. Set up customer account features and configure email preferences to match previous settings.

Tips:

• Prioritize your most valuable customers for manual migration if bulk import isn't available
• Prepare customer communication about the platform change and new account setup process
• Export customer segments from Adobe Commerce to recreate marketing lists

Important:

• Customer passwords cannot be migrated and will need to be reset
• Order history migration may be limited or require manual processes

Payment Gateway Configuration

1-2 days

Configure Square's integrated payment processing system, which will handle both online and POS transactions seamlessly. Set up additional payment methods if needed, such as PayPal or Apple Pay, through Square's payment settings. Test payment flows thoroughly to ensure proper transaction processing and verify that payment data syncs correctly between online and POS systems.

Tips:

• Take advantage of Square's unified payment reporting across online and POS channels
• Configure payment method display order based on customer preferences
• Set up automatic payment confirmations and receipt templates

Important:

• Payment processing fees may differ from your Adobe Commerce setup
• Some payment methods available in Adobe Commerce may not be supported

Shipping and Fulfillment Setup

2 days

Configure shipping zones, rates, and methods in Square Online to replicate your Adobe Commerce shipping strategy. Set up real-time shipping calculations if previously used, and configure local delivery options if you have physical store locations. Integrate with shipping carriers and configure pickup options for omnichannel fulfillment.

Tips:

• Leverage Square's local delivery features if you have physical locations
• Set up shipping confirmations and tracking number automation
• Configure pickup options to drive traffic to physical stores

Important:

• Advanced shipping rules may need simplification
• Some third-party shipping integrations may not be available

Tax Configuration and Compliance

1-2 days

Set up tax rates and rules in Square Online to match your Adobe Commerce tax configuration, utilizing Square's automatic tax calculation features where available. Configure tax settings for different jurisdictions and ensure compliance with local tax requirements. Verify that tax calculations work correctly for both online orders and POS transactions.

Tips:

• Use Square's automatic tax features to reduce manual configuration
• Verify tax calculations match your previous Adobe Commerce setup
• Configure tax-exempt customer handling if applicable to your business

Important:

• Complex tax rules may require simplification
• International tax configurations may have limitations

Content and SEO Migration

3-4 days

Migrate your website content including product descriptions, category pages, blog posts, and static pages from Adobe Commerce to Square Online. Optimize content for Square Online's SEO capabilities, updating meta titles, descriptions, and URL structures. Configure Google Analytics and other tracking tools to maintain performance monitoring capabilities.

Tips:

• Prioritize high-traffic pages and top-converting product descriptions
• Optimize images for web performance during the migration process
• Set up Google Search Console for the new domain structure

Important:

• Square Online has more limited SEO customization options
• Blog functionality may be more basic than Adobe Commerce

URL Redirects and SEO Preservation

2-3 days

Create a comprehensive redirect strategy to preserve SEO rankings and ensure customers can find your products after migration. Map Adobe Commerce URLs to corresponding Square Online URLs and implement 301 redirects where possible. Update internal links and ensure all navigation elements point to correct new URLs.

Tips:

• Create a complete URL mapping spreadsheet before implementing redirects
• Test redirects with SEO tools to ensure proper implementation
• Monitor search console for crawl errors after launch

Important:

• Square Online may have limitations on custom redirect implementations
• Some complex URL structures may not have direct equivalents

Integration Testing and POS Sync Verification

3-4 days

Conduct comprehensive testing of all store functions including product browsing, cart functionality, checkout process, and payment processing. Test the synchronization between your Square Online store and POS system, verifying that inventory updates, order management, and customer data sync properly across channels. Perform test transactions in both online and POS environments.

Tips:

• Test with real payment amounts in Square's sandbox environment
• Verify inventory sync by making test purchases through different channels
• Test customer account functionality and order history display

Important:

• Allow extra time for testing omnichannel features
• Some integrations may require additional configuration after initial testing

Go-Live and Post-Launch Monitoring

1-2 days

Execute the final cutover from Adobe Commerce to Square Online during a planned maintenance window, updating DNS settings and activating the new store. Monitor all systems closely for the first 48-72 hours, tracking website performance, transaction processing, and POS synchronization. Communicate the change to customers and provide support for any account-related questions.

Tips:

• Schedule go-live during low-traffic periods to minimize impact
• Prepare customer service team with information about platform changes
• Monitor analytics closely to identify any issues with user experience

Important:

• Keep Adobe Commerce accessible as backup for first 24-48 hours
• Be prepared for increased customer service inquiries during transition

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: Adobe Commerce supports Unlimited vs Square Online's Unlimited.

customers

Customer contact info, addresses, marketing preferences transfer. Passwords must be reset for security.

orders

Order history for reference. Consider importing last 3-6 months for customer service.

Common challenges and solutions

Essential questions and answers for businesses migrating from Adobe Commerce to Square Online, covering technical challenges, feature differences, and operational considerations.

How long does it typically take to migrate from Adobe Commerce to Square Online?

Migration from Adobe Commerce to Square Online typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on your catalog size and customization complexity. The process involves data export from Adobe Commerce, setting up your Square Online store, and migrating products, customers, and order history through Square's import tools or third-party migration services.

Will I lose my search engine rankings when migrating to Square Online?

You may experience temporary SEO impact due to URL structure changes and Square Online's limited SEO customization options compared to Adobe Commerce. Set up 301 redirects from your old URLs, submit a new sitemap to search engines, and be prepared that Square Online offers fewer advanced SEO features than Adobe Commerce's extensive SEO capabilities.

Can I migrate my complete order history and customer data from Adobe Commerce?

Square Online supports importing customer data and basic order information, but complex order histories with custom fields may not transfer completely. You can export customer data from Adobe Commerce's database and import it into Square Online, though some advanced order attributes and custom customer fields may be lost in the process.

What happens to my Adobe Commerce extensions and third-party integrations?

Most Adobe Commerce extensions won't have direct equivalents in Square Online due to its simpler architecture and fewer integration options. You'll need to find alternative solutions within Square's ecosystem or accept reduced functionality, as Square Online focuses on core e-commerce features rather than extensive customization.

How do Square Online's features compare to Adobe Commerce's advanced capabilities?

Square Online offers basic e-commerce functionality with excellent POS integration but lacks Adobe Commerce's advanced features like complex product configurations, B2B capabilities, and extensive customization options. You'll gain simplified management and unified retail operations but lose advanced marketing tools, complex catalog management, and enterprise-level scalability.

How much downtime should I expect during the migration process?

You can minimize downtime to just a few hours by building your Square Online store in parallel with your existing Adobe Commerce site. The main downtime occurs when switching DNS and payment processing, but proper planning allows you to keep your Adobe Commerce store running until Square Online is fully ready to go live.

What's the best way to test my Square Online store before going live?

Use Square Online's preview mode to test all functionality including product browsing, checkout process, and payment processing with Square's test payment methods. Create a staging environment by setting up your store on a temporary domain, and thoroughly test the integration between your online store and Square POS system if you plan to use both.

Can I recreate my Adobe Commerce custom theme design in Square Online?

Square Online offers limited theme customization compared to Adobe Commerce's complete design flexibility. While you can customize colors, fonts, and layouts within Square's templates, you cannot recreate complex custom designs or advanced functionality that required custom development in Adobe Commerce.

Will customers need to reset their passwords after migration?

Yes, customers will need to create new accounts and passwords in Square Online as encrypted password data cannot be migrated from Adobe Commerce. Plan to communicate this change to your customers in advance and consider offering incentives for account recreation to maintain customer engagement during the transition.

How should I handle orders and inventory during the migration period?

Implement a inventory freeze period or carefully manage stock levels across both platforms to prevent overselling. Process any pending Adobe Commerce orders before migration, and ensure your Square POS system is synced with inventory levels to maintain accurate stock counts across all sales channels.

What are the cost differences between Adobe Commerce and Square Online?

You'll likely see significant cost savings, moving from Adobe Commerce's $2,000+ monthly fees to Square Online's free plan or paid plans ($29-79/month). However, factor in Square's payment processing fees (2.9% + 30¢ for online transactions) and potential costs for rebuilding functionality that was included in your Adobe Commerce setup.

How can I migrate customer reviews and ratings to Square Online?

Square Online has basic review functionality, but migrating reviews from Adobe Commerce requires manual export and import processes. You may need to use third-party review apps available in Square's App Marketplace or manually recreate important reviews, as direct review migration tools are limited compared to other e-commerce platforms.