Moderate 4-7 days 12 steps

Shopify to Adobe Commerce Migration Guide

Shopify

Adobe Commerce

This guide walks you through migrating from Shopify to Adobe Commerce to unlock enterprise-grade features and eliminate dependency on paid apps for advanced functionality.

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Shopify to Adobe Commerce Migration Preparation

Essential steps to prepare for migrating from Shopify to Adobe Commerce, focusing on enterprise-grade features and advanced customization capabilities.

Audit Current Shopify Setup and Requirements

Document all your current Shopify apps, custom code, and business processes to understand what needs to be recreated in Adobe Commerce. Pay special attention to product variants (Shopify's 100-variant limit vs Adobe Commerce's unlimited variants) and any custom functionality that leverages Shopify's API or Liquid templating.

Plan Adobe Commerce Architecture and Hosting

Determine whether you'll use Adobe Commerce Cloud or on-premise hosting based on your budget ($2,000+/month for Commerce or custom Enterprise pricing). Set up your development, staging, and production environments, considering Adobe Commerce's more complex infrastructure requirements compared to Shopify's hosted solution.

Export and Prepare Shopify Data

Use Shopify's built-in CSV export to download products, customers, and orders data from your admin panel. Clean and format this data to match Adobe Commerce's import requirements, noting that you may need to restructure product variants and customer data to leverage Adobe Commerce's more advanced data structure.

Design Custom Theme and Extensions Strategy

Plan your Adobe Commerce theme development or customization, moving away from Shopify's Liquid templates to Adobe Commerce's PHP-based system. Identify which Shopify apps can be replaced with native Adobe Commerce features or third-party extensions, taking advantage of the platform's superior customization capabilities.

Configure Enterprise Features and B2B Capabilities

Set up Adobe Commerce's advanced features that weren't available in Shopify, such as multiple websites/stores, advanced pricing rules, customer segments, and B2B functionality. Configure the admin panel structure and user permissions to match your enterprise workflow requirements.

Test Integration and Payment Gateway Setup

Configure payment gateways, shipping methods, and third-party integrations in your Adobe Commerce staging environment. Test the data import process and ensure all business-critical functionality works correctly before scheduling the final migration, paying special attention to any custom enterprise features you're implementing.

Shopify to Adobe Commerce Migration Guide

A comprehensive 12-step process for migrating from Shopify to Adobe Commerce, designed for enterprise businesses seeking advanced features, unlimited product variants, and extensive customization capabilities.

Data Export and Analysis

2-3 days

Export all data from Shopify using the built-in CSV export functionality for products, customers, and orders. Access your Shopify admin panel and navigate to Settings > Export to generate comprehensive CSV files. Analyze your current product catalog, paying special attention to products with variants approaching Shopify's 100-variant limit. Document custom fields, metafields, and any third-party app data that may require special handling during migration.

Tips:

• Export data during low-traffic periods to ensure completeness
• Use Shopify's Export app for more granular control over data selection
• Create a data mapping spreadsheet to track field relationships between platforms

Important:

• Shopify's built-in export may not include all metafields or custom app data
• Large stores may hit export timeouts - consider breaking exports into smaller chunks

Adobe Commerce Environment Setup

3-5 days

Provision your Adobe Commerce Cloud environment or set up on-premises infrastructure based on your enterprise requirements. Configure the appropriate Adobe Commerce edition (Commerce Pro or Commerce Enterprise) and establish development, staging, and production environments. Set up proper access controls, SSL certificates, and CDN configuration. Install necessary extensions and configure Elasticsearch or OpenSearch for catalog search functionality.

Tips:

• Choose Adobe Commerce Cloud for automatic scaling and maintenance
• Configure Fastly CDN early for optimal performance testing
• Set up New Relic or similar monitoring tools from the start

Important:

• Adobe Commerce requires significant server resources - ensure adequate hosting
• Database configuration is critical for performance with large catalogs

Theme Selection and Customization

2-4 weeks

Select an appropriate Adobe Commerce theme that aligns with your enterprise branding and B2B requirements. Consider themes optimized for large catalogs and complex product configurations. Begin customizing the theme to match your current Shopify store design, focusing on responsive design and enterprise features like quick order forms, customer-specific pricing, and advanced search functionality. Implement any custom functionality that was previously handled by Shopify apps.

Tips:

• Choose themes built specifically for B2B if applicable to your business model
• Prioritize mobile responsiveness and page load speed optimization
• Consider PWA Studio for modern, app-like user experiences

Important:

• Adobe Commerce themes are more complex than Shopify themes - budget extra development time
• Ensure theme compatibility with your planned extensions and customizations

Product Catalog Migration

1-2 weeks

Import your product catalog using Adobe Commerce's built-in import functionality or specialized migration tools. Map Shopify product fields to Adobe Commerce attributes, taking advantage of unlimited variant capabilities for complex products. Configure product attributes, attribute sets, and categories to support your enterprise catalog structure. Set up advanced pricing rules, tier pricing, and customer group-specific pricing if required for B2B operations.

Tips:

• Use Adobe Commerce's advanced attribute system to better organize product data
• Implement configurable products for items with multiple variants
• Set up proper URL rewrites to maintain SEO value during migration

Important:

• Product import may fail with improperly formatted CSV files - validate data thoroughly
• Complex product relationships may require manual configuration after import

Customer Data Migration

3-5 days

Import customer data from Shopify CSV exports into Adobe Commerce, mapping customer fields and maintaining account relationships. Configure customer groups and segments for B2B functionality, including company accounts, approval workflows, and credit limits if applicable. Set up customer attributes and custom fields to match your enterprise requirements. Implement proper data validation and duplicate detection during the import process.

Tips:

• Use Adobe Commerce's customer segmentation for targeted marketing
• Configure B2B company structures if migrating to a B2B model
• Set up customer approval workflows for enterprise account management

Important:

• Customer passwords cannot be migrated - customers will need to reset passwords
• Complex customer hierarchies may require manual setup in B2B scenarios

Order History Import

2-3 days

Import historical order data from Shopify to maintain customer purchase history and enable accurate reporting in Adobe Commerce. Configure order statuses, payment methods, and shipping methods to match your current operations. Set up proper order numbering sequences and ensure order data integrity. Create custom reports and dashboards to analyze historical sales data and customer behavior patterns.

Tips:

• Import recent orders first to maintain customer service continuity
• Configure order status workflows to match your fulfillment process
• Set up automated order processing rules for efficiency

Important:

• Historical order data may not include all transaction details from payment processors
• Large order histories can impact database performance if not properly indexed

Payment Gateway Configuration

3-5 days

Configure payment gateways in Adobe Commerce to match or improve upon your current Shopify payment setup. Integrate with enterprise payment processors like Authorize.Net, PayPal Payflow Pro, or Braintree for advanced features. Set up payment methods specific to B2B operations such as purchase orders, credit terms, and offline payment methods. Configure PCI compliance settings and fraud protection measures appropriate for enterprise-level transactions.

Tips:

• Test payment gateways thoroughly in staging environment before going live
• Configure multiple payment methods for different customer segments
• Set up payment method restrictions based on customer groups or regions

Important:

• Payment gateway configurations require careful testing to avoid transaction failures
• Some payment methods may require additional security certifications for enterprise use

Shipping and Fulfillment Setup

1-2 weeks

Configure shipping methods, rates, and zones in Adobe Commerce to support your enterprise fulfillment requirements. Set up integrations with shipping carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL for real-time rates and tracking. Configure advanced shipping rules for B2B scenarios including freight shipping, drop-shipping, and multi-warehouse fulfillment. Implement shipping restrictions and custom shipping methods for specialized products or customer groups.

Tips:

• Use table rate shipping for complex B2B shipping scenarios
• Configure shipping restrictions for hazardous or oversized items
• Set up shipping notifications and tracking integration for customer communication

Important:

• Complex shipping rules can significantly impact checkout performance
• Multi-warehouse setups require careful inventory management configuration

Tax Configuration

3-5 days

Set up comprehensive tax rules in Adobe Commerce to handle enterprise-level tax requirements including multi-jurisdictional tax calculation, VAT handling, and B2B tax exemptions. Configure tax classes for different product types and customer groups. Integrate with tax calculation services like Avalara or TaxJar for automated tax compliance. Set up proper tax reporting and documentation for enterprise accounting requirements.

Tips:

• Use automated tax services for complex multi-state or international tax scenarios
• Configure tax exemption workflows for B2B customers
• Set up proper tax reporting for compliance and accounting purposes

Important:

• Incorrect tax configuration can result in compliance issues and financial penalties
• B2B tax exemptions require proper documentation and validation workflows

Content and SEO Migration

1-2 weeks

Migrate blog posts, pages, and other content from Shopify to Adobe Commerce CMS system. Recreate navigation menus, footer content, and promotional banners to maintain site structure. Implement proper meta tags, structured data, and SEO optimizations for enterprise-level search visibility. Configure Adobe Commerce's built-in SEO features including XML sitemaps, canonical URLs, and rich snippets for product pages.

Tips:

• Use Adobe Commerce's page builder for creating rich, engaging content
• Implement structured data markup for better search engine visibility
• Create content staging workflows for enterprise content management

Important:

• Content migration may require manual formatting adjustments
• Large amounts of content can impact site performance if not properly optimized

URL Redirects and SEO Preservation

3-5 days

Create comprehensive 301 redirects from old Shopify URLs to new Adobe Commerce URLs to preserve SEO rankings and prevent broken links. Map product URLs, category URLs, and content pages to maintain search engine visibility. Implement proper canonical URL structures and configure Adobe Commerce's URL rewrite system. Set up monitoring for 404 errors and implement dynamic redirect rules where possible.

Tips:

• Use Adobe Commerce's URL rewrite management system for efficient redirect handling
• Implement wildcard redirects for systematic URL pattern changes
• Monitor Google Search Console for crawl errors after migration

Important:

• Missing redirects can significantly impact SEO rankings and user experience
• Too many redirect chains can slow down page load times

Testing and Go-Live

1-2 weeks

Conduct comprehensive testing including functionality testing, performance testing, and user acceptance testing on the staging environment. Test all critical paths including product browsing, checkout process, payment processing, and order fulfillment workflows. Perform load testing to ensure the site can handle enterprise-level traffic volumes. Execute the go-live plan including DNS changes, final data synchronization, and monitoring setup for the production environment.

Tips:

• Create detailed test scripts covering all critical business processes
• Perform load testing with realistic traffic patterns and data volumes
• Have a rollback plan ready in case of critical issues during go-live

Important:

• Insufficient testing can lead to critical issues in production
• Plan for potential downtime during DNS propagation and final cutover

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: Shopify supports 100 vs Adobe Commerce'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

Key questions and answers about migrating from Shopify to Adobe Commerce, covering timeline, costs, technical requirements, and operational considerations for enterprise businesses.

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

A complete Shopify to Adobe Commerce migration typically takes 3-6 months for most businesses, depending on catalog size and customization requirements. Enterprise implementations with complex B2B features or extensive customizations can take 6-12 months. The timeline includes data migration, custom development, testing, and staff training phases.

Will migrating from Shopify to Adobe Commerce affect my SEO rankings?

Yes, there will be some SEO impact due to URL structure changes and potential downtime during migration. However, proper 301 redirects, XML sitemap updates, and maintaining meta data can minimize ranking losses. Adobe Commerce's advanced SEO capabilities often result in better long-term search performance for enterprise sites.

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

Yes, you can migrate order history, customer data, and product information using Shopify's built-in CSV export functionality. Adobe Commerce can import this data, though some formatting and field mapping may be required. Customer passwords cannot be migrated and customers will need to reset them.

What happens to my Shopify apps when I migrate to Adobe Commerce?

Shopify apps won't work on Adobe Commerce, so you'll need to find equivalent extensions or custom development alternatives. Adobe Commerce's marketplace offers enterprise-grade extensions, and many popular Shopify app functionalities are built into the core platform. Budget for app replacement costs and functionality gaps during planning.

How much more expensive is Adobe Commerce compared to Shopify?

Adobe Commerce starts at $2,000+ per month based on GMV, significantly higher than Shopify's $39-399 monthly plans. However, the total cost of ownership may be justified for enterprise businesses through built-in features that would require multiple paid apps on Shopify. Factor in development, hosting, and maintenance costs when budgeting.

What enterprise features does Adobe Commerce offer that Shopify doesn't?

Adobe Commerce provides advanced B2B capabilities like custom catalogs, quote management, and company accounts out-of-the-box. It also offers superior multi-store management, advanced inventory management, and enterprise-grade performance optimization. The platform supports complex pricing rules and extensive customization without app dependencies.

How much downtime should I expect during the migration?

With proper planning, downtime can be minimized to just a few hours for DNS propagation and final data sync. Most migration work happens on a staging environment while your Shopify store remains live. The actual cutover typically occurs during low-traffic hours and involves updating DNS settings and final order synchronization.

Do I need technical expertise to manage Adobe Commerce after migration?

Yes, Adobe Commerce requires significantly more technical expertise than Shopify for ongoing management and customization. You'll need developers familiar with PHP, Magento architecture, and server management. Many businesses hire dedicated Adobe Commerce developers or partner with specialized agencies for ongoing support.

Can I keep my current theme design when migrating to Adobe Commerce?

Your Shopify theme cannot be directly transferred to Adobe Commerce due to different templating systems (Liquid vs PHP/XML). You'll need to recreate your design using Adobe Commerce's theme structure, which offers more customization flexibility but requires development work. This is often an opportunity to improve the user experience with enterprise-grade features.

How will the migration affect my customers' ability to log in and access their accounts?

Customer account information transfers, but passwords cannot be migrated for security reasons. Customers will need to use the 'forgot password' feature on their first login attempt to reset their passwords. Order history and account details will be preserved, maintaining customer experience continuity.

Can I continue selling on Shopify while building my Adobe Commerce site?

Yes, you should keep your Shopify store running throughout the migration process to maintain revenue. The Adobe Commerce site is built and tested on a staging environment, with data synced periodically. Only switch over when the new site is fully tested and ready, minimizing business disruption.

Will my product reviews transfer from Shopify to Adobe Commerce?

Product reviews may not transfer automatically depending on your review system (built-in Shopify reviews vs third-party apps). You'll need to export review data and import it into Adobe Commerce's review system or your chosen review extension. Plan for potential review data formatting and mapping requirements during migration.