When is it time to consider migrating from Magento to Shopify?

16th November 2023

Being platform agnostic, we are not tied to a specific ecommerce platform. Instead we enable clients to manage their online store, including product listings, transactions, and other aspects of the online buying and selling process, via the platform that works best for them and their brand. This could be Shopify, Adobe Commerce, WooCommerce or BigCommerce – the opportunities are endless.

This willingness to evaluate and adopt different solutions based on the unique requirements and circumstances of every account, rather than being committed to a specific platform means we are flexible and dynamic; putting the brands needs front and centre.

As specific experts in both Shopify and Magento, brands come to us when they want bold strategies that put design needs and growth plans first, and sometimes that means making the switch to a brand new platform.

Re-platforming from Magento to Shopify is a strategic migration that we see many ecommerce businesses consider for various reasons, when it is right for them; it could be budgets, or site speed, but most of the time it is due to the size of the brand themselves and how many products sit on the site.

By migrating to a modular framework on Shopify, that allows for diverse layout combinations, we helped Boodles transform their site. Their bespoke Shopify site is now SEO and conversion rate optimised, and generated 100% increase in conversions and 223% increase in revenue after launch.

We have clients using both platforms successfully, increasing engagement and conversion rates on both, but here are some of the primary motivations that we see when clients are making this switch from Magento to Shopify in particular:

Ease of use

Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface. It's easier to set up and manage a store on Shopify without the need for extensive technical expertise. Magento, on the other hand, can be more complex to configure and maintain if there is no in house resource, making it a compelling choice for businesses looking for a simpler, more user-friendly solution.

Lower maintenance and hosting costs

Shopify is a fully hosted platform, which means you don't need to worry about server management or hosting costs. With Magento, you're responsible for hosting and maintenance, which can be hugely beneficial, but also at times expensive and could require in house or external technical resources.

App ecosystem

Shopify has a robust app ecosystem with a wide variety of apps and integrations that can enhance your store's functionality. This makes it one of the easier to help you extend the capabilities of your store without extensive custom development.

Mobile responsiveness

Shopify provides responsive themes, ensuring your store is optimised for mobile devices. This is crucial, given the increasing prevalence of mobile shopping in our current environment.

Payment gateways

Shopify offers a range of payment gateway options, and it's relatively straightforward to set up without a developer. Magento may require more effort and therefore time to integrate various payment gateways.

Cost-efficiency

In some cases, we see that the total cost of ownership can be lower with Shopify, as it eliminates expenses related to hosting, server maintenance, and additional development work required for those larger Magento stores.

"Choosing Shopify is like having a coding superhero for your online store. With its robust ecosystem and user-friendly interface, Shopify empowers our team to focus on crafting exceptional user experiences, while it effortlessly handles the complexities of ecommerce. It's not just a platform; it's a development ally that turns code into commerce seamlessly, allowing us to bring digital storefronts to life with speed, scalability, and style."

Lead Shopify Developer - Unified

Scalability

Shopify offers scalability without the need for significant technical upgrades. As your business grows, you can easily add new features and products without the hassle of complex development work.

However, it's important to note that the decision to re-platform should not be a spontaneous decision and should be based on a careful assessment of your current tech stack, specific business needs, budget, and long-term goals. The migration process can be complex, and it's advisable to work with experienced professionals to ensure a smooth transition from Magento to Shopify; if that’s what your business needs.

Greater scalability and stability are two critical components of any ecommerce platform, especially for brands poised for rapid growth or international expansion. Shopify is proven to scale in a number of different ways, such as with short-term and long-term increases in demand, concurrent users, and transactions.

Shopify’s scalability speaks for itself:

  • $314B+ total sales so far from Shopify businesses

  • $2.0B+ in annual online revenue made by our largest brands

  • 175 countries and 21 languages to sell in

  • 1.0M+ SKUs from our biggest customers

  • 10,978 peak checkouts per second across Shopify

  • 300M global shoppers in Shopify stores

We migrated Finnies to Shopify for Seamless UX, simple backend management and of course, increased online revenue. The flexibility of Shopify and our own custom system, Origin, improved customer experience, alongside a fully integrated new ERP system.

However, there are also some drawbacks to using Shopify you need to bear in mind when thinking about migrating, including;

• Limited inventory and fulfilment options
• Limited customisation options
• Some international selling limitations
• Not suitable for large-scale businesses unless on the enterprise plan

With over 10 years’ experience in both Adobe Commerce and Shopify, when brands come to us wanting to migrate to Shopify, they know they have platform experts handling their code and re-design.

If you want a seamless migration, but also want a cutting-edge re-design, consultancy and digital marketing support too, we are the agency for your re-platforming project.

Get in touch with our experts now to see how we can help you, or to answer any migration queries you might have. Our door is always open!

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