/ /
Shopify migration checklist
Shopify Migration

Shopify Migration Checklist - Insider Playbook From a Shopify Premier Partner

Built from Shopify migrations since 2015, this checklist covers the risks we manage in complex projects.

Preslav Nikov
Written by:Founder / CEO
Published on: August 13, 2026
Ilina Nikova
Reviewed by:
Ilina Nikova
Marketing Lead
Reviewed for accuracy by Ilina Nikova
Last updated: August 13, 2026
16 min read
Shopify Migration Checklist
craftberry block - TL;DR (Shopify Migration Checklist)

TL;DR

  • A Shopify platform migration has three layers: data, business logic, and the switch. craftberry manages the entire process through five stages: audit, map, build, validate, and cut over and monitor.
  • Most store migration checklists cover data transfer and redirects but give less attention to the business logic that must work on the new platform.
  • A reliable Shopify migration therefore starts with an inventory of what the current platform does, not just what data it stores. Before moving anything, identify which workflows need to be rebuilt, replaced with Shopify functionality, handled by an app, or connected through custom development.
  • This checklist covers all three layers, with specific considerations for migrations from Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix, and Squarespace.
craftberry block - Key takeaways (Shopify migration checklist)

Key Takeaways

  • A Shopify migration is a data and systems project, not just a storefront rebuild. On Biotrade, we took a structured approach to the migration by defining the data model, mapping URLs, and validating the transfer before launch, resulting in 0% data loss.
  • Validate integrations at the transaction level. An ERP can connect successfully while refunds, inventory, taxes, or order values are mapped incorrectly. Reconcile critical transactions before launch.
  • Plan cutover around business continuity. Keep the existing store operational until Shopify is ready, then run a final sync to capture the latest orders and customer activity.
  • Make product pages a core migration priority. PDPs combine product data, variants, merchandising, reviews, subscriptions, and conversion logic, making them one of the most complex templates to migrate.
  • Run a full migration rehearsal before production. Test the process in development, reconcile the results against the source, fix transformation issues, and repeat before launch.
  • Monitor SEO after launch. Track redirects, canonicals, indexing, organic traffic, and priority landing pages to catch migration issues early.
craftberry block - What a Shopify migration checklist needs to cover

What a Shopify migration checklist needs to cover

A Shopify migration is not just a data transfer.

The highest-risk work often sits in the business logic and systems that do not transfer cleanly: ERP and back-office integrations, tax rules, subscription data, custom discounts, bundles, and other platform-specific workflows.

That is why we audit the existing store before estimating migration scope. A sitemap and product count show the size of a storefront, but not the complexity behind it. An ERP connection, for example, can appear technically successful while orders, refunds, or inventory are mapped incorrectly.

Identifying these dependencies early makes the scope more accurate and reduces operational risk after launch.

We structure Shopify migrations across three connected layers:

1

The data layer: products, variants, customers, orders, discounts, subscriptions, reviews, and content.

2

The logic layer: functionality with no direct Shopify equivalent, including ERP and back-office integrations, cross-border tax rules, custom discounts, bundles, and pre-orders.

3

The switch layer: URL redirects, analytics and tracking, final data sync, cutover, and post-launch monitoring.

This three-layer framework reflects how we approach Shopify migrations in practice: audit, map, rebuild, validate, and control the cutover.

craftberry block - How craftberry approaches Shopify migrations

How craftberry approaches Shopify migrations

We treat Shopify migration as a controlled platform migration, not a data transfer exercise. We start with discovery and audit, planning, build (store setup, data migration, theme and front-end, redirects and tracking), QA, pre-launch, cutover, post-launch monitoring, and handover.

For this checklist, we group that process into five stages a reader can follow end-to-end:

1

Audit: inventory data, integrations, apps, business rules, SEO data, and operational dependencies on the source platform.

2

Map: define how each data type, workflow, integration, and URL and SEO metadata will work on Shopify. Identify what can migrate directly and what requires transformation or custom implementation.

3

Build: migrate data and rebuild functionality using Shopify's native capabilities, Shopify apps, Shopify Functions, apps, or custom integrations where required.

4

Validate: run test migrations and reconcile data, transactions, redirects, integrations, and critical customer journeys against the source platform.

5

Cut over and monitor: run the final delta sync, complete Shopify store setup, switch traffic, keep the legacy store available, and monitor SEO, conversion, transactions, and operational stability after launch.

The key principle is simple: migrate the business outcome, not the old platform's implementation. A source-platform feature does not always need to be reproduced in the same way on Shopify. The correct implementation is the one that preserves the required business logic, data integrity, customer experience, and operational workflow.

craftberry block - Before You Migrate: The Pre-Migration Checklist

Before You Migrate: The Pre-Migration Checklist

A successful Shopify migration starts with discovery. Before implementation, define what moves, what needs to be rebuilt, and what no longer needs to be carried forward.

  1. Build a complete data inventory. Record products, variants, SKUs, collections, customer accounts, orders, discounts, gift cards, reviews, blog posts, and required order history to define migration scope.
  2. Map the data model. Document how source-platform objects map to Shopify and flag anything requiring transformation, custom logic, or a different implementation.
  3. Establish an SEO baseline. Crawl the online store, identify priority URLs in Google Search Console, and capture SEO data, SEO rankings, and organic performance before structural changes.
  4. Audit apps and integrations. Inventory plugins, extensions, Shopify apps, and external systems, then decide whether each will be replaced by native Shopify functionality, a migration app, custom development, or removed.
  5. Secure source-platform access. Confirm admin, database, hosting, DNS, analytics, and other required access before migration. We have seen legacy-platform access lost mid-project, making access checks an essential discovery step.

Choose the Migration Method

The migration method should match the complexity of the data, integrations, and business logic, not simply the size of the catalog.

MethodBest forKey trade-off
Manual CSV export/importSmall, clean catalogs with simple data structures and limited manual migration requirementsLow tooling cost, but limited for complex order history, subscriptions, metafields, and data transformations
Migration tools such as Matrixify or LitExtensionStructured mid-market stores with larger datasetsAutomate data transfer from the source ecommerce platform, but still require mapping, transformation, and validation
Professional migrationComplex catalogs, ERP integrations, multiple markets, subscriptions, and custom business logicHigher upfront investment, but supports complex data architecture, integrations, redirects, and functionality that cannot be transferred automatically

Migration tools can automate data transfer, but they cannot determine how your business logic should work on Shopify.

For example, a tool can transfer a product attribute, but it cannot decide whether it should become a variant, metafield, collection rule, or custom functionality.

Run a Test Migration Before Production

Before moving production data, run a representative migration in a development environment.

  1. Import a representative dataset.
  2. Compare it against the source platform.
  3. Validate data structure, relationships, and critical business logic.
  4. Identify transformation or mapping issues.
  5. Fix the migration process.
  6. Repeat the test before the final production migration.

A migration tool can automate data transfer, but a successful Shopify migration depends on accurate data mapping, validation, and implementation.

craftberry block - Migrating Your Data: Products, Customers, Orders, Discounts, and Subscriptions

Migrating Your Data: Products, Customers, Orders, Discounts, and Subscriptions

A Shopify migration requires more than moving data from one platform to another.

Shopify has its own data model and constraints, so the destination structure should be defined before production data is moved.

Products, Variants, and Collections

Map the source catalog to Shopify's product and variant structure before importing.

If the source platform supports more options or a more granular attribute model, a direct one-to-one migration may require transformation.

Define the destination for each data type:

  • Variants for options that affect SKU, inventory, or purchasing.
  • Line item properties for non-inventory personalization such as engraving or gift messages.
  • Metafields for product specifications and custom attributes.
  • Collections for the destination merchandising structure.

Validate product media, including image count, resolution, filenames, and alt text. Synchronize inventory close to cutover to minimize discrepancies between the initial migration and launch.

craftberry use case:

Migration method should follow the source data, not the tool.

On Shelly, we migrated 500,000+ customer records from Shopware using a direct database export, supporting a 99%+ data-accuracy target for a Shopify Plus build across 100+ markets.

The approach was selected based on the source system and dataset rather than a standard platform export.

Customers

Customer migration requires both data integrity and accurate consent management for existing customers.

Before import:

  • Deduplicate records using a defined matching rule.
  • Map customer fields to Shopify's customer model.
  • Preserve marketing consent and subscription status accurately.
  • Define tags, segments, and account data for the new store.
  • Reconcile migrated records against the source platform.

Define a customer communication strategy for account changes, subscription changes, and any action existing customers need to take after launch.

Orders

  1. Define the required order-history period and how historical orders will be used by customer support, finance, and reporting before store migration.
  2. Determine what needs to be preserved:
    • which order fields need to be migrated;
    • how refunds and fulfillment history will be represented;
    • what functionality will remain available for historical orders after migration.
  3. Disable customer notifications before importing historical orders. If order and shipping confirmation emails are not turned off first, every historical order can re-trigger them, and this cannot be undone after the fact.
  4. Confirm the setting is off before the import runs. If you are not certain, verify it with a senior team member before proceeding.
  5. Validate orders by financial reconciliation, not record count alone:
    • matching counts confirms that records transferred;
    • comparing order totals helps confirm that the underlying transaction data is correct.

Discounts and Gift Cards

Document discount eligibility, minimum-order requirements, product restrictions, customer-specific rules, stacking, free shipping, and automatic discounts before rebuilding promotions.

Simple discount codes are easier to recreate. Complex promotion logic may require Shopify's native discount capabilities, Shopify Functions, an app, or custom development.

Treat gift cards as financial liabilities, not just data.

Reconcile outstanding balances and agree whether they will be migrated or reissued before launch.

Subscriptions

Treat subscription migration as a separate workstream.

Active subscriptions combine customer data, billing schedules, payment credentials, and subscription logic. The migration path depends on the source platform, payment provider, and subscription solution.

Confirm the payment-token migration process before committing to a launch date. If subscribers must re-enter payment details, the business should understand the potential retention impact before migration.

craftberry use case: On Arthrofill, we completed a zero-downtime migration from WooCommerce while preserving subscriptions, reviews, and full purchase history.

Validate Before Cutover

Complete these checks before switching traffic to Shopify:

Never schedule cutover during peak trading, BFCM or the client's own seasonal peak. Push the launch date rather than compressing the migration to hit a fixed one.

Sign off QA across the storefront, checkout, payments, integrations, and critical customer journeys.

  • products and variants;
  • SKUs and inventory;
  • customers and marketing consent;
  • order counts and values;
  • discounts and gift card balances;
  • subscriptions;
  • reviews, content, media, and critical metafields.

The migration is ready when the business data reconciles, not when the import finishes.

craftberry block - The part most checklists skip: rebuilding what has no Shopify equivalent

The part most checklists skip: rebuilding what has no Shopify equivalent

The highest-risk part of a Shopify migration is often rebuilding business logic that has no direct Shopify equivalent.

This includes ERP integrations, cross-border tax workflows, custom discounts, bundles, pre-orders, and other platform-specific functionality.

A migration is complete when these workflows produce the same business outcomes on Shopify as they did on the source platform.

ERP and Back-Office Integrations

When an ERP, accounting, invoicing, or inventory system has no native Shopify integration, design the connection around the business workflow:

Order invoice fulfillment tracking inventory update

Define data ownership, mapping, and failure handling for each step. Refunds require particular attention because an integration can appear successful while producing incorrect financial values.

Validate the money, not just the connection

Compare Shopify and back-office orders, refunds, taxes, and other financial values before and after launch.

On Enhance Auto, we built a custom connector to a back-office system without a native Shopify integration and completed the migration without customer disruption.

Cross-Border Tax and Duties

International migrations require order-level validation of tax and duty logic. Check how destination, tax status, VAT numbers, and checkout rules affect the final order total.

Validate VAT exemption workflows before launch, and keep duties separate from shipping charges when both are collected at checkout.

Migration principle: Test tax, VAT, and duty calculations with representative orders from each target market, not just the default domestic checkout.

Rebuild Custom Business Logic Natively

Established stores often rely on custom rules that standard exports cannot migrate, including customer-specific discounts, rewards, discount stacking, bundles, and pre-orders.

Where possible, rebuild these rules with Shopify Functions and native Shopify capabilities instead of adding multiple apps.

  • Discounts: define eligibility and stacking rules before implementation.
  • Bundles: calculate availability based on the scarcest component.
  • Pre-orders: define how mixed-cart orders will be fulfilled.
  • Customer-specific rules: validate eligibility against current checkout data.

Migration principle: Aim for functional parity, not feature parity. Reproduce the required business outcome with maintainable Shopify architecture rather than copying the old platform's implementation.

“A migration is a data-integrity problem before it's a design problem. The design is what people see; the data is what makes or breaks the business you're paying to protect.”

Preslav Nikov, founder of craftberry

craftberry block - Protecting your SEO: the redirect checklist

Protecting your SEO: the redirect checklist

SEO risk during a Shopify migration starts with lost URLs and SEO value, not the platform switch itself.

Build your redirect map during pre-migration planning using three sources: a full crawl of the old store, Google Search Console data from the previous 12 months, and Google Analytics data for high-traffic pages. Google's guidance on site moves and URL changes

Include campaign and landing-page URLs that may not appear in a site crawl.

  • Map every priority URL to the most relevant Shopify destination. Do not redirect URLs to unrelated pages simply to avoid 404s.
  • Account for Shopify's URL structure. Shopify uses fixed paths such as /products/, /collections/, /pages/, and /blogs/. Preserve the original search intent even when the URL structure changes.
  • Migrate relevant metadata. Preserve existing title tags and meta descriptions where they remain valid. Handle SEO improvements as a separate optimization task.
  • Implement and test 301 redirects. Check for redirect chains, incorrect destinations, and missing redirects on high-value URLs.
  • Monitor 404s from day one. Track broken links and crawl errors after launch so you can identify and fix URL problems quickly.
  • Submit the new XML sitemap to Google Search Console after launch.
  • Monitor search rankings and organic traffic. Some short-term fluctuation is normal, but persistent losses should trigger a technical SEO investigation.

Migration principle: Protect existing SEO value first.

Optimize the new Shopify URL structure after you have preserved your priority URLs, redirects, and organic visibility.

Build the redirect map from evidence, not the sitemap alone. On Biotrade, we mapped the URL architecture before moving data, helping preserve SEO across 25+ markets alongside 0% data loss. other case

craftberry block - The cutover checklist: launching without downtime

The cutover checklist: launching without downtime

A controlled Shopify migration keeps the existing store live until the new store is ready for production.

Before cutover, freeze non-essential changes, validate the final build, and run a final delta sync to capture orders, customers, inventory, and other data created or changed during the migration window.

“A good migration has no downtime. The store keeps selling on the old platform right up to the switch, then our launch team runs a second sync of the last hour of orders so nothing is lost. The hard part was never the switch, it's getting the field mapping right first.”

Preslav Nikov, founder of craftberry

Before Cutover

Complete these checks before switching traffic to Shopify:

  • Never schedule cutover during peak trading, BFCM or the client's own seasonal peak. Push the launch date rather than compressing the migration to hit a fixed one.
  • Sign off QA across the storefront, checkout, payments, integrations, and critical customer journeys.
  • Validate redirects by checking that priority URLs resolve to the correct Shopify destinations without chains or incorrect targets.
  • Document the rollback plan and define the specific conditions that trigger a rollback before launch.
  • Lower DNS TTL in advance to reduce propagation time if you need to revert traffic to the source store.
  • Freeze the source store at the agreed cutover point. Stop new products, configuration changes, and administrative edits during the final migration window.

During Cutover

Run a final delta sync before switching traffic to Shopify. This captures orders, customers, inventory, and other data created or changed since the initial migration.

Then:

  1. Point the domain to Shopify and verify DNS, SSL, and critical store settings.
  2. Test critical customer journeys including checkout, payment gateways, Shopify Payments, redirects, analytics, and key integrations.
  3. Reconcile the latest orders and inventory against the source store.
  4. Monitor transactions, errors, and customer activity immediately after launch.

Keep the legacy store available after cutover. Do not decommission it until the Shopify store passes post-launch validation and the migration is stable. This preserves a rollback path if you identify a critical data or integration issue.

Rollback Planning

Rollback should be a defined procedure, not an emergency decision made during launch.

Keep the legacy store available and verify in advance that traffic can be routed back if a critical data, checkout, or integration issue requires reverting to the previous platform.

The real challenge of cutover is keeping data, integrations, and business logic aligned until traffic moves to Shopify, not simply switching the domain.

QA and Data Validation Checklist

A Shopify migration requires two separate QA passes: data validation and storefront validation.

A storefront can work correctly while the underlying migration still contains incorrect prices, duplicate records, broken mappings, or incomplete order data.

Data validation

Reconcile the Shopify store against the source system before launch:

  • Compare record counts for products, variants, customers, orders, and collections.
  • Reconcile order totals, not just record counts, to confirm that financial data transferred correctly.
  • Spot-check products across key categories for prices, inventory, images, variants, and metafields.
  • Validate customer records including addresses, tags, marketing consent, and order history.
  • Check for data anomalies such as duplicate SKUs, zero-price products, missing images, and orphaned variants.

Front-end QA

  • Verify product and collection pages display correct prices, images, variants, inventory, and merchandising content.
  • Confirm customers can add products to cart from key entry points.
  • Check responsive layouts across representative mobile and desktop devices.
  • Verify transactional emails use the correct branding and order information.

Functional QA

  • Run test orders with different payment, discount, and gift-card scenarios.
  • Test representative 301 redirects on the live Shopify store.
  • Confirm Google Analytics, tracking, checkout, payment gateways, and critical integrations work correctly.
  • Reconcile test orders and inventory changes against the source system.
  • Keep the legacy store accessible until post-launch validation is complete.

Migration QA should compare the Shopify store against the source system, not only against a predefined checklist. On Batch'd, we used this approach during the migration from WordPress, achieving 100% data accuracy and zero downtime.

Migration principle: Validate the data, storefront, and business-critical workflows separately. A successful migration preserves the customer-facing experience, the underlying data and operational logic.

craftberry block - Post-launch monitoring checklist

Post-launch monitoring checklist

A Shopify migration is not complete at launch, so use the first 90 days for post-migration optimization and to validate performance, SEO, conversion, and operational stability against the pre-migration baseline.

Monitor at minimum:

  • Customer behavior: Review session recordings to identify friction in navigation, product discovery, cart, and checkout.
  • 404 errors: Monitor the 404 tracker and create a dedicated GA4 report to identify broken or high-value URLs.
  • Organic performance: Compare traffic to priority pages against the pre-migration baseline. Check Google Search Console weekly for indexing, search rankings, coverage, and average position.
  • Conversion funnel: Track the Shopify funnel from product views through cart and purchase to identify post-launch drop-off.
  • Revenue: Compare revenue with the same period last year. This is the clearest commercial signal that the migration is supporting the business.
  • Paid acquisition: Brief the paid media team before launch so they can investigate changes in CPC, CPA, or conversion rate instead of treating them as normal variance.
  • SEO recovery: Expect search visibility to fluctuate after a migration. Define 30-, 60-, and 90-day SEO expectations before launch and investigate persistent declines rather than assuming they will resolve automatically.

Migration principle: Measure post-launch performance against a documented pre-migration baseline and continue post-launch optimization until performance stabilizes. Without a baseline, you cannot reliably separate normal migration fluctuations from problems that require action.

craftberry use case: On Uberlube, we monitored the store after its migration from WooCommerce as it expanded into 15 new countries. The project delivered a 6.53% conversion increase, 40% faster load times, and 99.99% uptime.

craftberry block - Platform-specific checklist notes

Platform-specific checklist notes

The source platform determines which parts of a store-to-Shopify migration require the most planning.

Source platform Key migration constraint What to validate before migration
Magento / Adobe Commerce Complex product and catalog structures require careful mapping. Configurable products with multiple attributes may not map directly to Shopify variants. Audit product attributes, configurable products, custom fields, pricing rules, and catalog relationships before defining the Shopify data model.
WooCommerce The core product data is usually straightforward to migrate, but plugins can contain critical business logic. Inventory active plugins and identify which ones control subscriptions, pricing, discounts, orders, customer data, or other workflows that need to be rebuilt on Shopify.
BigCommerce Product options and modifiers do not map to Shopify in the same way. Modifiers are not inventory-tracked and should not be treated as Shopify variants. Separate inventory-tracked options from non-inventory modifiers and define how each should work in the Shopify product model.
Wix Export limitations can make customer and order data harder to migrate. Some data may require CSV extraction or manual handling. Confirm which products, customers, orders, and historical data can be exported before finalizing the migration scope.
Squarespace Product and content exports do not provide a complete migration dataset. Orders and customer data require separate extraction. Validate product, blog, order, and customer exports independently and define how each dataset will be mapped to Shopify.

What to check before migrating from Adobe Commerce: Adobe states that it will stop maintaining Cloud environments running unsupported versions from 1 June 2027, so check your current Adobe Commerce version and support status before setting the migration timeline. Adobe Commerce lifecycle policy

Before defining the Shopify data model, audit product attributes, configurable products, custom fields, pricing rules, and catalog relationships. Configurable products with multiple attributes may not map directly to Shopify variants and can require data transformation before migration.

craftberry block - Choosing a Migration Expert: What to Ask and When to Do It Yourself

Choosing a Migration Expert: What to Ask and When to Do It Yourself

You can often manage a store to Shopify migration internally when your catalog is clean, integrations are limited, and the data model is straightforward.

For more complex projects, a Shopify migration agency should be able to explain how it will handle data, integrations, SEO, and cutover, rather than simply recommend a migration tool.

The risk increases when the migration involves ERP systems, subscriptions, multiple markets, complex business logic, or a large indexed URL footprint.

At that point, the project requires decisions about data mapping, redirects, integrations, and how existing functionality should be rebuilt on Shopify.

If you are evaluating a migration partner, ask:

  • Ask for relevant migration results.

    Look for experience with your ecommerce business, source platform, and level of data or integration complexity, not just a general portfolio.

  • Ask how they handle the final data sync.

    Confirm how they capture orders, customers, inventory, and other changes made between the initial migration and cutover.

  • Verify Shopify credentials.

    For enterprise migrations, confirm relevant Shopify Plus experience and current Partner status.

  • Confirm who delivers the work.

    Ask which parts of the migration are handled in-house and whether any development or data work is subcontracted.

  • Ask who owns the redirect strategy.

    Confirm who builds the 301 redirect map, how priority URLs are identified, and how redirects are tested before launch.

  • Ask how they handle missing integrations.

    If no suitable native integration exists, confirm whether the partner can design and build a custom solution.

Shopify migration experts should be able to explain the migration decisions, not just the migration tools.

Ask for the data mapping approach, validation process, cutover plan, rollback procedure, and post-launch monitoring strategy.

When you can manage the migration yourself

An internal team may be able to handle the project when the store has:

  • A relatively small and clean catalog.
  • Limited integrations and no complex ERP workflows.
  • Straightforward customer and order data.
  • A manageable number of indexed URLs.
  • No complex subscriptions, bundles, or custom checkout logic.

When you may not need craftberry for your Shopify migration

craftberry is not the right partner for every project.

We are not the best fit for brand-new or very small stores, single-SKU businesses with no meaningful migration complexity, first-time ecommerce builds where there is no existing platform to migrate, or Shopify-to-Shopify theme rebuilds that do not require a broader migration strategy.

For complex migrations, our role is not simply to move data. It is to preserve the business logic, data integrity, SEO equity, and operational workflows that your business depends on while moving them to Shopify.

craftberry block - FAQ (Shopify migration checklist)

FAQ

What should be on a Shopify migration checklist that most guides leave out?

The logic layer: ERP and back-office integrations, cross-border tax rules, custom discounts, bundles, pre-orders, and other workflows without a direct Shopify equivalent.

Most migration checklists cover data transfer and redirects but overlook the business logic that must be rebuilt and validated on Shopify.

Will my customer passwords transfer to Shopify?

No. Customer passwords cannot be migrated between platforms.

With Shopify's passwordless customer accounts, existing customers sign in using a one-time code sent to their email, rather than creating or resetting a password.

Customer profiles, eligible order history, subscriptions, and reviews can be migrated separately. Before launch, validate customer account access and communicate the new login process to existing customers.

Will I lose my Google rankings during a Shopify migration?

A migration does not have to cause permanent ranking loss if you preserve the existing URL structure and search equity.

Build the 301 redirect map from a full crawl, Google Search Console data, and Google Analytics, then test priority redirects before launch. Some temporary fluctuation is normal, but persistent organic losses require investigation.

What happens to subscriptions and stored payment methods during a Shopify migration?

Subscription payment tokens require separate migration planning. They are typically managed by the payment provider and subscription system rather than the storefront platform.

Confirm token portability between the existing and new setup before launch. If tokens cannot be migrated, subscribers may need to re-enter payment details, creating a potential retention risk.

How do I connect an ERP or back-office system to Shopify during migration?

If no suitable native integration exists, build and test a custom connector around the required business workflow rather than forcing the process into an unsuitable app.

Define and validate each stage separately, such as order creation, invoicing, fulfillment, tracking, and inventory updates. Test the integration in a development or staging environment rather than against live transactions.

How much order history should I migrate to Shopify?

There is no universal migration window. A 12- to 24-month period may cover common reporting and customer-support requirements, but the correct scope depends on how the business uses historical orders.

Define the required retention period before migration rather than importing all available history by default.

Is it safe to launch a Shopify migration on a Friday?

A weekday cutover earlier in the week usually provides a larger support window for post-launch issues and a smooth transition for the business.

Launching earlier gives your team several business days to monitor transactions, integrations, SEO, and customer journeys before the weekend.

The same principle rules out peak trading periods entirely: never cut over during BFCM or the client's own seasonal peak, and push the date rather than compress the migration to hit it.

Choose the cutover window based on your team's ability to respond to critical issues, not just technical availability.

How long should QA take before a Shopify migration goes live?

QA should continue until both data validation and storefront validation pass. Data QA should reconcile record counts, order totals, inventory, and critical fields against the source system.

Front-end and functional QA should cover test orders, redirects, checkout, integrations, and transactional emails. A fixed number of QA hours is less useful than defined acceptance criteria.

craftberry block - The bottom line (Shopify migration checklist)
The bottom line

Make Your Shopify Migration a Controlled Move

A successful migration preserves your data, business logic, SEO, and customer experience, not just your storefront.

craftberry manages the full process in-house, from data mapping and integrations to redirects, QA, cutover, and post-launch monitoring.

Tell us your source platform, integrations, and data volume. We’ll show you what needs to move, what needs to be rebuilt, and where the key risks are.

Plan Your Shopify Migration
Storyblok Image
Storyblok Image
Storyblok Image

Let us take
your business further than it has ever been.

Submit a project and schedule a free discovery

Share this article

Storyblok Image
Author
Preslav Nikov

Preslav Nikov is the Founder and CEO of craftberry, Shopify Premier agency. A developer turned enterprise strategist, he has guided 800+ successful digital storefront launches and migrations since 2015, driving over $450M in client sales. Recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, his frameworks power global leaders like vivo, Shelly Group, Pepper, and Midi Health. Find Preslav on LinkedIn to stay connected.

Read all from Preslav


Related articles
craftberry CEO - Preslav Nikov
craftberry Sofia Ivanova team member
craftberry Teddy Cherneva team member

Let us take your business further than it has ever been.

Submit a project and schedule a free discovery

Contact us