New Magento updates are always a pleasure to have. They come with several innovative features, updates and patches that merchants simply love to have. But when the times comes there are but two imperative questions that you ask yourself, what would be the procedure and how much would it cost to upgrade. In this article we take the opportunity of sharing the answers of both questions, so you get a good idea on what you are in for when you plan to migrate from Magento 1.9 to Magento 2.3.
Procedure
Following is the procedure for upgrading from Magento 1.9 to Magento 2.3.
1. Developing an Environment to Replace Current Install
The first step starts with the developer, by start building a precise replica system so it may replace the current install of your Magento store. This prevents glitches and takes the website live in minimum time.
2. Install Magento 2.3
The new version including security patches, service enhancements and bug fixes is installed by your developer.
3. Add Required Attributes and Categories
The new version will require all your website content to be replicated. All attributes and categories will be added to the new Magento configuration.
4. Data Migration
This is a critical step in the process since all the data will be migrated to the new version of the store. This will include products, customer data, category mapping, invoices and order information, coupon codes, shipments and cart rules etc.
5. Get Extensions Installed
In this step you will need to get all the Magento 2.3 compatible extensions installed. This will take time since the development team may have to configure in-compatible extensions as well.
6. Design Implementation
You get a new mobile-responsive theme installed and the interface changes according to the design integration. In this step your site will start taking shape.
7. Adding Static Pages and Blog
This must be added right after the design phase, so the blog and static pages are in accordance with the theme and design. This will improve your store’s user experience.
8. Adding Reconstructed Extensions
Now your developers will get the chance to add their reconstructed extensions that were incompatible before. This is particularly important since the testing phase will be next.
9. Time to Run Tests
This is the time to make sure everything is working as planned. Here the development team can validate the performance and anticipate any bugs for fixing.
10. User Acceptance Tests for Bug Fixes
Now test it by real users to find how users respond to it. This helps in finding bugs the developers may have missed and get them fixed.
11. Take the Website Live
Once the bugs have been fixed, you have a green light to the new Magento2.3 store live. Get a final data sync to make sure all changes get integrated.
Benefits
Magento 2.3 comes with a plethora of benefits that enhance your site’s performance, management and usability straightaway. Together, these factors add up to boost your site capabilities and produce a better user experience for your customers. We will start with some of the greatest advantages you get by upgrading to Magento 2.3.
Improved Site Architecture
This is one the most obvious changes you will see and experience. Magento 2.3 uses the latest generated of PHP, which allows greater flexibility, faster speed, and much more power.
Boosted Speed
Talking of speed, Magento 2.3 is built on a superior architecture which allows improved caching and faster page loading. This means a difference from 3 seconds to just 1 second. Streamlined checkout process improves user experience. Magento 2.3 features 2-click checkout in contrast to 1.9’s six-click process.
Higher Security
Security is another aspect the 2.3 upgrade has worked the most. Magento 2.3 comes with latest security patches, anti-malware and firewall upgrades to keep your store safe and secure.
Stronger SEO
Speed directly compliments SEO capabilities of the store and counts as a key ranking factor. With faster loading speed, smoother user experience, and responsive mobile themes, your page rankings improve naturally.
Mobile Responsive
Being more mobile responsive is everything in today’s era. Migrating to Magento 2.3 enables support for mobile sites, renders better user experience, and faster shopping on mobile devices.
Cost Estimate for Upgradation
Cost is always something that remains the prime concern for Magento store owner when they upgrade to the latest version. Here, several factors may be involved such as required functionalities, size of data, migration timelines, extension compatibility, and themes etc. For smaller Magento 1.9 stores, the cost can go around $5,000 - $10,000. For Magento stores ranging from medium to large inventory, the cost can be close to $50,000 - $100,000. This entirely depends on the size of the store and the requirements from the merchant.
Final Takeaway
While making the switch from Magento 1.9 to Magento 2 is necessary, having it done with the right resources, planning and expertise is also imperative. Like all Magento 2 upgrades, it is a daunting process that requires experience and the right skillset to get the best results. To make sure you get the desired outcomes, partner with a professional Magento web development agency.