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Migration & Replatforming

An outdated or outgrown platform slows your growth – and switching is risky if it runs without structure.

Replatforming Done Right

We plan your migration as a controlled project: from an inventory of what you have, through full data transfer, to an SEO-safe switchover. Whether you move from Shopware 5, Magento, OXID or a custom build to Shopware 6, the result is a modern platform that leaves your data, your rankings and your live operation untouched.

The essentials of Migration & Replatforming

  • We plan your migration as a controlled project: from inventory through full data transfer to an SEO-safe switchover to Shopware 6.
  • We start with an inventory of all URLs, interfaces, special rules and data fields, so gaps don't surface only in production where they cost the most.
  • We build a complete 301 redirect map at the project start so you don't lose Google rankings built up over years.
  • Your old shop keeps running until the switch, the new platform is tested in staging against the original, and a documented rollback plan keeps the go-live manageable.
  • We use the move as a chance to clean up and streamline data models, processes and interfaces, instead of copying the old setup one to one.
Plan a clean migration

Your current platform is no longer actively developed or runs on an outdated version that will soon lose security updates.

You want to migrate but fear losing data or the Google rankings you built up over years.

Earlier platform switches got out of hand, blew the budget or caused days of downtime.

The migration process at a glance

A controlled migration runs through clearly defined phases — each one is a prerequisite for the next. Skipping phases means discovering the gaps only after go-live.

  1. Inventory

    Complete record of all URLs, data fields, interfaces and custom logic on the source platform.

  2. Data migration & mapping

    Structured transfer of products, customers, orders and content with field mapping and validation.

  3. Redirect map & SEO protection

    Comprehensive 301 redirects for every changed URL — built before go-live, not after.

  4. Staging & sign-off

    The new platform runs in parallel on staging and is systematically tested against the original.

  5. Go-live & monitoring

    Switchover follows a documented plan; the old shop stays live until sign-off; rollback available at any point.

Rollback path

If critical issues arise after go-live: revert to the source platform according to the documented rollback plan.

Rollback remains possible up until the final go-live.

Where migrations typically fail

Not all risk factors carry equal weight. This overview shows which areas have the greatest influence on the success or failure of a platform switch.

  • Missing or incomplete redirect mapLost rankings rarely recover
  • Incomplete inventory of the source platformGaps only surface in live operation
  • No documented rollback planUnplanned outages then last days
  • Data mapping without field validationInconsistent order and customer data
  • 1:1 copy of legacy system without cleanupTechnical debt and old problems carried over

Relative weighting

Relative weighting based on common failure points in replatforming projects.

What matters for Migration & Replatforming

A migration is won or lost long before the switch, namely in the inventory. Before anything moves, you need to know exactly which URLs, interfaces, special rules and data fields exist and which of them still earn their place. Start without that inventory and you discover the gaps only in production, where they cost the most.

Go-live must not be an act of courage. Clean replatformings run through a staging environment tested against the original beforehand and a documented rollback plan that exists beyond paper. As long as the old shop keeps running until the switch, you stay in control rather than relying on luck.

The biggest SEO risk is the URL structure. If addresses change without a complete set of 301 redirects, you lose rankings built over years, and often they never come back. The redirect map therefore belongs at the start of the project, not in the final week when everything is already on fire.

Good migration uses the move as a chance to clean up instead of carrying old problems across one to one. Copy the old setup unexamined and you import its baggage too. An honest look at what is genuinely needed is hard work, but it is the difference between a new platform and just a fresh coat of paint on the same problems. As a Shopware agency we plan replatformings to exactly this pattern — staging, rollback plan, parallel operation.

Redirects decide SEO success

A platform switch usually changes the URLs. Without a complete 301 redirect map you lose rankings and therefore traffic – often permanently. Redirect planning is not a detail at the end but a central part of every serious migration.

Replatforming is a chance to clean up

A move is the best moment to question accumulated legacy. Copying the old setup one to one carries the same problems along. We use the switch to deliberately streamline data models, processes and interfaces.

Parallel operation minimizes risk

Because the old shop keeps running until switchover and the new platform is tested against the original in a staging environment first, the go-live is not a leap of faith. A documented rollback plan keeps even unexpected problems manageable.

Migration without the risk

A replatforming isn't decided on launch day but in the preparation. We migrate as a controlled project with a rollback plan — so you keep your rankings, data and revenue.

  1. Data without loss

    Full transfer of all orders, customers and content — with no inconsistencies.

  2. Rankings stay

    Complete redirect concepts protect your organic visibility through the switch.

  3. Go-live without standstill

    Parallel operation and clear acceptance criteria keep the switch uninterrupted.

  4. Plan over gut feeling

    A documented process with a rollback option — no big-bang risk.

Ready for your successful online shop?

Profile picture of Paul Kalisch, Executive Partner
Paul Kalisch
Executive Partner

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Frequently asked questions

Which systems do you migrate to Shopware 6?
We regularly migrate from Shopware 5, Magento, OXID, Gambio, WooCommerce and custom in-house builds to Shopware 6. For common source systems we use proven mapping scripts; for custom builds we analyze the database structure and design the migration path individually.
Will I lose my Google rankings during migration?
Not if the migration is planned properly. The decisive lever is gap-free 301 redirects from old to new URLs plus carrying over meta and structured data. We build a complete redirect map and monitor indexing after launch so rankings and traffic are preserved.
Does my shop have to go offline during migration?
No. Your current shop keeps running fully until the go-live date while we build and test the new platform in parallel. We schedule the actual switchover in a low-traffic window and keep downtime to a minimum – usually a few minutes.
How long does a replatforming project take?
It depends on data volume, interfaces and custom adjustments. A close-to-standard move is often done in a few weeks; complex projects with ERP integration and a large catalog take longer accordingly. After an initial inventory we give you a realistic timeframe.
What happens if something goes wrong at go-live?
For exactly that case a prepared rollback plan exists: we can switch back to the old state in a controlled way without losing data. Full backups, test phases in a staging environment and clear escalation paths keep the risk manageable throughout the process.