Even several years later, some merchants are still struggling with the idea of migrating to Magento 2. Unfortunately for those who remain undecided, the time to make a choice is fast approaching. 

Magento 1 has an End of Life deadline of June 2020, meaning it will no longer receive the latest updates. This can leave your store dangerously vulnerable to hackers and other online threats. If you’re hesitant about migrating to the latest iteration of Magento, know that there’s nothing to fear. This article will help to set aside your worries and reveal why migrating to Magento 2 is the best choice for your business. 

Why are merchants hesitant to migrate to Magento 2? 

Widespread hesitation regarding migration from Magento 1 to version 2 boils down primarily to one thing – many people don’t see a massive difference between the two. They see it as being akin to switching to a new diet, but with the same results.

This is a false assumption. The newest version of Magento is superior in nearly every way and provides a host of immediate and long-term benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the most crucial benefits of migrating to Magento 2.

Benefits of Migrating to Magento 2 

• Streamlined checkout process 

Where Magento 1 typically requires six-steps to complete the checkout process, Magento 2 only requires two. The latest version of Magento comes equipped with the new and improved Instance Purchase feature, which allows merchants to provide returning customers with a more streamlined and efficient checkout experience by allowing them to use previously-stored shipping and payment information to skip right to the payment confirmation page.

The less hassle online consumers have to go through to make a purchase, the more likely they’ll come back as a repeat customer.

• Advanced reporting 

Advanced reporting is a vital part of any eCommerce business. Magento 2 gives you the ability to create more than 20 types of reports that touch on the crucial insights vital to your online storefront.

The most important of these insights include:

• Products – the number of product orders and top sellers
• Orders – the taxes and shipping fees collected from each purchase, the number of orders you have, and the AOV
• Customers – the number of registered accounts

Magento 2’s Advanced Reporting feature is real-time and dynamic, allowing you to obtain the metrics you need at any given moment to run your store smoothly.

• Enhanced security 

Magento 2 provides enhanced security features across the board to meet the various cyber threats that plague today’s online landscape. For instance, you can rest easy knowing that the checkout process and the personal information of your customers are well-protected by advanced encryption.

Here are a few of the latest security features offered by Magento 2:

• 2-Factor Authentication – By offering 2-factor authentication, the Magento 2 platform provides an extra layer of protection for your customers.
• Advanced password encryption – Magento 2 now provides stronger encryption for your passwords by using SHA-256 hashing algorithms.
• Unique Admin URL – Yet another protective layer that protects your business from potential threats posed by hackers.
• Dynamic Backup – Magento 2 protects your files by creating offsite hourly backups of your store’s data. Even if your store goes down for one reason or another (a cyber-attack, for instance), you can quickly turn to your backup to get your site back up and running with minimal downtime.

Flexible architecture

Magento 2 is powered by new and improved next-generation architecture, giving the platform unparalleled flexibility. Magento’s popularity has always been closely tied to the sheer amount of flexibility built into the platform, allowing users to implement their vision with a greater range of options.

Part of Magento 2’s flexibility is its capacity to be implemented without any external services needed. Whether you’re using a system from warehouse management, marketing, or supply management, Magento 2 can be used to improve the processes you already have in place.

The challenges of migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2 

The benefits of migrating to the newest version of Magento is numerous. That said, the process of transferring data from one platform to another is no easy endeavor.

Moving from Magento 1 to Magento 2 will involve a full transfer of your orders, customers, theme/design, and catalog. Most migrations can take anywhere from 3 to 7 months, depending on the size of your store and the volume and complexity of your data.

As such, you need to have a plan in place to make the migration process as seamless as possible. You wouldn’t want to start migrating your data during peak holiday season, for instance.

Create a plan by asking yourself questions such as:

• What information is being migrated?
• Will your favorite third-party integrations work on Magento 2?
• What questions should you ask your developer before the migration begins?

While challenging, taking the time to plan out the transfer of data from one platform to the next will greatly expedite the process and help you to get your store back up and running that much faster.

The timeline is fast approaching 

The time for hesitation is over. With June 2020 looming near, you have two options – switch to a different eCommerce platform, which in itself will require learning an entirely new platform and set of processes, or migrate to Magento 2. The choice is clear.

Don’t let the challenges of data migration discourage you. With a proper plan and an expert team at your side, migrating to Magento 2 can be quite painless.

At Polcode, our team of migration experts stands at the ready to help you to make the switch as painlessly as possible. By relying on our expertise, you can rest easy knowing your migration delivery will go smoothly. Don’t hesitate. Contact us today for more information.