BigCommerce to Shopify: 8 Important Notes and Guide to Move

BigCommerce and Shopify are two of the leading eCommerce platforms, each offering robust features tailored to different business needs. BigCommerce emphasizes built-in features and cost-efficiency with no transaction fees, while Shopify prioritizes scalability, a vast app ecosystem, and user-friendly design. This guide delves into why businesses choose Shopify over BigCommerce, comparing costs, features, and essential steps for a smooth BigCommerce to Shopify migration. Whether you’re a small business or an established brand, understanding the nuances of this transition is crucial for success.

Why Businesses Choose Shopify Over BigCommerce

Here are some reasons why many sellers start choosing Shopify over BigCommerce

Shopify’s Ease of Use

Shopify’s advantage is its simplicity. The platform is designed with beginners and experts in mind, ensuring even those with minimal technical expertise can set up and manage their stores efficiently. Tasks like adding products, configuring payment gateways, or creating promotional discounts are straightforward with Shopify’s intuitive dashboard.

BigCommerce, while feature-rich, often requires a deeper learning curve, particularly for advanced configurations. This difference drives many sellers to transfer BigCommerce to Shopify to save time and resources for training or troubleshooting.

Better App Ecosystem on Shopify

Another significant advantage of Shopify is its thriving app ecosystem. With over 8,000 apps available in its marketplace, Shopify provides solutions for everything from advanced inventory management to personalized marketing campaigns. These apps often integrate seamlessly, enabling store owners to enhance functionality without hiring developers.

BigCommerce offers fewer apps, which can limit scalability and flexibility. For sellers seeking to expand their operations or add unique features, migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify provides a wider range of possibilities to meet evolving business needs.

Cost Comparison: BigCommerce vs. Shopify

Monthly Subscription Fees

Both platforms have tiered pricing structures, but Shopify offers more straightforward plans. Its pricing starts at $19/month for the Basic plan, going up to $299/month for the Advanced plan. Shopify also offers Shopify Plus for large enterprises, providing highly customizable features and dedicated support.

However, it is worth knowing that Shopify also offers the first month with just only $1 for beginners who want to try the platform.

BigCommerce’s pricing begins similarly at $29/month but includes an annual sales cap. If your revenue exceeds this cap, you’re required to upgrade to a higher plan. This can lead to unexpected costs, making Shopify a more predictable choice for budgeting, especially for growing businesses.

Additional Transaction Fees

Transaction fees are a pivotal consideration when comparing these platforms. Shopify charges additional fees (0.5% to 2%) on transactions if you opt for third-party payment processors. However, using Shopify Payments eliminates these fees, providing cost-effective processing with integrated functionality.

BigCommerce does not impose transaction fees, which is a notable advantage for businesses with high transaction volumes. Despite this, many sellers still transfer BigCommerce to Shopify for its superior features and overall scalability, outweighing the transaction fee consideration.

Feature Comparison: Which Platform Offers More?

Design Flexibility and Themes

Shopify’s themes are known for their sleek designs, responsiveness, and customizability. The platform offers both free and premium options, catering to a range of industries. Its drag-and-drop editor allows users to create unique layouts without requiring coding expertise, a significant advantage for those prioritizing aesthetics and user experience.

BigCommerce also provides customizable themes but with fewer options and a more technical approach. Sellers who prioritize creative control and streamlined design processes often find Shopify the better choice when migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify.

SEO and Marketing Tools

Effective SEO and marketing tools are critical for driving traffic and conversions. Shopify SEO excels in this area with features like customizable meta tags, clean URL structures, and automatic sitemaps. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with major marketing tools such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and email marketing platforms.

BigCommerce offers similar SEO capabilities but lacks the comprehensive ecosystem Shopify provides. Sellers aiming to optimize their online presence post-migration often prefer Shopify to maximize their marketing potential.

What You Should Never Forget When Migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify

Back Up Your BigCommerce Data Thoroughly

Before initiating the migration process from Bigcommerce to Shopify, back up all critical data from your BigCommerce store. This includes product catalogs, customer information, order history, and site content. Using automated backup tools or exporting data manually ensures that no vital information is lost during the transfer.

Choose the Right Shopify Plan

Selecting the appropriate Shopify plan is essential for a smooth migration Bigcommerce to Shopify. Assess your business needs, including transaction volumes, required integrations, and growth projections. Choosing the right plan from the start prevents unnecessary upgrades later and ensures access to the necessary features for your operations.

Consider factors such as the number of products you plan to sell, the level of customer support you require, and any additional apps or plugins you may need. By carefully evaluating your needs and selecting the right plan, you can set your business up for success on the Shopify platform.

Assess Your Current Themes and Customizations

Analyze your existing BigCommerce store’s design and functionality. If your store relies heavily on custom themes or features, ensure that similar capabilities can be replicated on Shopify. Consider hiring developers if needed to achieve a seamless design transition.

It’s important to evaluate the compatibility of your current themes and customizations with Shopify’s platform to avoid any disruptions in user experience. Taking the time to thoroughly assess these elements will help streamline the migration process and maintain consistency for your customers.

Migrate Products and Customer Data Securely

Data migration is the backbone of this process. Use reputable migration tools like Cart2Cart or LitExtension to automate the transfer of products, customer information, and order details. These tools reduce errors and save time, ensuring accuracy during the migration from BigCommerce to Shopify.

Reconfigure Tax and Shipping Settings

Shopify’s tax and shipping configurations differ from BigCommerce’s setup. Take time to review and adjust these settings to align with your business model. Incorrect configurations can lead to customer dissatisfaction or compliance issues.

Ensure that you accurately input your tax rates and shipping options to prevent any potential errors in calculations or delays in shipping. Properly configured settings will help streamline the checkout process for your customers and improve overall satisfaction with their shopping experience.

Optimize SEO to Prevent Ranking Loss

Migrating platforms can disrupt your search engine rankings if not handled carefully. Use 301 redirects to preserve URL structures and ensure meta tags, alt text, and other SEO elements are correctly transferred. Test your new store’s SEO performance to avoid ranking drops post-migration.

Regularly monitor your website’s traffic and keyword rankings to quickly identify any issues that may arise. Additionally, consider consulting with an SEO expert to ensure a smooth transition and minimize any negative impact on your search engine visibility.

Test Your Shopify Store Before Going Live

Thorough testing is critical before launching your Shopify store. Simulate customer journeys to ensure a smooth experience, including browsing, adding items to the cart, and completing transactions. Address any glitches or inconsistencies to maintain professionalism.

Consider testing on different devices and browsers to ensure compatibility across platforms. Additionally, gather feedback from friends or colleagues to gain different perspectives on the user experience.

Notify Customers About the Transition

Transparent communication with your customers is vital during this transition. Inform them about the move, highlight new features or benefits, and reassure them of continued service quality. Use newsletters, social media, and in-store banners to spread the word effectively.

Be sure to address any potential concerns or questions they may have, and provide clear instructions on how they can reach out for support or assistance during the transition. Keeping customers informed and engaged will help maintain their trust and loyalty during this period of change.

Train Your Team

Shopify’s interface and features differ from BigCommerce. Train your team on how to navigate the new platform, update products, and manage orders to minimize confusion post-migration. Providing hands-on training sessions and access to resources like tutorials and support forums can help ensure a smooth transition for your team. Encourage open communication and feedback to address any challenges or questions that may arise during the learning process.

Migration Guide: Moving Your Store from BigCommerce to Shopify

After considering all the features and differences between Shopify and BigCommerce, here is a comprehensive guide on how to migrate from Bigcommerce to Shopify

Step 1: Save your Data and Export it from BigCommerce

Protecting your current data is the first thing you should do before Shopify to Bigcommerce migration.

• Full Backup: Make sure that your BigCommerce store’s info is backed up in full before moving from BigCommerce to Shopify.

• Detailed Export Instructions: Make the most of BigCommerce’s export function. Don’t just send it as a CSV file; make sure you know how the data being exported is structured and formatted.

• Data Integrity Checks: Once you’re done exporting, make sure that all the data you exported fits the content of your current store.

Step 2: Sign up for Shopify and Get it set up

It’s not just a formality to set up your Shopify account; it’s the first step towards making a new, better eCommerce setting for your business.

• Picking the Right Plan: Shopify has different plans that are made for businesses of different sizes and with different needs. Take the time to compare the features of each plan to your needs.

• Tips for Setting Up Your Store: When you set up your Shopify account, pay close attention to the settings for setup.

Step 3: Put Information into Shopify

One of the most important parts of the migration process is moving your info into Shopify Plus Agency. This step must be done exactly as written to make sure that the info in your new Shopify store is correct.

• Using Shopify’s Data Import Tools: Shopify has a number of tools that are meant to make the import process easier.

• Fixing Problems with Data Compatibility: It’s normal for platforms to have different ways of formatting data. You may need to make changes to CSV files or use third-party tools to make sure they work with Shopify’s data layout rules.

• Validation Post-Import: Once you’ve imported your data, you should do a full review to make sure it is correct.

Step 4: Make your Shopify store Look the way you Want it to

Customising and designing your Shopify store isn’t just about how it looks; it’s also about making a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience that fits with your brand’s values and character.

• Theme Choice: Shopify’s theme store has a huge selection of themes to choose from. Make sure that the theme you choose fits with the style of your brand and has all the features your business needs.

• In-depth Customisation: Going beyond simple style changes, getting into the details of how you want your store to look.

Read more: Best Theme on Shopify That Convert (2024)

Step 5: Make Redirects and Improve your SEO

The transition to Shopify Plus Partners is a great time to look at your store’s SEO plan again and make it better.

• Comprehensive 301 Redirect Plan: Make a list of all the URLs that are already in your BigCommerce store and set up 301 redirects to send them to their new Shopify URLs.

• Customised SEO Settings: This includes making your site’s layout better, adding relevant keywords to product descriptions, and making your site load faster.

Find out more: Best SEO Apps for Shopify to Boost Your Optimization Efforts

Step 6: Test and See a Sneak Peek of your Shopify store

Before putting your Shopify store online for real, you need to test it thoroughly to make sure everything works as it should.

Step 7: Review and Ongoing Optimisation after the Migration

Moving to Shopify is just the start of a long process of improving and making things better. To keep up with changes in the market, customer feedback, and technology, you need to keep looking at and improving your store.

• Analytical Review: To keep an eye on how your store is doing, use Shopify’s full set of analytics tools.

• Iterative Optimisation: Keep improving and optimising your store based on what you learn from analytics.

Adopting a culture of constant review and improvement will keep your Shopify store at the top of the eCommerce world, which will help it grow and keep customers happy.

Choosing to switch from BigCommerce to Shopify can have a big effect on your online store. You can make sure the transition goes smoothly and improves your operations by carefully looking at prices, features, and migration steps. Shopify is a good choice for businesses that want to grow because it is easy to use, has a large app marketplace, and lets you change the way things look. Whether you want to move from Shopify to BigCommerce all at once or look into choices for moving from Shopify to BigCommerce in the future, it’s important to plan and carry out the move carefully. With the right tools and plans, your store can do well on its new platform, giving your customers a better shopping experience.