What really happens when you migrate to Shopify – a step-by-step guide for store owners
Thinking about migrating your website to Shopify but not sure what actually happens during the process? You’re not alone. We work with plenty of Australian businesses who know Shopify is the right platform — but want clarity on what a Shopify migration really involves.
Good news! Moving to Shopify doesn’t have to be stressful, risky or disruptive. With the right planning and expertise, it’s a structured, strategic process that will improve performance, simplify management and set your ecommerce store up for growth.
Why So Many Businesses Are Moving to Shopify
Before we get into the how, let’s look at the why. Australian businesses are choosing Shopify because it’s:
Reliable, secure and fast
Easy to manage without needing a developer every five minutes
Built specifically for eCommerce
Packed with integrations, apps and marketing tools
Excellent for growth and scalability
Designed to convert browsers into buyers
If your current platform feels clunky, outdated or simply isn’t supporting your business anymore, Shopify is often the upgrade that unlocks conversion and profit.
Let’s walk through exactly what happens when you migrate to Shopify, step by step.
Step 1: Discovery & Planning
A successful Shopify migration starts with strategy. This is where we take a deep dive into:
- your current platform
- how many products and collections you have
- your customers and order history
- shipping, tax and payment setup
- what’s working — and what absolutely isn’t
This isn’t just technical prep. It’s about understanding your goals, problems and growth plans so your migration is designed around your business (not just the platform).
Step 2: Shopify Setup & Foundation Build
Once we understand your business, we configure Shopify correctly from the ground up:
✔ choosing the right Shopify plan
✔ setting up store settings
✔ installing trusted, high-quality apps
✔ configuring tax, payments and shipping
✔ structuring your store for performance and conversion
This ensures your Shopify store isn’t just “moved across”. It’s built smarter.
Step 3: Data Migration
Data migration is where accuracy matters most. We carefully migrate:
- products and variants
- pricing and inventory
- customer data
- order history (where possible)
- content and pages
- blog posts
We also clean and organise data along the way so you’re not dragging old problems into a new platform — something that happens a lot with DIY migrations.
Step 4: Shopify Store Design & Build
Now we bring your new Shopify store to life.
Depending on your business, we may refresh your existing design—or create something brand new. This includes:
- branded, conversion-focused design
- mobile-first layout
- thoughtful navigation and structure
- optimised product pages
- clear calls-to-action and purchasing pathways
Good ecommerce design isn’t just pretty. It should guide customers intuitively from browsing to buying.
Step 5: Apps, Features & Functionality
One of Shopify’s biggest strengths is its ecosystem. But it’s important not to overload your store. We help you choose the right functionality to support your goals, including:
- loyalty and rewards programs
- bundles and upsells
- subscriptions
- wholesale platform
- advanced product filtering
- reviews and social proof
- email and marketing integrations
Only what you need — nothing that slows down your store.
Step 6: SEO, Redirects & Performance Protection
This is one of the most critical parts of moving to Shopify — protecting your SEO. We ensure:
- URLs are mapped correctly
- 301 redirects are set up
- metadata carries across
- analytics and tracking work correctly
- performance is optimised
Done right, your rankings won’t drop — and many businesses see improvement after migrating.
Step 7: Testing & Quality Assurance
Before launch, everything is tested thoroughly:
✔ checkout
✔ mobile responsiveness
✔ functionality
✔ integrations
✔ customer accounts
✔ speed and performance
No guesswork. No crossed fingers.
Step 8: Shopify Launch
When everything is ready, we:
- connect your domain
- monitor live performance
- ensure orders process smoothly
- check customer experience in real time
Launch shouldn’t be stressful — and with the right process, it isn’t.
Step 9: Ongoing Support & Optimisation
A Shopify migration is the beginning, not the end. Most businesses continue to refine and enhance their site post-launch through:
- Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) improvements
- SEO strengthening
- configuring additional features (i.e. loyalty programs, bundle upsells etc)
- performance upgrades, such as deploying new theme versions when released
Shopify grows with your business — which is exactly why so many Australian brands choose it.
Is migrating to Shopify worth it?
For the businesses we work with, the answer is almost always yes. A well-planned Shopify migration gives you:
A faster, more reliable store
Better customer experience
Easier ongoing management
Integration with many of your existing platforms, i.e. Klaviyo
A platform built for growth
If your current platform is holding you back, moving your website to Shopify may be one of the best business decisions you make.
Thinking About Migrating Your Store to Shopify?
At Webhance Digital, we migrate ecommerce stores to Shopify with strategy, care and attention to detail — without outsourcing, cutting corners or leaving you to figure things out alone.
You work directly with Julie (that’s me), from planning through to launch and ongoing optimisation.