Case "Moving an online electronics store to the osCommerce adaptive platform"

Moving an online store is always exciting for the owner, as there are many reasons for excitement. A number of questions arise: "Will it be better after the move?", "Won't position be lost in SERP?", "How will customers react, and new users?". In most cases, the move has a positive effect on promotion, speed of operation. The interaction of users with the site improves, but on the condition that the owner has set clear objectives for programmers and described the problems in detail.

In our archives a lot of cases of relocation, development and revision, so we take out one of them - the case of ShaShinKi - migration of online store of electronics.

The client's problem

Location of the store in Malaysia, the client at the time of the move had been selling photo equipment and accessories, computers, audio equipment, drones and other gadgets for 14 years https://shashinki.com/ The online store was created on the platform osCommerce 2.2, which by the time of treatment had become obsolete. By 2019, the functionality and capabilities of the platform had reached their limit - there was a need to move the online store to a faster and more functional platform. As technology continues to evolve, it is important to keep up with the latest trends and features to remain competitive in the marketplace.

This is what the site looked like when the client came to us with a request.

Our analysis showed that the previous engine had the following problems:

• Due to the complex design and outdated interface, it was difficult for customers to navigate, ordering also caused difficulties - sales were dropping
• For security reasons, an upgrade to PHP 7.2 was required
• Different media content had to be created for the mobile and desktop versions
• Design of the mobile version of the site was outdated
• Different website addresses for the mobile and desktop versions had a negative impact on promotion
• When users from the desktop got to the mobile version of the site, it was difficult to shop because of the display for mobile devices, and vice versa, when users from the phone got to the desktop version, to make purchases was also inconvenient - as a result many failures 
• The site was slow because of the regular growth of products, and accordingly the database

  Full list of problems described in the blog https://shashinki.com/blog/2019/10/13/shashinki-v2-0/

Preparing for the move

In August 2019, it was decided to move the online store to the new osCommerce platform (Solomono Edition). You can read more about all the features here. The move and refinement of functionality took about 2 months.

We have carried out the migration before, and have already managed to work out our own script of actions. Before migrating your online store to the new CMS SoloMono, it was important to properly prepare. Preparation included backing up data and files, analyzing the existing structure and content of the site, identifying key features and functions needed in the updated CMS, as well as developing a migration plan and schedule. We gained all of this knowledge from previous migrations and knew exactly that the move had to be phased.

Backing up data and files

Backing up the data and files was a major step in preparing for the migration. This ensured that no data would be lost in the process. It was important to back up all files, including images, videos, and other media files, as well as customer data and other sensitive information.

Analysis of existing site structure and content

An analysis of the existing site structure and content was important to understand how the online store was performing at the time the customer contacted it. This included an analysis of the site's current architecture, navigation, and content, as well as identifying any issues that needed to be addressed during the migration process.

Identifying key features and functionality needed during the migration

Identifying the key features and functionality needed for the new CMS was important to ensure the successful optimization of the online store. This included identifying new features and functionality that needed to be implemented in the new version of the engine.

Developing a migration plan and schedule

Developing a migration plan and schedule was important to ensure a smooth migration process. This step included outlining all the steps of the migration, as well as identifying any potential obstacles or issues that might arise. Our experts also developed a timeline and set a deadline to ensure the process was completed within a reasonable time frame.

Migration

Once the preparatory phase was complete, the migration process could begin. It included installing the new CMS platform, setting up the site structure and design, migrating content and files, testing and debugging, redirecting old URLs to new ones, and updating integrations and services.

What was added after the migration of the online store to an updated CMS

What work was done and what was achieved.

1. Filtering

Filters on the following criteria are added to internet-shop:

• Cost
• Brand
• Product subcategory
• New or used item
• Rating of item

2. Customer Reviews

The client wanted to put customer reviews on a separate page.  We made it possible to see the rating, review and date of addition, as well as a photo of the product itself. A click takes the user to the page with the product, which increases the likelihood of a purchase.

3. Adding a page with equipment repair

The company, in addition to selling goods, also provides repair services. Another function on the site was to be a request for equipment repair. We made this service a separate page with all the information and a PDF template for filling out the form. After filling - the request is sent to e-mail.

4. Cooperation

As the client sells not only new equipment but also used ones, we needed to create an offer of cooperation. On a separate page we placed the terms of cooperation, also there was a filling form, in Pdf format. After filling out this form partners send it to the e-mail to get a price for their equipment and put it up for sale in the online store ShaShinKi.

And here is a complete list of improvements that were implemented during the move:

1. Created adaptive design for desktop and mobile versions with a single website address
2. Added more than 200 new functions and modules
3. SEO performance was improved by removing duplicate pages that the old engine generated
4. Connected 4 payment systems: PayPal, Visa & MasterCard, Maybank, FPX online banking
5. Improved mobile version by taking into account user-friendly interface and increasing the loading speed of the mobile page
6. Page of order placement was redesigned. Now the whole ordering process is on the same page and data can be changed without reloading the page.
7. For fast loading the following features were implemented: ajax-basket in a pop-up window, auto search, endless scrolling of goods, fast filter of goods by characteristics without page reloading, tabs on the goods page, quick adding goods to cart, fast ajax-sorting of goods
8. Improved functionality for SEO promotion, such as meta-tag templates for different product groups, microarray, target analytics, sitemap.xml generation.
9. Ability to place seo-texts for: products, categories, info pages and brand pages has been added
10. The new, convenient admin part of the site has been added, reports have been improved, the list of orders and customers is more convenient, flexible discounts, recommended products, import and export and much more. The admin area is adaptive for mobile devices.

Result

After all the modifications and relocation, this was the result:

1. Increased sales, increased conversion
2. The online store is promoted in search engines, pages are ranked better
3. Increase of traffic
4. Despite high load and many products, the site loads quickly
5. Easy order placement form now does not cause any troubles for the customers
6. Quick transfer from the site to the social pages of the store and to messengers

In conclusion, while migrating an online store from an old CMS to an updated one can be a challenge, in the end it is a worthwhile investment that will help online store owners stay competitive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. With careful planning and execution, online store owners can successfully migrate their stores to a new CMS platform that better meets the needs of their business and their customers.