Migrate to Netcash Shop: A Practical Step-by-Step Checklist

Are you thinking of migrating your online store to Netcash Shop? We have great news! You don’t need a development team, expert technical knowledge, or even months of planning. With simply the right preparation, you can migrate your entire eCommerce site in a couple of days.

This quick guide for an eCommerce migration provides a practical, step-by-step checklist to help you switch platforms with minimal downtime, no data loss, and a smooth SEO transition.

Whether you’re migrating from Shopify, Ecwid, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, this guide walks you through every key step, from pre-flight checks to launch day testing. Let’s dive in!

Simple step-by-step guide to eCommerce migration in South Africa

Follow the step-by-step guide below to migrate to Netcash Shop successfully in a few days.

Before eCommerce replatforming

Before you start clicking export buttons, take a couple of hours to understand your website’s current setup. This will save time during the migration and help you avoid unexpected issues.

• Identify the “why” (e.g., slow loading times, poor UX, crashes, limited payment options).
• Define your goals for the migration (e.g., higher checkout and conversion rates).
• List and audit the success of all your sales channels.
• Identify third-party apps and plugins you rely on.
• Check how your current URLs are structured.
• Review your product catalogue: is everything still relevant?
• Note custom features that may behave differently on Netcash Shop.

This comprehensive site audit helps you decide what to carry over and what to leave behind.

Step 1: Pre-flight checks: Prepare your store for migration

This is the step where most of the work happens. The more thorough you are during your preparation phase, the smoother your import to Netcash Shop will be.

• Export your product catalogue. Most platforms allow you to export products in CSV format. Make sure it includes titles, descriptions, prices, SKUs, variants, image URLs, inventory levels, categories, reviews, and shipping costs. Clean errors before importing.
• Export your customer database. Download your customers’ names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses to communicate post-launch and maintain account history.
• Export past orders (optional). Historical orders aren’t required for an eCommerce platform migration, but many businesses keep them for reporting and customer service.
• Document your URLs. Search engines already understand your current URLs. During migration, you’ll need to create redirects for: product, category, and static pages, as well as blog posts. Create a simple two-column spreadsheet: old URL → new URL.
• Identify features that won’t carry over. App-specific features from the likes of Shopify may not migrate, like custom page builder elements, storefront apps, and embedded scripts. Note these features so you can replace them with a Netcash Shop partner app.

Step 2: Import your data and run quality checks

Once your Netcash Shop account is set up, start uploading your content.

• Import your product CSV. Upload your clean product CSV into Netcash Shop. You may need to edit the fields in a CSV editor to match Netcash Shop’s upload file format. Follow this importing products guide to import the CSV file into Netcash Shop successfully.
• Copy and paste content from your old store. eCommerce stores with limited content can add, update, and delete products to their Netcash Shop. Then, copy and paste the product names and descriptions, and add images to your Netcash Shop catalogue.
• Add or import pages. “About”, “FAQ”, “Contact”, and policy pages can be added and managed using Netcash Shop’s Instant Site. Keep formatting clean and mobile-friendly.
• Import customer information. Use the Import Customers app (available only on paid plans) to import customer data for business continuity and to access order history.
• Check your navigation. Recreate your menu structure and ensure every link points to the correct internal page.
• Set up shipping. This step is often missed during imports, so double-check accuracy.
• Configure your payment options. Netcash Shop supports a wide range of local payment methods via the Netcash eCommerce Payment Gateway. Make sure to enable preferred options such as Instant EFTs, card payments, QR payments, BNPL, and others. Run test transactions using different methods to be sure that everything works.

Want to migrate your website from Ecwid? Netcash Shop offers a smooth transition.

Step 3: Set up DNS, SSL, and 301 redirects

This is the technical part, but don’t panic. It’s easier than it sounds and takes only a few minutes.

• Connect your domain. Point your domain’s DNS to Netcash Shop. Update A and CNAME records. You can do this inside your domain host (e.g., Xneelo, Afrihost), and if you’re using Instant Site, follow these steps to connect your domain to Netcash Shop.
• Enable SSL. These certificates secure your site and enable HTTPS. Netcash Shop provides you with a free SSL certificate once your DNS connection is complete.
• Add your 301 redirects. This is the most important step for protecting your SEO. Use 301 redirects to tell search engines that your old URLs permanently point to new ones.

Step 4: Launch day runbook: Go live with confidence

Now that your store is ready, it’s time to go live.

• Turn off maintenance mode. Make the site publicly accessible so customers can visit it.
• Place multiple test orders. Test payment methods, and verify that the checkout flow, order confirmation emails, notifications, and dashboard order updates work correctly.
• Test shipping scenarios. Try local delivery, courier shipping, and free shipping options. We have a guide to help you choose the right shipping strategy for your online store.
• Review your store on mobile. 78% of traffic in SA comes from mobile users, so this is a crucial functionality. Check the responsiveness of headings, images, and buttons
• Check your tracking tools. Add Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Search Console tags, and any other tracking tool you prefer, and ensure they load correctly.

After you’ve completed your tests, your eCommerce website is ready to go live. Switch on any remaining traffic sources (ads, social media links, email footers) in your new URLs.

Planning to migrate from WooCommerce? Switch to Netcash Shop today!

Step 5: Post-launch checklist and performance monitoring

Your store is live. Now all you need to do is monitor performance over the next few days.

• Check Google Search Console. Request that the app crawls your site and look out for crawl errors, redirect issues, missing pages, and index coverage warnings.
• Monitor speed and uptime. Your pages must load quickly. Under 2.5 seconds is considered “good” by Google’s Core Web Vitals. Check them on mobile and desktop.
• Review organic traffic for slight fluctuations. Some drop in traffic is normal after eCommerce migrations. With proper redirects, traffic typically stabilises quickly.
• Check customer accounts. Some customers may need to reset their passwords to access their accounts on your website, depending on your previous platform.
• Spot-check orders. Check payment confirmations, shipping labels, inventory deductions, and email notifications for the first new sales after migration.
• Update marketing automation. Ensure email flows, welcome sequences, and abandoned cart reminders point to the correct URLs.

Best practices for eCommerce site migration

eCommerce data migration is a big decision. Most businesses replatform to improve their operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and scalability, so it must be done with perfection.

To avoid issues and keep your migration smooth, stick to these proven tips:

• Migrate during low-traffic periods (Friday evening to Sunday).
• Always keep a complete backup of your old platform.
• Use a spreadsheet to map every old URL to a new one.
• Test your checkout more than once.
• Prioritise mobile-friendly design.
• Don’t delete your old site until redirects are confirmed.
• Avoid redesigning everything during migration; launch first, refine later.
• Keep customers informed via email and, if necessary, social media.

Frequently asked questions about eCommerce platform migration

What typically breaks during an eCommerce migration?

Most issues come from platform-specific features, such as custom themes, embedded apps, scripts, or unique page layouts. You may need to recreate some of these design elements and rebuild pages built with external page builders. Redirects must also be recreated manually.

Will my SEO drop when I migrate to Netcash Shop?

A short-term fluctuation is normal, but a significant drop is avoidable. Proper 301 redirects, matching page titles, and retaining your URL structure will protect rankings. Search engines usually adjust within a few days to a few weeks.

How do I set up redirects when moving platforms?

Create a list of all old URLs and map them to your new Netcash Shop URLs. Add these as 301 redirects inside your admin panel. Test each one to confirm it goes to the correct page. Redirects help maintain SEO value and prevent customers from landing on broken links.

Do I need technical skills to migrate to Netcash Shop?

Netcash Shop is designed for non-developers, and most tasks involve uploading CSVs, configuring settings, and following set steps. For larger shops, you can create an app using the Product API platform to transfer data; you can do this in-house or request custom development.

Ready to migrate your eCommerce site to Netcash Shop?

Netcash Shop offers South African SMEs a modern, user-friendly eCommerce platform with local payments, built-in security, and seamless store management. With the right preparation and this practical checklist, you can confidently replatform your entire store in just two days.