Can an old database be integrated with an ecommerce platform?

[GLCPalmer]

Hi there,

I'm working with a client who has a 20 year old database that their IT company designed and built for them. It consists of all their customers and hundreds & hundreds maybe thousands of products including images of each.

They are hesitant to move away from using this database, but the website, also built/coded by the same IT person, is looking very dated and doesn't have the advanced checkout etc. that is needed in today's world of ecommerce.

Is it possible to keep the existing database of all the customers, product inventory etc. etc. and feed this information into Shopify? How complex is this process? Are there any recommended data suppliers who would help facilitate this process?

Look forward to your thoughts.

Thanks

Georgina

[StephensWorld]

Hey GLCPalmer,

If they're able to export the databases to CSV/spreadsheet files, then you could try working with the Matrixify app (https://apps.shopify.com/excel-export-import). 

If you can't export the databases to CSV/spreadsheet files, then you would want to work with a service/company that specializes in custom migrations. I'd highly recommend www.LitExtension.com or else www.shopping-cart-migration.com

If you're looking for help with the entire store migration (not just the data parts, but also the theme, pages, blog posts, back-end settings, any apps you need, etc.), then I could help with the full migration (https://stephens.world) ... or else you can hire an Expert/Partner from this page: https://www.shopify.com/partners/directory/services/store-setup/migrate-from-another-platform 

Hope the above points you in the right direction! 🙂

Cheers,

Stephen

[GLCPalmer]

Hi Stephen,

Thank you so much for your reply and all the information - this is super helpful.

I have launched three websites on Shopify where I have designed the look & feel and created the content, but the latter two were small so I was able to create the content in the site. The first website integrated the back-end with another company, but it's great to have some recommendations on apps and businesses that enable custom migration of all the data and products.

Can I just clarify - if I were to design the website front end on Shopify using one of their templates, would it simply be a case of using either the Matrixify app or LitExtension or Cart2Cart, for example, to copy across all the customer data, products, product images? I would then build the categories / collection pages within Shopify?  

I am sure the data can get quite complex and a custom migration specialist to help with this would be highly beneficial.

Thanks again Stephen for your input and fantastic recommendations. 

Georgina

[StephensWorld]

Yes, that's the gist of things! 🙂

You'd use Matrixify or one of the migration services/websites I shared to migrate over the products, customers, orders (and maybe even the collections -- depending on how the data is arranged). 

Then from there, you would build out the rest of the website (ie. setup the theme, pages, backend settings, any apps you need, etc.).