With the start of the migration to Shopware 6, Shopware 5 has decided to go into well-deserved retirement - an ecommerce pensioner, so to speak. But don't worry, it's not a farewell with tears, but a happy "goodbye!" Because Shopware 6 is the new star in the ecommerce sky. Just imagine: Shopware 6 is like a freshly renovated house with a huge garden full of new features. The developers have not only painted the walls, but also optimised the basic structure. With the API-first architecture, Shopware 6 stands on even more stable legs - almost like a yoga pro on the balance board. And the best thing? The development of Shopware 6 is far from over! We can look forward to more cool features as if we were unwrapping presents. So why not jump on the bandwagon now? The migration from Shopware 5 to the current version only brings advantages.

So, grab your ecommerce suitcase and get in - the journey with Shopware 6 is going to be exciting!

Why you should migrate from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6

Shopware 6 offers a more advanced platform for ecommerce operators. With the Rule Builder, the worlds of experience and a sophisticated customer experience, the possibilities are manifold. For B2B users in particular, Shopware 6 offers features to optimise even complex products. There will still be updates for Shopware 5 until 2024, but the migration to Shopware 6 should already be well planned, because the future definitely belongs to version 6.

What makes Shopware 6 essential

Shopware 6 not only impresses with its sophisticated user interface, but also with its API-first structure and user-friendly handling. The latest version of Shopware facilitates the creation of comprehensive marketing campaigns and enables the efficient management of marketplaces and go-to-market channels. The new worlds of experience are a decisive success factor, as they offer an optimised customer experience and enable the targeted marketing of products. The Rule Builder allows users to assign special sales conditions only to predefined customer groups. The simplified creation of product variants offers additional scope for customer-orientated online retail.

The advanced technology that serves as the basis for Shopware 6 enables further developments in the area of customer experience and important commerce functions. Microservices and third-party systems can now be connected even more easily with the online shop to create an integrated shop platform. With these and other features, shop operators have all the tools they need to run their online shop successfully at their fingertips.

Migration from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6: What does this mean?

The migration from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6 is more than a simple function update. The architecture of the two systems differs so much that the migration is unfortunately not done with just a few clicks. In most cases, we would even recommend hiring an experienced service provider who will take a close look at the individual needs of your shop and then carry out the migration. However, some areas of your online shop are easier to migrate than others. These include:

• Free text fields
• Categories 
• Manufacturer databases
• Article master data

Other areas are more complex, including

• SEO settings
• Shipping and payment methods
• The change from shopping worlds to experience worlds
• New design templates

As many areas, such as the more structured administration, require special attention, a well-planned migration is recommended.

From 5 to 6: The phases of the migration to Shopware 6

If you want to migrate your online shop from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6, you should consider all the steps carefully to avoid making any mistakes. The 4 steps of the migration to Shopware 6:

1. Planning and analysis: All content and data from your current Shopware 5 shop that is to be transferred to the new system is extracted. You should also make a note of all the desired functions for the new shop. A roadmap helps you to plan everything precisely. When creating such a roadmap, you will also familiarise yourself directly with all the new features of Shopware 6.
2. Migration: First, your current shop is updated to Shopware 5.6 (if not already done). Then it's time to get down to business: it's time to transfer the settings, content and data that cannot be migrated automatically to the new system under Shopware 6. And of course, your shop will also get a fresh design!
3. Relaunch: While your current shop is still running, the new shop will be launched under Shopware 6 in advance. The prepared data is automatically migrated to the new system environment. The additional settings are set up, as are the features you require.
4. Go-live: In this final step, final tests are carried out to ensure the functionality of the new online shop under Shopware 6. If everything runs smoothly, the new shop can go live!

A step-by-step guide to migrating to Shopware 6

Shopware has published a detailed guide for those who do not want to use a service provider, which documents every step of the migration in detail. Simply watch the following video:

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What happens to your plugins during the migration

Shopware 5 and Shopware 6 are not fully compatible when it comes to plugins. Some of the old plugins do not fit directly into the new system. Why is this? Because Shopware 6 already includes many functions that previously required separate plugins. In addition, some developers have not yet updated their plugins for the new version. In such cases, it can make sense to work with a service provider who can provide the missing functions - if they are not already integrated in Shopware 6. This service provider can also take over the communication with the plugin manufacturers.

Shopware 6 migration: best to start now!

2024 is over faster than you can count to 10. Fun! Of course, you'll count to 10 faster, but it's now only a few months until support for Shopware 5 expires. In addition to the necessary technical and legal changes, as an ecommerce operator you simply benefit too much from the new functions for it to pay off to sit on Shopware 5. After all, all the new functions will help you to run an even more successful online shop. To cut a long story short: The sooner you migrate, the sooner you will benefit.

Automate optimizations in Shopware 5 and Shopware 6 with Shopstory

Our no-code automation tool automates repetitive tasks in ecommerce & marketing and offers integrations to Shopware 5 and Shopware 6. Explore our Flow Library for pre-built automations that perform optimizations in your store systems on autopilot. For example:

• Automatic notifications when there are less than 6 products left in stock
• Optimize your product descriptions in Shopware 5 and Shopware 6 with ChatGPT
• Optimize your product titles in Shopware 5 and Shopware 6 with ChatGPT

However, these are just a few examples of existing automations. You can also use our Drag & Drop Flow Builder to start automating your own processes. You know your most time-consuming tasks best. If this sounds interesting, you can also simply start a free trial and test our software for FREE at the following link:

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