PrestaShop to Shopify Migration: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in Australia

Understanding PrestaShop to Shopify Migration

Before jumping into the nitty-gritty, it helps to see what actually changes during a migration. Some brands think it’s as simple as moving data from point A to point B. In practice, it’s a much bigger switch, one that can reshape how your whole store runs.

What is PrestaShop to Shopify Migration?

This is the big move, transferring every bit of store data, from products and orders to customer details and custom content, from PrestaShop over to Shopify. Aussie businesses usually go for it when their growth stalls or support needs outgrow what PrestaShop can provide. The process means less ‘DIY drama’ and more time to focus on what actually matters: selling.

What drives the shift? Some brands want to quit wrestling with plugin updates and hosting headaches. Others can’t keep pace with security patches or manual backups. Shopify Plus’s automation, clean interface, and local support put these worries to bed. And let’s be honest, sometimes, a fresh start just sounds good.

Key Differences Between PrestaShop and Shopify

Understanding where these two platforms split makes it easier to plan what needs extra attention. It’s not just about tools, it’s about how each one fits into an Australian business workflow.

• How they’re built: Shopify handles all hosting and updates in the background. No more server woes. PrestaShop? You’re the one behind the curtain, managing everything from patches to plugin conflicts. Brands looking for less technical burden have also benefited from managed cloud solutions.
• Customisation: Shopify’s app store and ‘Liquid’ theme system make site tweaks pretty straightforward. PrestaShop has loads of modules, but you might end up elbows-deep in PHP.
• Costs: Shopify’s fees are upfront. Hosting, updates, and support sit inside one monthly bill. PrestaShop can look cheap, until you tally developer hours, surprise plugin renewals, or the odd site meltdown.
• Support: Shopify offers 24/7 chat, calls, and email. PrestaShop relies on community forums or paid third-party help.
• Fit for Australia: Shopify arrives set for AUD, GST, and local shipping rules. PrestaShop needs extra setup, extra stress.

Why Australian Businesses Are Migrating to Shopify

Trends show a steady migration. Shopify sits at the top of Australia’s eCommerce wish list, and it’s easy to see why. Local brands love the instant GST compliance, clear pricing, and friendly dashboard. Add to that a support team that speaks Aussie and knows the pain of Sydney traffic.

There’s also a spike in brands wanting fewer moving parts. When you’re tired of hunting for developers who speak both PHP and PrestaShop, switching to Shopify feels like swapping an old ute for a shiny new hybrid. Just ask any founder who’s watched their store load twice as fast, or stopped missing tax deadlines because their checkout flow got smarter.

See more: Neto to Shopify Migration: A Step-by-Step Migration Guide in Australia

Common Mistakes During PrestaShop to Shopify Migration

Migration sounds simple, until something breaks. Australian brands often repeat the same errors during the switch. Knowing what to watch for can save weeks of rework and lost revenue.

Inadequate Pre-migration Planning

Plenty of brands get caught out because they rush in without a real plan. Skipping a migration checklist leads to data gaps, broken images, or lost orders. Forgetting to back up old PrestaShop data is a classic rookie error. That ‘won’t happen to us’ mindset? It’s bitten more than one Australian retailer.

Custom content like modules or theme tweaks can also slip through the cracks. They’re easy to forget, until a product page looks ‘off’ on launch day.

Data Mapping Errors

Moving store data isn’t as easy as clicking ‘export’ and ‘import.’ One missed column, and products appear without prices, or images land in the wrong place. Variants, tags, and custom fields are notorious for tripping up stores on launch.

Messy CSV files only add to the chaos. Raw HTML, leftover test data, or weird characters from old plugins can turn an automated migration into a ‘hot mess’ nobody wants to clean up.

Poor SEO and URL Redirection Management

Migration isn’t just about moving products. Forgetting to redirect every PrestaShop URL leaves loyal customers, and Google, lost in the weeds. Brands that don’t update internal links or keep their meta data Aussie-specific risk seeing search traffic plummet.

One Sydney-based retailer saw rankings drop by nearly 30% after skipping 301 redirects. They spent weeks patching links, hoping for a Google bounce-back that never quite came. If you want to protect your brand and minimize risk, investing in a strong strategy is key.

Overlooking Payment, Shipping, and Tax Settings

Australian checkout experiences are unique. GST settings, regional shipping, and support for all local cards can’t be an afterthought. Plenty of stores have launched on Shopify only to find their payment gateway blocked Australian cards or missed GST on receipts.

It’s easy to overlook a setting and end up in trouble with tax authorities or angry shoppers who can’t check out.

Ignoring Post-Migration Testing

The moment the new store goes live, the clock starts ticking. Missed tests, checkout, order flow, site speed, mobile compatibility, quickly surface as angry support emails. A store can look beautiful on desktop but break on mobile, or process payments that never reach the right account.

Some merchants launch and only spot problems when traffic tanks, inventory disappears, or customers flood the inbox with ‘what happened?’ messages. It’s never a fun way to end a launch.

Incomplete App and Integration Checks

Apps drive Australian eCommerce. Marketing tools, inventory syncs, loyalty programs, they all need a checkup after migration. Too many stores assume these will ‘just work’ once Shopify is live.

Forgetting to test real-time inventory syncs or order tracking leaves warehouses guessing and customers in limbo. Marketing campaigns can go sideways when abandoned cart apps fail to pick up where PrestaShop left off.

How to Avoid PrestaShop to Shopify Migration Mistakes

Mistakes don’t just happen. They repeat. But almost all of them come from the same few blind spots. Spotting those ahead of time gives your migration a much better shot at success.

Create a Comprehensive Migration Plan

The safest migrations start with a full audit and a written checklist. List every bit of data to move, every plugin to check, and every page to review. Assign real deadlines and put someone in charge of each phase.

Audit the old store for broken links, missing images, and duplicate fields. Clean data now means fewer headaches on launch day. Treat the plan like a recipe, not a suggestion. You can see this rigorous approach in successful digital transformation projects.

Use the Right Migration Tools and Methods

Some brands pick manual CSV export/import. Others trust automated apps like LitExtension or Cart2Cart. Either way, the first migration should be a test run, moving a handful of products, customers, and orders. Only a trial will reveal mapping errors or weird data quirks.

Run the real migration only after the trial data looks perfect. If possible, keep both stores running in parallel for a few days to spot any missed orders or double-ups.

Prioritise SEO and URL Redirects

Protecting search traffic isn’t negotiable. Before the switch, map every PrestaShop URL to its new Shopify path. Build a spreadsheet with old and new links, then set up 301 redirects for every important page.

Update internal links in product descriptions, menus, and blog posts. Rewrite meta descriptions and titles for local relevance. Submit a fresh sitemap to Google Search Console and watch for crawling errors.

Localise for the Australian Market

Set Shopify to use AUD and display GST correctly. Double-check all regional shipping options, express, standard, free shipping for certain postcodes. Test every tax report and customer receipt for compliance.

Make sure payment gateways are set up for local cards and Australian banks. A payment failure on launch day is the sort of thing that gets merchants ‘grumpy’ in a hurry.

Conduct Rigorous Post-migration Testing

Run every possible test: place orders, issue refunds, use discount codes, simulate out-of-stock situations. Load the site on old phones, tablets, and different browsers to catch anything ‘odd’ that snuck through.

Connect Google Analytics and Google Search Console right away. Watch live data for bounce rates, error pages, or unexpected traffic drops. Fix issues fast. The best time to act is before customers notice.

Watch more: Migrate from Wix to Shopify: Tips to Keep Your Site Speed and Rankings Intact in Australia

SmartOSC – Your Trusted Partner for PrestaShop to Shopify Migration Success

SmartOSC stands out for one simple reason: we know where Australian brands struggle, and how to keep the pain out of migration. Our team treats every store like a flagship launch, not a generic project.

• Local-first expertise. Australian GST, shipping, and support don’t scare us. Our teams build migration plans around compliance, not ‘best guesses.’
• Proven process. We work shoulder to shoulder with Shopify Plus and top-tier tech partners. Our migration runs through strategy, technical setup, SEO protection, and post-launch QA.
• Real results. Brands like ASUS Singapore and Carma leaned on SmartOSC to rebuild digital operations, modernize customer experience, and make order fulfillment effortless. You’ll find proof in our digital commerce and digital transformation case studies.
• No surprises. Every migration gets a project lead, a written timeline, and a transparent risk report. Our clients don’t wake up to missing orders or surprise downtime.
• Integrated support. From payment gateways to warehouse syncs, we check every app and workflow. Our goal: customers don’t notice the switch, except for a better shopping experience.

Australian merchants trust SmartOSC for one reason: we treat every migration like our reputation depends on it. Because it does.

FAQs: PrestaShop to Shopify Migration in Australia

What is the biggest mistake to avoid during PrestaShop to Shopify migration?

The most common, and costly, mistake is rushing into migration without a well-defined strategy. Many businesses skip essential steps like taking full backups, setting up 301 redirects, or transferring SEO metadata correctly. These oversights often lead to dropped search rankings, broken links, lost customer data, or reduced sales performance post-launch. A successful migration requires detailed planning, data validation, SEO protection, and staged testing. When brands “wing it,” they put months (or years) of hard-earned digital equity at risk.

Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating from PrestaShop to Shopify?

You won’t lose your rankings if the migration is handled with SEO best practices in mind. The key steps include preserving your existing URL structure where possible, setting up 301 redirects for every changed URL, accurately migrating meta titles and descriptions, and resubmitting your sitemap to Google Search Console post-launch. Many Australian businesses that partner with experienced teams like SmartOSC maintain their organic visibility, or even see improvements, thanks to enhanced site speed, mobile responsiveness, and structured data implementation on Shopify.

Can I migrate all my customer and order data from PrestaShop to Shopify?

Yes, your entire data set, including customer accounts, order history, product listings, categories, and even product images, can be migrated from PrestaShop to Shopify. This can be done using a combination of automated tools and manual adjustments. However, it’s crucial to validate imported data to ensure accuracy, especially when handling customer emails, order statuses, pricing, tax rules, and custom attributes. For enterprise-level migrations, SmartOSC provides tailored scripts and QA processes to ensure a clean and secure data transition.

How long does a typical PrestaShop to Shopify migration take for an Australian store?

The duration depends on the complexity and size of your store. For small, relatively straightforward websites, the migration process may take just a few days, including planning, migration, testing, and go-live. For larger stores with thousands of SKUs, multi-language support, or advanced integrations, the timeline typically ranges from one to three weeks. Conducting a trial migration or dry run beforehand can dramatically speed up the process and uncover potential issues early, reducing delays during the actual transition.

Why should I use a professional service like SmartOSC for my PrestaShop to Shopify migration?

Migrating to Shopify is not just a technical move, it’s a business-critical operation that affects customer experience, SEO, and compliance. Professional services like SmartOSC bring years of platform expertise, risk mitigation strategies, and in-depth knowledge of both PrestaShop and Shopify ecosystems. By working with an expert team, you gain benefits like full SEO protection, automated and secure data transfers, Australian data privacy compliance, and faster turnaround times. Instead of learning through costly mistakes, you launch stronger, faster, and with confidence.

Conclusion

A prestashop to shopify migration isn’t just a tech project. It’s a chance to hit reset and future-proof your eCommerce business. The process feels less scary when you know where mistakes hide and have a local team that’s seen it all. SmartOSC takes the hassle out of migration. We cover the details, sweat the small stuff, and bring a ‘no drama’ attitude to every switch. If you want your store to run smoother, load faster, and meet every Aussie standard, contact us for a migration plan built for your brand. Don’t risk a messy move. Make the switch with SmartOSC, the migration partner Australian retailers trust.