From a highly customized EC-CUBE to Shopify: What to watch out for when migrating "while preserving" instead of a complete overhaul

Operation cannot be disrupted, but "staying as is" also poses a risk.

Many companies that have used EC-CUBE for many years face the problem of legacy systems due to accumulated customizations.
We often hear comments like, "Even a small modification costs a lot," "The system has become person-dependent, making it difficult to transfer knowledge," and "We can't update, so we're worried about security."

On the other hand, it's not realistic to "stop" the system that is at the core of the business and replace it all at once.
While operations must continue, the burden of an aging system won't wait.
That's why it's important to accurately understand the current situation and plan a phased migration path.

• Peace of Mind Gained by Migrating to Shopify
• Pitfalls in Migrating from Customized EC-CUBE to Shopify
• First Step to a Successful Store Migration - Current Situation Analysis
• What Commerce Media Can Offer for EC-CUBE Migration

Peace of mind gained by migrating to Shopify

By migrating to SaaS-based Shopify, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• Easy function expansion through a rich app ecosystem
• Automatic and reliable maintenance, security, and updates for the store itself and installed apps
• Flexible function expansion through custom app development using Shopify's API
• Predictable fixed costs for operation
• Smooth overseas expansion and omnichannel support

However, attempting to migrate directly from a heavily customized EC-CUBE can lead to significant pitfalls.

Pitfalls in Migrating from Customized EC-CUBE to Shopify

• Failure to inventory functions
  It is very common for companies not to know what is used as standard and what is uniquely developed.
• Insufficient Fit & Gap analysis
  If you don't organize whether the functions used in EC-CUBE can be supported as standard in Shopify, replaced by apps, or require custom app development, significant additional costs or migration failures may occur after migration.
• Complexity of data migration
  Customer data and order data customized for unique needs often do not fit directly into Shopify's format, necessitating conversion work with data mapping.
• Changes in workflow
  If you request "the same specifications as before," there is a risk that you will not be able to fully utilize Shopify's functions, which are built with expertise in e-commerce sales, thus failing to leverage Shopify's advantages.

First Step to a Successful Store Migration - Current Situation Analysis

The key is to always include a "current situation analysis phase" before migration.

• Organize the overall structure and operational flow of the current EC-CUBE system
• Identify customized functions within EC-CUBE and categorize them as "necessary/unnecessary"
• Classify Shopify's handling methods into "standard/app support/custom development/external system integration"
• Explore opportunities for optimization when switching to Shopify, including workflow

Also, a "big bang" type of migration, where everything is migrated at once, carries high risks. Therefore, we recommend an approach where you divide the migration into as many phases as possible, start small, and then expand.

What Commerce Media Can Offer for EC-CUBE Migration

At Commerce Media, we have extensive experience in large-scale EC-CUBE to Shopify migrations, and we provide comprehensive support for Fit & Gap analysis, data migration, and workflow improvement.

To answer the question, "To what extent can our customizations be supported by Shopify?", we offer a current situation analysis service.
By accurately understanding the current situation and visualizing risks, you can confidently plan your migration.

Start with a current situation analysis

"I want to know how well my EC-CUBE fits with Shopify."
"I want to confirm if my current customizations are a bottleneck."

If this sounds like you, please contact us for a current situation analysis.
As an experienced Shopify Premier Partner, we will propose the optimal migration plan.