J une 30, 2020 is the end of life for Magento 1, both Commerce and Open Source. It’s been a long time coming since the news of its end was first announced in November 2015. Yet, even just days before the deadline, some merchants may still be trying to wrap their heads around what to do. If you’re one of them, here’s some information that might help.
Remain Calm, but Don’t Wait!
Before any remaining Magento 1 merchants start to completely panic, please know that the end of Magento 1 will not serve as a light-switch that shuts off your online store as soon as July rolls around. Instead, it means that your store will still exist, but any support previously provided by Magento, like security patches or updates, will not be provided.
Merchants will be solely responsible for any security breaches and their Magento 1 sites will fall out of compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). And while there are companies out there offering solutions and support for Magento 1 merchants after June 30, the truth is, the ability to remain competitive and keep up with customer expectations will diminish significantly the longer you wait to make a move. So even though your store will remain on, it’s in your best interest and the interests of your customers to migrate platforms.
At a time when many businesses across all industries are trying to rein in spending to weather the current global crises, it may seem risky to invest in a platform migration for your online store – even we can admit the costs and timelines can sometimes seem daunting!
However, we cannot stress enough how important it is for merchants to take action now. By doing so, you will be better prepared for success down the line, even well after things have settled. Your customers will still be shopping and are still expecting a certain level of service and security from your store, regardless of outside forces. The rewards of pursuing a migration now far outweigh the risks of staying with Magento 1.
Options for Migrating from Magento 1
While migrating to Magento 2 is an option for all merchants, it won’t be any less effort to implement a completely new platform, since there is no simple upgrade path. Plus, the documented issues and ongoing expenses with Magento did not evaporate with M2 – they have continued on. Keeping all this in mind, we encourage you to take a look at commerce platforms available to you, including Shopify, Optimizely, BigCommerce and others. Whether your business is B2C, B2B, or both, the various platforms offer robust and unique solutions for merchants of all kinds. If you’re not sure of where to start, we can help.
BlueBolt’s expert strategists and developers have helped hundreds of clients over the years by providing best practices and information to make decisions on what’s best for each individual client’s business. We work to thoroughly understand your business and requirements, and make recommendations based on what specific needs your business has. As you embark on the next step in your digital transformation journey, let us help you take control of your future and make decisions that will enable you to reach your goals – contact us today!
