For the past few years the hottest discussion in the global online retail industry were naturally held about the release of Magento 2. Not to mention that a large percentage of online retail stores is using Magento, following its great features and the range of eCommerce Magento extensions available at the store. Magento 1 offered a great platform for the vendors to turn their store into an eCommerce business with great user-friendly experience, performance and global presence.

 

In order to improve features of the leading e-stores, Magento team unwrapped its advanced version on November 2015, but many of us are still in a fix, "Should I upgrade to Magento 2 or not?" With no second thought, the advanced version is much faster, easier and more secure than the previous one. It empowers B2B and B2C businesses with better performance, scalability, features, Omni channel shopping experiences and more.

for the store owners, who are still in a fix whether to or not to upgrade to the next generation eCommerce platform, the following questions will answer every queries they have in mind.

 When should I upgrade to Magento?

The solution depends on your current site, performance and what version you're using. The bottom line is, if your site is performing well and if you're not using an outdated version (I'd say anything before 1.8 CE and 1.13 EE would be considered outdated), there is no rush. But, it's always better to stay updated with the latest technology and you can (you should) start exploring Magento 2.

If you're using an older version or having some serious performance issues with your not so outdated version, and have a number of Magento extensions for eCommerce store installed, now would be a great time to plan for a revamp.

For a big brand (or a lesser known with great number of customers), you should definitely plan the new investments to be done on Magento 2.

 Is it worth it?

It will be. And the main reason is the change itself. But, there's no hurry. The Magento 1 is there and they will be supporting the older version for years. So, if your store is performing well and you're not planning to be a market leader or pioneer of sorts in your niche, there is no need to jump the gun.

But, it's good to be aware of the fact that the majority of investments, explorations of new concepts for eCommerce Magento extensions will be done for Magento 2, starting yesterday.

For those who are not making plans to invest in the advanced version without being left behind for the time being, the action items may be helpful :

  • Start thinking about what improvements you'd like to make.
  • Open up the conversation with your solution partner about plans for Magento 2.
  • Make a list of extensions you are not actively using.

 

The Move- smooth or painful?

Let's begin with the smooth part. It's something that you're not going to get. The migration tools can help you (and your solution partner) with data transfer, from one platform to another. These tools are easily available and can transfer all your data from Magento 1 to the next version.

But, as it is clearly noted over there as well, theme and code customizations will not be transferable. This means your eCommerce Magento extensions would require some investment and need to be redone on Magento 2. But, this should be treated as a good thing because:

  • You get rid of the legacy code.
  • It can give you some new ideas of bringing more (advanced) features.
  • You can improve overall usability of your site.

What's Next?

The advanced version of Magento brings with it a whole new playing field for merchants and solution partners alike. For all you Magento store owners, the decision will bring some good things to your business.