An article I wrote for a client

[The following is an article I wrote for a client while working as a Content/Technical Writer for Inbound Back Office in 2019]

Magento 2: Is It Worth the Update?

In the realm of eCommerce, allowing your site to become outdated is not an option. Keeping up with ever-evolving plugins and security measures is a must. After all, users expect a smooth and seamless experience when they visit your site.

The question isn’t whether or not you should upgrade, but when. Should you take steps to upgrade now or wait until later?

HOW IS MAGNETO 1 PERFORMING FOR YOU NOW?

The answer to this question depends on the state of your current version of Magento 1 as well as your budget. If Magento 1 has been problematic for you and your customers, then you might consider making the update sooner rather than later.

If your Magento 1 eCommerce store has been running smoothly, there’s no immediate rush to upgrade to Magento 2. You can do it within the next 12 to 15 months when your budget allows for the upgrade. Planning to start a new eCommerce business altogether? Then you should definitely make the jump to Magento 2.

Magento 2 has been significantly re-engineered, implementing support for more advanced and newer technologies, reworking programming patterns, improving usability, and optimizing the platform.

THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS

1. Enhanced performance: Faster loading time. Web pages load in less than 1.5 seconds.
2. Faster streamlined checkout: Guests can check out without registering or opt to register after checking out. Registered customers are automatically identified based on their email.
3. Improved Ajax add-to-cart feature: Customers can add to their cart without delays caused by page reloading.
4. Simpler admin interface: This easier navigation ensures that store owners don’t need a Magento developer to manage the online store.
5. Split database: You can use three separate databases for product data, orders, and checkout, preventing database overload.
6. Support for advanced tech: Magento 2 supports advanced technologies such as CSS3, HTML5, and of course, MySQL. Also, Magento 2 uses jQuery instead of prototype.js.

WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES OF MIGRATION?

The downsides of migration from Magento 1 to 2:

• You will lose design and customized features. It will cost time and money to rebuild.
• Limited developer experience. Developers with experience in Magento 2 are few and far between. Therefore, their expertise will come at a higher price.

On the upside, products, attributes, and databases transfer with ease. The new Data Migration Tool makes migration seamless. You’ll be able to migrate product, customer, order data, and your most valued asset, the database, without significant disruption.

NOW WHAT?

If you are considering the update, the bottom line is that you need to evaluate your current Magento 1 version and your budget. You may need help to do so.

If you have a well-functioning eCommerce store running on one of the latest versions of Magento 1 and generating a regular income, you should consider upgrading to Magento 2 within the next twelve months. However, if your online store runs on an already outdated 1.x version, you should immediately prioritize the development of your Magento 2 site.

​Regardless of which stage you’re at, you'll need a team of experts to walk you through the process and complete the build. We may be biased, but we think that your team of experts should be us!  Contact us and let's discuss your needs.