Can I keep my old URLs when migrating to Shopify?

No, Shopify forces /products/handle and /collections/handle. You must set up 301s from the old structure. Seegea reads the source structure and accelerates re-enrichment once migrated.

How to migrate metafields to Shopify?

First create metafield definitions in Shopify, then import values via CSV, API or a tool like Matrixify. Seegea then allows bulk editing post-migration.

Should I keep the old site live during migration?

Yes, until DNS cutover. The cutover must be complete (redirects + sitemap submitted) so Google understands the move.

Shopify migration: the method to switch without losing traffic

Migrating to Shopify means gaining operational simplicity but also accepting a prescribed logic: handles, no nested collections, 100-variant limit. The question isn't "should I migrate?" but "how do I lose nothing?".

This plan covers 3 critical perimeters: product data, SEO, integrations. Seegea steps in once the technical migration is done, to quickly enrich a freshly imported catalog.

Common migration sources to Shopify

The 4 perimeters of a Shopify migration

Product data

Products, variants, images, metafields, collections, prices, stocks. The bulkiest but the best tooled (CSV, Matrixify, Shopify Flow).

SEO (URLs, 301s, sitemap)

The riskiest. One mistake and you lose 40% of traffic in 2 weeks. Documented 301 plan, sitemap submitted, Search Console monitoring.

ERP/CRM/ESP integrations

Sage, Cegid, Dynamics, Mailchimp, Brevo. Shopify has native connectors but custom cases need middleware or apps.

Typical 8-week plan

W1-2 — Source audit: SKU volume, metafields, translations, customers, order history.
W3-4 — Shopify setup: plan, theme, base apps, metafield definitions.
W5-6 — Catalog import: products, variants, collections, images. QA.
W7 — SEO: 301 redirect plan, collection structure, metas.
W8 — DNS cutover, sitemap submitted, Search Console monitoring.

The 5 main risks

URLs changed without 301: immediate ranking loss.
Metafields not migrated: PDPs stripped of half their info.
Lost customer accounts: password reset emails to anticipate.
Desynced stock: sales on out-of-stock SKUs post-migration.
Order history: Shopify can't cleanly import old orders, only a reference.

Once on Shopify, 60% of merchants realize they imported a "raw" catalog with no enrichment. That's where Seegea steps in: in 2-3 days, AI descriptions, metas, image alts, filled metafields.

Step	No post-migration tool	With Seegea
Product descriptions	Manual, ~20 min/listing	AI one-click, 30 s/listing
Image alt	Manual, quickly forgotten	Bulk AI generation
Metafields to enrich	Listing by listing	Inline grid with rollback
Quality audit	Hand-rolled spreadsheets	Continuous saved views

Plan your Shopify migration

30-min Google Meet · we scope with you

Plan your Shopify migration

Post-migration: the first 2 weeks

The most sensitive period. Daily Search Console monitoring, 301 verification, empty/incomplete listing checks. Seegea provides a catalog quality dashboard: listings without description, without alt, without price, without metafield. Product teams focus on real gaps instead of drowning in data.

What does it cost?

Self-managed migration: free minus internal time (200-400h depending on scope).
Shopify integrator: $12k-$50k for a turnkey migration.
Post-migration enrichment with Seegea: $19-$129/month.

Created in France (Annecy – Chantilly) · Email & Google Meet support

FAQ

For a 1,000 to 5,000 SKU catalog, expect 3 to 8 weeks depending on complexity (metafields, translations, ERP). Biggest risks are on SEO (301s) and ERP/CRM integrations.