The alphanauten Digital Agency from Unna in Germany presents a short and practical guide on how to switch from Plentymarkets to Shopware. There are various situation and business cases that force to change from Plentymarkets to Shopware.
In recent years, since the big announcement in 2013, the two German eCommerce systems grown significantly closer. Nowadays we see many customers that are asking for a front-end change, away from Plentymarkets to a Shopware design.
In the background it makes sense to use a Plentymarkets backend. And just to migrate the frontend, the flagship of your own shop to a Shopware template. Whatever your planning is, what your ideas or your requirements are; we are looking forward to getting in touch with you. The alphanauten agency is a certified and award-winning Shopware partner company. Also we have plenty of Plentymarkets knowledge in house.
How to Switch from Plentymarkets to Shopware?
There are many ways to switch from Plentymarkets to Shopware. The biggest challenge is choosing the one option that suits your needs best. But no worries! Here you will learn how to do the switch and what metrics you should monitor when you’re ready to make the switch!
Going into more detail let’s talk a little bit about Shopware and Plentymarkets.
What is Shopware?
Shopware is a modern and easy-to-use eCommerce platform with a wide range of features that can be customized to fit any business. It offers a very easy checkout process for all kind of online shoppers, advanced inventory management, and other flexible options. Shopware is an ideal solution for businesses that need a reliable online store that can handle large orders and complex inventory management.
What is Plentymarkets?
Plentymarkets is a popular eCommerce ERP solution with an online store, inventory management, and multichannel sales section. It offers a comprehensive stock management system and a shop system as well that rivals any other. This cloud software allows entrepreneurs to fully automate their online business. Plentymarkets is a revolutionary thing because selling your products and connecting all processes made that so easy in every aspect.
Why Switching from Plentymarkets to Shopware?
When it comes to online shopping, there are a few different options available to you. Plentymarkets is one such platform, and while it’s been around for a while, it’s possible that you’re looking for a different option. If that’s the case, then you may be interested in switching to Shopware, ideally, Shopware 6!
Shopware is an online shopping platform that offers a lot of the same features as Plentymarkets, but with some key differences. For one, it’s much more user-friendly. You don’t need to learn a complex set of instructions or navigate through confusing menus – all of your shopping needs can be handled easily and quickly by simply clicking on the items that you want to purchase.
Another thing that sets Shopware apart from Plentymarkets is its customer service. If something goes wrong with your order, for example, you won’t have to wait long for someone from the team at Shopware to get in touch and help solve the problem. They’re always happy to provide support for their users, which is something that Plentymarkets doesn’t quite live up to.
Overall, if you’re looking for an online shopping platform that offers everything that Plentymarkets does but with some key advantages then Shopware may be the perfect choice for you.
Pros and Bulletpoints of Shopware
If you’re considering switching from Plentymarkets to Shopware, here are some pros and cons to consider.
Pros of Shopware:
Some of the Pros of Shopware are below:
- Shopware is a modern eCommerce platform with a sleek design
- It’s easier to use than Plentymarkets and has a wider range of features
- Shopware has an easy-to-use checkout process and a variety of payment options
- It offers a free trial period, so you can try it before you buy it
- Shopware is open-source and free to use
Bulletpoints Shopware:
What are the biggest advantages or so called Bulletpoints of Shopware? This is really a very common question among the online shop-owner or who are trying to switch to it from Plentymarkets. Here I am gonna tell you about it. When it comes to eCommerce Shopware may be a good choice. Here are some of the top advantages of using Shopware:
- Easy to Use
Shopware is very user-friendly, which makes it easy for you to navigate and find what you’re looking for. There are also a lot of features available that make it easy to manage your inventory and keep track of your sales. - Very Customizable
If you want to tailor your shop to reflect your personal style, or if you have a unique product that requires special handling, Shopware is perfect for you. You can customize the look and feel of your store, as well as add custom features such as product descriptions and ratings. - Flexible
Shopware is versatile in terms of how you can use it. You can use it to sell products online, or you can use it to manage your existing e-commerce business. Either way, it’s an easy and efficient platform that will allow you to grow your business quickly and easily.
Not only that, we have covered lots of other Pros and Cons of Shopware in another post. Feel free to read this article later.
Reasons to switch from Plentymarkets to Shopware
Usability comes first for all reasons! Both the frontend and many backend processes are more user-friendly when switching from Plentymarkets to Shopware. Each project has its own motivations and individual burning points that make the switching of course a beneficial thing.
Besides ease of use, loading speed is another factor. And here, too, it is about the loading times in the frontend as well as in the backend. A new Shopware 6 system runs as fast and smoothly as a Magento or Presta multishop system. With Plentymarkets, as a user and customer, you have to be a little more patient! But with Shopware? No worries! Check other Shopware projects made by alphanauten.
Very different constellations require individual solutions. Depending on the reason, there is a process of changes, so that in the end the Plentymarkets system can move to Shopware.
Is only the front-end moving? Should the entire ERP be moved? Are you switching from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6 in the background and you want a new Plentymarkets connection to be established? Read below how the different types of transfer can work.
Process of switching from Plentymarkets to Shopware
The actual migration away from Plentymarkets to a Shopware system is divided into different sub-areas. Not every customer is affected by every area. Depending on the customer’s wishes and constellation, there are different aspects to consider. As a certified Shopware Agency, alphanauten‘s professional staff are always happy to advise you. Click on the following link to go directly to our contact form.
Front-end
Should only the design of the shop, which was originally created in Plentymarkets Shopbuilder or via a specific template, be migrated to Shopware? Then it’s a matter of moving the frontend. In the best case, the old shop can continue to run parallel to production and as soon as the new design has been completed under Shopware, the move will take place.
Backend
The prerequisite for this is that the backend structure can be moved without any problems. Either via a Plenty => Shopware interface. Or via an interface of an ERP system that is already in use. After the test system has reliably survived the test phase, the change from the frontend can take place.
Would you like to migrate your entire Plentymarkets ERP system to a Shopware 6 system? Including all processes and the external infrastructure. Then the scope of work increases. In addition to the front end, the actual design, all current and historical data and settings must also be transferred.
At the beginning of a complete migration, data backups are created from your old Plentymarkets system. In the next step, all new relevant points are created in Shopware with the backups. Think of products, categories and the CRM. And all other data sets on which the new system is based on.
The integration and/or relocation of payment providers or newsletter systems is also part of the planning of the move.
Only when the transfer of all data is complete. And the frontend design has reached a productive phase. Then the move can begin and the respective sub-areas are moved in a logical order. Payment methods are tested and the hot final phase begins.
Finally, your Alphanauten Shopware partners and Plentymarkets supporters will carry out various onboarding and training sessions with you.
Data
Each ERP lives from its data and generates a large number of different data sets according to its own scope. The RestAPI enables a coordinated and secure migration of all data.
- Client data
- Exceptions: passwords, order history (in part), bonus points, etc
Keep in mind that client data also is effected by the DSGVO. You should worry about the right way of backups and data storage.
- Orders
- Archiving follows official guidelines and documentation requirements
- Categories
- Including metadata, SEO texts, customer classes and much more
- Products
- Exceptions: features, attributes, product bundles, etc
- Product images with a view of marketplace availability, server migration
An interim solution is a so-called connector. For example the Shopware 6 Connector. Only the frontend is moved to a Shopware template. The basis remains a Plentymarkets system. Orders are received here. And from here you generate products. There is also plentymarkets shopware connector which you will find on GitHub and on Shopware as well.
With a fully-fledged connector, the following topics are no problem when moving from a Plenty frontend to a Shopware shop.
- Catalogs
- Formats
- Manufacturer
- Delivery times
- Storage units
- Products including product variants
- Attributes / characteristics / facets
- Search filter
FAQs
How do I switch from Plentymarkets to Shopware?
If you have some technical knowledge then you can take the plentyMarkets to Shopware Connector plugin from the GitHub and try yourself. That connector can be used to switch from Plentymarkets to Shopware. But if you are not so familiar with the code and have less experience in this field then alphanauten‘s Shopware Expert Team can help you out. Just contact our team and have a free consultation!
How to Login plentyMarkets?
Logging into plentyMarkets is very easy. Just follow the steps and you will be there! First of all, go to the plentyMarketplace homepage and then click on Login in the upper right corner. Now open the login window. Here you need to enter your login credentials. Now simply click on Login. Yahooo! You are logged into your plentyMarketplace account!
What does plentyMarkets offer?
You can now easily find the right project partner for your business by listening to our system within plentyMarkets. Not only may you advertise individual projects, but you can also specify what plugins or settings you want to be implemented. From development to the design of your online store, there is no limit to what you can do on plentyMarkets.
Goals when switching from Plentymarkets to Shopware
As a rule, you are not satisfied with your shop design in the basic Plentymarkets Ceres template. The look is partly reminiscent of the 2000s and Microsoft software. The newer Plenty LTS template looks elegant, but unfortunately, it is not a mature global shop design with which you can achieve good results right away.
If you have invested in individual adjustments in the past, maybe even several times, you have to check whether you can transfer the design without much effort. A Calisto, Ceres or LTS design can only be copied to the new Shopware shop design with minor modifications.
In general, the goal is very often to present a 100% individually designed shop. Which also fulfills all valid technical SEO rules. A frontend design that makes every Google metric shine in the green. With a Shopware template, the FCP values* are usually less than 2 seconds.
Unfortunately, it takes a little longer here and there in the Plentyshop Kosmos. Combined with inappropriate image sizes and old plugin versions you can do 10 seconds and more! A recent update created the first remedy, the new Plenty LTS is not (yet) optimal.
What can alphanauten do for you?
Alphanauten were able to test a Plenty Ceres template in the current version. The FCP was after an optimization at 1.7s. It is very important that all template plugins are updated. In comparison, a complex Shopware 5 shop with many customizations currently creates an LCP of 0.4s. As of August 2022.
FCP – First Contentful Paint, is a metric that can be used to compare the effective loading time of the respective shop templates and server capacities. Shopware shops are ahead and win the race.
Another very concrete example of why a change makes sense. Under Plentymarkets, the design team often finds it difficult to implement individual solutions. Nice icons instead of boring text in the filters are a point. Product images in the navigation to the category pages are another point. The handling of the shop builder leaves only a few freedoms.
Shopware takes the design workflow to a new level. Simple drop zones make life easier for your in-house designers! Shopware stands for Intuitive Workflows. At Plenty, they prefer to be complex and less user-friendly. By switching from Plentymarkets to Shopware, you can redistribute the workload internally. There are fewer developer tasks, so the hours can be shifted to graphic designers and content creator teams, for example. A 100% WIN-WIN situation.
Here you get to another interesting topic. Read our blog report and find out more about the Shopware 6 system: “The switch to Shopware 6 from a technological point of view” Alphanauten Blog.
Conclusion
Plentymarkets is an incredible eCommerce platform, but it doesn’t offer all the features that Shopware does. In this article, we have shown you how to switch from Plentymarkets to Shopware so that you can take advantage of all the amazing features and functionality that this platform has to offer. We have also provided you with a step-by-step guide on migrating your Plentymarkets account over to Shopware so that everything goes smoothly. If you find this post helpful then please share it with others!
