Migrating from SuiteCommerce Advanced to SuiteCommerce: Is It Possible?
The SuiteCommerce license is significantly more affordable than SuiteCommerce Advanced, which has led many SCA users to question whether migrating to SuiteCommerce is a viable option to reduce their annual costs. The good news? For many businesses, it is a great option. Here’s what you need to know:
Understanding the Key Differences
As we explained in our article "SuiteCommerce Advanced vs SuiteCommerce", both platforms share the exact same codebase. The primary difference is that SuiteCommerce operates as a software-as-a-service (SaaS), with automatic updates every six months.
This means that when you migrate to SuiteCommerce, it becomes more crucial than ever to follow best practices for customizations. Specifically:
- Use the Extensibility API: This ensures compatibility with updates.
- Avoid Overriding or Extending Core Code: If your customizations rely on extended core code, any changes made during an automatic update could break your site. By adhering to these practices, you can ensure your platform remains stable and up-to-date.
Is Your Site a Good Fit for Migration?
To help you determine if migrating to SuiteCommerce is a suitable option for your business, we offer detailed assessments. Having conducted dozens of these, our process involves:
- Reviewing Your Customizations: We identify which of your customizations can be implemented using the Extensibility API and highlight any that cannot.
- Providing Workarounds: We’ll discuss potential alternatives for customizations that aren’t API-compatible.
- One-on-One Walkthrough: One of our technical experts will walk you through the assessment results, discussing the specific advantages and challenges of migrating your site.
The Advantages of SuiteCommerce
One of the biggest benefits of SuiteCommerce is the automatic updates, ensuring your platform always has the latest features and security enhancements. This removes the need for manual upgrades and simplifies maintenance, saving you time and effort in the long run.
Migration Costs
The cost of migrating depends on the current state of your site:
- For Newer Versions of SCA: If your site already uses extensions, the cost is relatively low. We can activate those extensions and make minor adjustments to ensure everything works properly.
- For Older Versions of SCA: If your site predates the introduction of the extension architecture, migrating customizations will require additional engineering work to rewrite them as extensions. In this case, the migration will be closer to a new implementation, though not as extensive.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
If you’re considering migrating to SuiteCommerce, feel free to request a migration assessment. Our team will review your customizations, provide detailed insights, and walk you through the process to help you make an informed decision.
Contact us today to get started!
