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Migrating to Shopify: The Complete Guide (2026)
Migrating to rShopify is the process of moving your ecommerce infrastructure to a more scalable, manageable, and performing platform. This guide provides a step-by-step, technical and strategic roadmap for SME owners in Turkey who are considering switching from different e-commerce platforms to Shopify.
Why Switch to Shopify?
The main reason for switching to Shopify is the limitations of customization of existing platforms in Turkey, high technical dependency, and lack of global scalability. Shopify offers an infrastructure that solves these three issues together, active in 175+ countries.
Local platforms in Turkey usually provide a sufficient start for the Turkish market. But as your brand grows, you run into the following issues: necessarily agency dependency for custom design, lack of international payment integrations, speed and mobile performance issues, and the absence of the App Store ecosystem. Shopify eliminates these restrictions.
According to 2024 data, Shopify has more than 4.7 million active stores worldwide. Shopify usage in Turkey has grown 180% in the last 3 years. These figures show that the platform has gained a strong place not only in the global, but also in the Turkish e-commerce ecosystem.
Shopify Payments payment infrastructure is currently unavailable in Turkey. Local payment integrations such as iyzico, PayTR or Craftgate should be used for stores in Turkey. These integrations can be easily set up through the Shopify App Store.
Which platform are you migrating to Shopify from?
Which platform you go from directly determines the complexity and duration of the migration process. Switching from WooCommerce is the most technically detailed process. Ticimax, Ideasoft and Tsoft transitions are usually completed seamlessly with API tools prepared by us without the need for more structured manual intervention.
Here are the migration scenarios that we encounter most often as Nodus Works:
Migrating from Ticimax to Shopify
Stores that use Ticimax often experience difficulties due to product data structure differences. Ticimax's category hierarchy and variant structure must be matched to Shopify's metafield system. The average transition time is 2-4 weeks.
Read our guide to Migrating from Ticimax to Shopify
Migrating from TSoft to Shopify
The most critical issue in migrating from the Tsoft infrastructure is the preservation of the existing URL structure and the correct installation of 301 redirects. Otherwise, organic traffic will suffer serious losses.
Read our guide to Migrating from TSoft to Shopify
Migrating from IKAS to Shopify
For stores that use Ikas, the transfer of product catalog and customer data is relatively easy. However, you need to install Shopify equivalents of some marketing automation tools specific to ikas.
Read our guide to Migrating from IKAS to Shopify
Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify
WooCommerce migration means a complete exit from the WordPress infrastructure. It is the most technical migration scenario due to plugin dependencies, custom post types, and database structure.
Technical Guide to Switching from WooCommerce to Shopify
Migrating from Ideasoft to Shopify
The most critical issue in migrating from the Ideasoft infrastructure is that the current URL structure must be maintained and 301 redirects must be done correctly, otherwise organic traffic will suffer serious losses.
Tech Guide to Migrating from Ideasoft to Shopify
If you want to perform seamless transfer with API developed by Nodus Works now Create a transition plan.
Pre-Transition Preparation: What Do You Need to Do?
Before you start migrating to Shopify, you need to analyze your existing store under four basic headings: data inventory, SEO status, technical infrastructure, and business continuity plan. 65% of projects that skip this preparatory phase face unexpected post-transition problems.
1. Extract Data Inventory
Extract the full list of these data before migration:
- Products: SKU number, variant structure, product descriptions, images
- Categories: Heer/subcategory hierarchy, category URLs
- Clients: Email, phone, address information (check KVKK compliance)
- Orders: Historical order data, return records
- Content: Blog posts, static pages (About Us, FAQ, etc.)
- SEO Data: All URLs, meta title/description, backlink profile
2. Get SEO Baseline
Export all your URLs from Google Search Console. Identify which pages receive the most organic traffic. URL protection should be your top priority for these pages. Also register your backlink profile with Ahrefs or Semrush.
Choosing a Shopify Plan
Shopify offers four main plans. For most SMEs in Turkey, the Grow ($72/month) plan is the ideal starting point, plus a $1/month discount is available for the first 3 months. Advanced can be preferred for stores that need high monthly turnover and advanced reporting. For large-scale operations and global brands, Shopify Plus comes into play.
If you're having trouble choosing a plan, you can try our Shopify package selection tool that we've prepared for you: https://apps.nodusworks.com/shopify-paket-hesaplayici
Shopify Plus — $2,500+/month
Eliminate all boundaries with Shopify Plus as your brand grows:
• Unlimited staff accounts and advanced user roles
• Advanced automation and custom workflows with Shopify Flow
• Campaign automation and flash sale management with Launchpad
• Custom checkout design and checkout extensibility
• Personal support with Dedicated Merchant Success Manager
• 99.99% SLA uptime guarantee and enterprise-grade infrastructure assurance
For Shopify Plus, you can get special pricing through Nodus Works: nodusworks.com/services/shopify-plus
💡 Tip: Do not close the old platform during the transition
Keep your old store active until the migration is complete and your new store is tested. Manually manage order synchronization or use a temporary 'No Order' banner while the two platforms are running at the same time. Sudden shutdown can lead to customer losses.
Data Transfer: Step-by-Step Shopify Migration Process
Data transfer to Shopify can be done through three different methods: Shopify's official Import app, third-party migration tools (LitExtension, Cart2Cart), or manual CSV import. Which method to choose is determined by your number of products and data complexity.
Method 1: Basic Transfer with Shopify Store Importer
Shopify's built-in Store Importer app is the fastest solution for stores under 500 products. Exported product data in CSV format can be uploaded directly.
- Export products as CSV from legacy platform
- Compare and map fields with Shopify CSV template
- Upload images to CDN as well or import them via URL
- Perform test transfer (start with 10-20 products)
- Fix errors, then start full transfer
Method 2: Automatic Migration with LitExtension
LitExtension is the tool of choice for stores with 1,000+ products or complex variant structures. It can transfer from 140+ resource platforms including Ticimax, Tsoft and WooCommerce. For an average of 5,000 products, the transfer time is 4-8 hours.
Critical: You Can't Transfer Customer Passwords
For security reasons, no migration tool can transfer user passwords. You will need to send a password reset email to your customers after the migration. Prepare this email with care; it is critical both in terms of brand communication and customer experience.
SEO Protection Strategy: Don't Lose Your Organic Traffic
The biggest risk in migrating to Shopify is organic traffic loss due to improperly managed URL structure. With a properly implemented SEO protection strategy, traffic loss can be kept below 5% during the migration process.
1. Create a URL Mapping Table
Match each URL on the legacy platform to the corresponding URL in Shopify. This table is the most critical document of the transition process. It should be prepared primarily for 50-100 URLs with the highest traffic, especially for the highest traffic.
Shopify's default URL structure is: /products/product-name, /collections/category-name, /pages/page-name. If you have a different structure on your old platform, you should definitely set up a 301 redirect.
2. Set Up 301 Redirects
In the Shopify Admin panel, you can add redirects from Navigation > URL Redirects. Bulk upload with CSV is recommended for more than 500 redirects. Test referrals at least 1 week before taking them live.
3. Update Google Search Console
Add a new property in Google Search Console for a new domain or URL structure. If you are changing fields, use the 'Change of Address' tool. Submit the new XML sitemap to Search Console and follow the indexing process.
4. Hreflang and Canonical Labels
If you're running stores for multiple languages or countries, set up Shopify's language settings and hreflang tags correctly. The Shopify Markets feature greatly automates this process for multi-region sales.
Shopify Theme Selection and Customization
Choosing a theme in Shopify isn't just an aesthetic decision, it's a strategic one that directly affects your conversion rate. It is critical to choose a high performance, Turkish language support and fast loading theme for the Turkish market.
Free Theme Suggestions
Dawn (the official Shopify theme), Sense, and Ride themes offer solid starting points for stores in Turkey in terms of both performance and customizability. The Dawn theme has especially been the theme that received the best scores in the 2024 Core Web Vitals tests.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Paid Theme
- Choose themes rated 90+ on Google PageSpeed Insights
- Read Theme Store reviews, research support quality
- Be sure to test the mobile view in the demo store
- Check English character support (ş, ı, ğ, ü, ö, ç)
- Review the frequency of theme updates (active development is important)
The tool you will use to select the theme: https://apps.nodusworks.com/shopify-tema-bulucu
Payment Integrations: Which Solutions to Use for Turkey?
Choosing payment integration for Shopify stores in Turkey is critical because Shopify Payments is not yet active in Turkey. iyzico, PayTR and Craftgate are the most commonly used solutions.
iyzico has the easiest setup process with its official app on the Shopify App Store. Commission rates average 2.9% + $0.30, and special deals can be made according to the monthly volume. PayTR, on the other hand, offers more competitive commission rates, but technical setup is more complicated.
Go-Live and Post-Transition Checklist
Resuscitation is the most critical step of migration and it is advisable to do it early in the morning, in the middle of the week, since it is difficult to return. The following checks must be completed prior to go-live.
Before Taking It Alive
- All products, prices and stock information checked
- Payment integration tested (small amount with real card)
- SSL certificate active, domain connection made
- All 301 redirects tested
- Email notification templates (order confirmation, shipping, etc.) ready
- Google Analytics 4 and Meta Pixel installs complete
- Mobile and desktop view tested
- Page loading speed under 3 seconds
The first 72 hours after resuscitation
The first 72 hours after taking it alive is a critical observation period to detect potential problems. Track browsing errors, traffic drops in Analytics, and payment error rates on an hourly basis in Google Search Console.
- Check for Google Search Console errors
- Manually verify the first 10 orders
- Keep customer service channels active
- Watch for page 404 errors and add redirects
- Update your social media ads to new URLs
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to migrate to Shopify?
It takes from 1 to 8 weeks, depending on the size of your store and the source platform. Simple stores under 500 products can be completed in 1-2 weeks, while stores with 5,000+ products and complex category structure may require 6-8 weeks. Customized theme development can extend this time.
Do I lose my SEO values when I switch to Shopify?
If you get the right 301 redirects and URL matching, you can save 95% of your SEO values. Google usually recognizes 301 redirects within 2-4 weeks. In the first 1-2 months after the transition, small traffic fluctuations are considered normal, which is temporary.
Is there English language support in Shopify?
Yes, Shopify offers full English language support. Admin panel, customer interface and email templates can be set in Turkish. Turkish characters (ş, ı, ğ, ü, ö, ç) work seamlessly in all themes. In addition, Turkish customer support can be provided through Shopify's partner network.
Can I move orders from my old store to Shopify?
Historical order data can be imported with migration tools such as LitExtension. However, transferred orders appear in the 'Archived' status; they are not automatically linked to customer accounts. Transfer is recommended for order history for reporting and customer service purposes.
Is professional help required for Shopify migration?
You can do it yourself for stores with under 500 products and simple structures, but for larger stores, expert support saves serious risk and cost. Incorrectly installed 301 redirects or incomplete data transfer can lead to problems that are much more costly to fix later.
Ready to Migrate to Shopify?
Switching to Shopify is a transformative step that takes your ecommerce operation to the next level when managed with the right planning and expertise. By following the steps we covered in this guide, you can complete the migration process of data inventory, SEO protection, theme selection, and bringing it to life in a controlled manner.
As Nodus Works, as the agency with the most Shopify Partner reviews in Turkey, we managed this process with dozens of brands. We observed an average conversion rate increase of 20% in stores that we successfully migrate from Ticimax, Tsoft, IKas, and WooCommerce to Shopify.
Get a Free Migration Consultation
Contact the Nodus Works team to assess your store's migration readiness, determine the right strategy, and be with you throughout the process. You can reach us at nodusworks.com/ourservices/shopifya-tasima-migration-and-gecis.
Related sources:
Migrating from Ticimax to Shopify
A Guide to Migrating from TSoft to Shopify
Migrating from IKAS to Shopify
Guide to Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)
Our Migration Service to Shopify
Tech Guide to Migrating from Ideasoft to Shopify
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