Adobe Commerce Technical Development Magento upgrades: How to deliver smooth upgrades that bring your site forward (not down). by Duncan Copeland Last updated on November 3rd, 2023 Adobe Commerce (Magento) upgrades are absolutely essential. We know this, you know this, And if you have been in the ecommerce world for long enough, you’ll know they take time, they can be risky, and often impede other development roadmaps. However, delaying an upgrade increases complexity, as upgrading multiple versions at once can be like assembling a puzzle with a blindfold on. In this ever-evolving technological landscape, it’s crucial to keep your online store running at peak performance, and skipping an upgrade is like skipping leg day at the gym: you’re bound to stumble sooner or later. What are the benefits of upgrading your Adobe Commerce (Magento) store? With each upgrade, you unlock new features, improved performance, and enhanced security. There are many important benefits to upgrading: Performance Boost With every upgrade, Adobe Commerce (Magento) rolls out performance enhancements. This can speed up your site for a better user experience, higher rate of engaged sessions and improved search engine rankings. Security Strengthened Security report When it comes to security, there’s no room for complacency. Adobe Commerce (Magento) upgrades give your store the latest tech, patching vulnerabilities and ensuring your customer data is locked down tight. There are many bad actors looking for Magento sites running on old versions. They’re looking for your customer data, and can break havoc in your operation. Whilst it’s hard to invest in security as there is no ROI in the strict sense, we should always remember a store being hacked is literally the worst possible scenario you could run into. And. Don’t forget this is also part of your PCI obligations. New Features and Functionalities Upgrading unlocks new features and enhanced functionalities, helping you stay ahead of the competition and provide a top-notch shopping experience for your customers. The Challenges of Adobe Commerce (Magento) upgrades Extensions compatibility: Tailoring your Adobe Commerce (Magento) store with third-party customizations and extensions can be a double-edged sword. While they provide unique functionalities, they may also be affected by upgrades, requiring additional time and effort to ensure compatibility. However, a key integration that every merchant would want to get right is with their ERP system and warehousing. Integrating your Adobe Commerce (Magento) store with your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and warehouse can be complex, and an upgrade may impact these connections. Careful planning and execution are necessary to maintain integrations healthy and prevent disruptions to your operations. In my team, we say “you can have the best UX in the world, but it counts for nothing if you break the integrations with ERP and inventory”. This is the less sexy aspect of our work, but it’s what makes it all work in the first place. Downtime Upgrades can lead to temporary downtime, which may impact your business operations and sales. Minimising downtime and scheduling the upgrade during off-peak hours is crucial. This is why our DevOps team is not alien to 5am deployments, or before our client’s customers start shopping. How GENE Ensures a Smooth Upgrade At GENE, we’ve perfected the dark art of Adobe Commerce (Magento) upgrades. Our experience spans countless successful upgrades, making us your reliable partner for navigating the upgrade labyrinth. Here’s how we make the magic happen: Thorough Planning We start by analysing your store’s customisations, extensions, and data to create a comprehensive upgrade plan, setting the stage for a smooth and relatively predictable process. Compatibility Checks Our team of Adobe Commerce (Magento) experts works tirelessly to ensure all customizations and extensions play nice with the latest version, making any necessary adjustments, and working with our partners responsible for the code of those extensions. To help with this, we are using all available UCT (upgrade compatibility tools) created by Adobe or 3rd Party JS developers. Testing, Testing, Testing: We test the upgraded store fastidiously, ironing out any kinks, and guaranteeing a glitch-free shopping experience for customers after deployment. Our suite of automated tests are invaluable here. Are you scared of your next upgrade? Upgrading your Adobe Commerce (Magento) store may feel like a daunting task; maybe you still have nightmares about an upgrade gone wrong in another life. Don’t let the fear hold your platform back! With GENE by your side, you can chill knowing your upgrade is in safe hands. Remember, the key is to plan and prepare. Experience has helped define our ability to take care of upgrades, mitigate the risk, reduce the costs and impact to driving the business forward. And like with the dentist, you need regular updates. Aiming for twice a year will help minimise upgrade risks. Don’t let that plaque build! Trust in the process. – Do you like what you read and want to know more about upgrades and book a consultation to discuss? Head over here and let’s talk.
