Migrating from Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Commerce) to Magento Open Source is a strategic decision for many ecommerce businesses seeking cost efficiency, flexibility, and control over their online operations. In this article, we’ll explore the key reasons why businesses make this transition, the ideal stages in a company’s growth cycle to consider it, and how Williams Commerce can help businesses navigate this migration smoothly ensuring minimal disruption and maximising long-term benefits.
Why Migrate from Adobe Commerce to Magento Open Source?
Adobe Commerce is a feature-rich and scalable platform, but for some businesses, Magento Open Source offers a more flexible and cost-effective alternative.
Some key benefits of moving to Magento Open Source include:
- No platform costs – Eliminates licensing fees while maintaining a powerful ecommerce platform
- Green Hosting – Able to choose your preferred sustainable hosting provider
- Reduced module costs – Lower costs for modules and themes such as Hyva
- Simplification – If you don’t need some of the commerce specific features such as B2B module then it’s easier to not have it in the code.
When Should a Business Consider Moving from Adobe Commerce to Magento Open Source?
Migrating from Adobe Commerce to Magento Open Source is a decision that businesses typically consider at key stages of growth and transformation. While Adobe Commerce provides extensive enterprise features, some businesses find that their evolving needs make Magento Open Source a more suitable alternative.
One of the most common reasons businesses explore this transition is cost reassessment. As ecommerce stores grow or plateau, they often review operational expenses and seek more cost-effective ways to invest in marketing, customer experience, and product innovation. Businesses that no longer require the full enterprise-level functionalities of Adobe Commerce can maintain a powerful ecommerce solution while reducing long-term costs with Magento Open Source.
Another key factor is feature utilisation. Adobe Commerce includes AI-driven recommendations, advanced analytics, and B2B tools, but not all businesses have the in-house resources to leverage these effectively or even have need for these features. Companies that primarily rely on third-party extensions or custom-built solutions rather than native Adobe Commerce features may benefit from greater flexibility in Magento Open Source, allowing them to scale without constraints.
For some businesses, customisation is a priority. Magento provides the same flexibility to customise the solution, extending capabilities in the platform, that Adobe Commerce does but without the additional costs associated with the platform licence. If you have complex integrations, or a need for custom capabilities such as an extended product model, then a SaaS ecommerce platform may add more complexity to your build requiring you to develop middleware or bespoke apps. In these cases, Magento Open offers easier ways to extend the solution without additional software or hosting, and without the licence fees for the platform.
Hosting is a key consideration. Adobe Commerce’s Cloud offering provides managed infrastructure, but businesses looking for greater control over hosting and sustainability may prefer Magento Open Source, which allows them to select their own hosting provider. For organisations looking to improve their green credentials this can be a factor in the decision-making process.
Some businesses also consider their long-term growth strategy and the ability to maintain independence when selecting their ecommerce ecosystem. Adobe Commerce integrates deeply within Adobe’s suite of tools, which is beneficial for many businesses, but some may prefer a technology-agnostic approach, allowing them to select and integrate third-party tools that best align with their specific needs.
Lastly, businesses exploring a full platform migration—such as a move to Shopify or BigCommerce—may find that Magento Open Source offers a more familiar and cost-effective transition. Because Magento Open Source retains the core Magento framework, businesses can transition without completely re-platforming, reducing the need for retraining staff or rebuilding key integrations.
But what are the associated risks and challenges of migrating from Adobe Commere to Magento Open Source?
While migrating to Magento Open Source offers several benefits, it’s important to be aware of potential challenges to ensure a smooth transition.
One of the primary considerations is the loss of built-in enterprise features. Adobe Commerce includes AI-driven product recommendations, customer segmentation, advanced analytics, and dedicated B2B functionalities. Since these tools are not natively available in Magento Open Source, businesses may need to implement third-party extensions or develop custom solutions, which can require additional development resources.
Infrastructure management and security are also factors to consider. Adobe Commerce’s Cloud hosting provides managed services, including automatic updates and security patches, whereas Magento Open Source requires businesses to manage their own hosting environment. Without the right expertise, businesses may face security vulnerabilities, performance challenges, or downtime risks. However, by partnering with Williams Commerce, businesses can ensure that these elements are properly managed, allowing them to maintain a stable and secure ecommerce platform.
The migration process itself can also be complex, particularly for businesses with highly customised ecommerce setups. While Magento Open Source shares the core Magento framework, businesses will need to reconfigure integrations, restructure data, and adjust workflows to ensure compatibility. If custom features were built specifically for Adobe Commerce, they may need to be redeveloped, which can extend project timelines.
Ongoing support and maintenance is another important factor. Adobe Commerce users benefit from Adobe’s official support channels, whereas Magento Open Source is community driven. This means businesses must either manage support internally or work with a Magento development agency for ongoing maintenance. Williams Commerce provides dedicated commerce operations teams providing support for Magento Open Source, ensuring businesses receive fast, expert advice and support when needed.
Despite these challenges, businesses that partner with the right experts, carefully plan their migration, and invest in the necessary technical resources can transition to Magento Open Source smoothly and successfully.
At Williams Commerce, we provide strategic guidance, technical expertise, and dedicated support teams to ensure businesses navigate this move with confidence. By aligning the migration with long-term goals and operational needs, an ecommerce business can unlock savings opportunities and the full potential of Magento Open Source.
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
Deciding whether to migrate from Adobe Commerce to Magento Open Source requires a careful assessment of your business goals, technology needs, and long-term growth plans.
For businesses that no longer require the full suite of enterprise features or are looking for a more flexible and cost-effective ecommerce solution, Magento Open Source provides a robust and scalable alternative.
At Williams Commerce, we not only specialise in seamless Magento migrations, but also help businesses assess their technology requirements and develop long-term ecommerce growth strategies.
FAQs: Our Migration Process – How Does It Work?
Our structured migration process is designed to minimise disruption and maximise efficiency, ensuring your ecommerce store transitions smoothly. Whether you require a like-for-like migration or a full-scale transformation, we provide a tailored approach that aligns with your business goals.
What happens during the Discovery & Planning phase?
We begin by conducting a detailed assessment of your current Adobe Commerce setup. This involves identifying key integrations, data structures, and custom functionalities that need to be replicated or improved. By carefully mapping out requirements, we create a migration roadmap that ensures a seamless transition with minimal risk.
How is data migrated securely?
The Data Migration phase is all about ensuring that critical business information is transferred accurately and securely. Our team meticulously migrates customer data, order history, product catalogues, and store configurations, while maintaining SEO integrity and URL structures to preserve your existing SEO equity.
What happens if my store has custom functionality?
If your Adobe Commerce store includes custom-built extensions, features, or third-party integrations, we ensure these are either recreated, optimised, or replaced with more efficient solutions during the Custom Development & Testing phase. We conduct rigorous testing to ensure everything works well, meeting industry standards for speed, security, and user experience.
How do you handle the launch and post-migration support?
Once everything is tested and optimised, we execute a Go Live strategy that guarantees a seamless transition with minimal downtime. After launch, our ongoing support team remains on hand to monitor performance, resolve any issues, and refine functionality as needed, ensuring your store continues to thrive post-migration.
At Williams Commerce, we make migrating to Magento Open Source simple, secure, and scalable, allowing your business to focus on growth while we handle the technical complexities.
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
With over 20 years of ecommerce expertise, Williams Commerce is a trusted partner with a proven track record partnering with hundreds of ecommerce businesses across sectors including Arts & Culture, Automotive, Fashion, Heathcare, Sports, Wholesale and Distribution. We’re helping our clients maximise their Magento investment and build multi-million pounds businesses online.
- Certified Magento Developers – Experts in Adobe Commerce & Magento Open Source
- Proven Migration Success – We’ve migrated dozens of ecommerce businesses between platforms. Read our case-studies.
- Bespoke Customisation – We have deep technical expertise tailoring specific and intelligent solutions for complex ecommerce needs.
- Ongoing Support & Growth – Post-migration optimisation & enhancements
Is Magento Open Source the right fit for your business? Speak to our team today for a free consultation.
