To grasp the benefits of Magento data import and export, you don’t even have to think e-commerce.
Remember the not-so-distant times when you had to export and import bookmarks in your internet browser? Transfer a playlist from a PC to an iPod? Or – something you probably still do – import a CSV file into Excel to instantly get a structured table?
Just a few common cases like these vividly demonstrate the three practical advantages of importing and exporting data that are equally applicable to Magento (or any e-commerce platform):
- Maintaining data continuity during transitions or upgrades.
- Ensuring synced and up-to-date data across several software systems.
- Comprehensively and automatically systematizing and visualizing data.
With these advantages in mind, let’s now consider when and what data you may need to import or export in Magento 2.
Business Scenarios Requesting a Streamlined Magento Import and Export
Despite Magento 2 not offering a convenient data transferring solution out-of-the-box, various business scenarios expect you to be able to import or export Magento data. The most common scenarios are:
- Magento Migration, Upgrade, or Custom Development. Being able to export products, customers, orders, and other data makes for smooth functionality/design updates.
- Backup and disaster recovery. Regular Magento 2 data export protects your website against data loss and provides a fallback option in case of system failure.
- Multichannel Selling. Automated product export from Magento is a vital element of selling on online marketplaces or in brick-and-mortar stores.
- Integration with Third-Party Systems. Streamlined import and export facilitates seamless data exchange between Magento and such systems as ERP, PIM, CRM, etc.
- Magento Inventory Updates. Exporting products and importing categories assists in mass and regular updates of catalogs, stock levels, and pricing.
Pros of Importing-Exporting Key Magento Data Types
From the common scenarios alone, it is obvious that the three main data types for Magento import and export are products, customers, and orders.
Let’s look at what advantages you can get for each data type with the help of a flexible Magento data transfer solution:
Magento Product Export and Product Import
- Fast and safe initial catalog setup.
- Quick and effortless seasonal or demand catalog changes.
- Automated and error-free synchronization of product data with marketplaces or suppliers.
Magento Order Export and Order Import
- Uninterrupted sales even after significant website changes.
- Transaction history preservation (for audit purposes).
- Efficient processing of bulk orders during peak seasons or promotions.
Magento Import Customers and Export Customers
- Synchronization of data with CRM & helpdesk.
- Effective segmentation of the exported customer list for categorizing clients.
- Easy B2B management of corporate accounts, permissions, and access levels.
Numerous companies offer extensions that cover all these lucrative capabilities of Magento customer-, order-, and product import/export. The best solutions on the market – Amasty included – also handle the transfer of seven additional data entities:
CMS Blocks – for efficiently managing and transferring content blocks, ensuring consistent branding and messaging across your Magento store.
CMS Pages – to maintain dynamic content, providing a user-friendly interface for optimizing pages.
URL Rewrites – for handling URL rewrites and precise control over the structure of website links.
Catalog Price Rules – to streamline pricing strategies and ensure accurate and synchronized promotions across your product catalogs on multiple platforms.
Cart Price Rules – for efficiently managing cart price rules and providing consistent discounts.
EAV (Entity-Attribute-Value) Data – to ensure product data consistency and accuracy.
Search Terms and Synonyms – to increase the discoverability of products and boost user experience by preserving users’ search terms and synonyms in your store’s search history.
Listed above are undeniably the most crucial data entities in not just Magento but the entirety of e-commerce. Flexible and automated manipulation of this data is important. But these are just ten data types. Is it truly all your Magento store contains?
The Hidden Potential of Extension Data Entities
There is much more to your business than your catalog, customers, and transactions. To power up your Magento store, you most likely use various extensions. And if you’re savvy enough to leverage them for multiple purposes, you have a lot more precious data than you might think.
Here’s just a quick look at the possible crucial data you may have:
All this data isn’t something you wouldn’t want to back up or carry over with you if you moved platforms. It’s also the kind of data that has infinite potential for insights and DDDM when integrated into other solutions.
Sadly, the market doesn't offer many efficient ways to import-export this data. Even companies specializing in import-export for e-commerce platforms, despite striving to support popular extensions, usually cover only up to four. Anything beyond that requires a custom request and involves additional development costs.
Importing and Exporting Extension Data Entities with Amasty
What sets Amasty's Import-Export extensions apart, is their compatibility with many popular Magento extensions. While it might not be a silver bullet if you rely on different vendors, you will definitely discover its value if you’re enhancing your Magento store with Amasty modules. Whether you're managing returns with the RMA extension, navigating products using Improved Layered Navigation, or handling promotions with Special Promo, you won’t require any additional investments.
Amasty's Import-Export tools ensure seamless compatibility with the data entities associated with each of the modules below.
Improved Layered Navigation x Import-Export
The Improved Layered Navigation extension utilizes product attributes and category data to enhance the browsing experience on your Magento store. By intelligently filtering and organizing products, it offers customers a seamless navigation experience, making it easier for them to find what they're looking for.
Importing and exporting these crucial data entities is easy with Amasty's Magento Import-Export functionality, ensuring a smooth integration process for your online store.
Filters
Potential software/systems to target: Marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Instagram, Google Shopping, etc.) and other e-commerce platforms.
Why import/export?
- For backup purposes (before migrating to a new Magento store or introducing store changes).
- For marketplace or store synchronization, ensuring shared configurations across multiple instances,
Option Settings
Potential software/systems to target: Marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Instagram, Google Shopping, etc.), Product Information Management (PIM) systems.
Why import/export?
- Valuable for creating backups, replicating configurations on different instances, or sharing settings with third-party developers or agencies.
- To maintain consistent and accurate product information across different channels and platforms.
RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) x Import-Export
Amasty’s RMA extension deals with a wide range of data entities, including historical returns data, item conditions, chat records, return reasons, requests, resolutions, statuses, and tracking. Fully compatible with RMA, our Magento Import and Export modules seamlessly handle this data.
Historical Returns Data
Potential software/systems to target: Tableau, Power BI, Excel/Google Sheets, ERP (SAP, Oracle, etc.), record-keeping software (Quickbooks).
Why import/export?
- To visualize and analyze data for better decision-making, trend analysis, and improving the overall return process.
- For record-keeping, auditing, and compliance purposes.
- To use comprehensive data for reference or analysis.
Item Conditions
Potential software/systems to target: Inventory Management Systems, Point of Sale (POS) systems.
Why import/export?
- To assess the eligibility of returned items for resale, refurbishment, or disposal and make informed handling decisions (restocking/discounting).
- Vital for sharing information with suppliers, manufacturers, or stakeholders in the supply chain.
- Helps in determining warranty claims and identifying product quality issues.
Chat Records
Potential software/systems to target: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems (e.g., Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot).
Why import/export?
- To provide context and details about customer inquiries, concerns, or instructions related to returns.
- For resolving disputes in customer support and improving customer experience.
- For documentation, training, and analysis of customer interactions, aiding in identifying recurring issues and improving communication processes.
Return Reasons
Potential software/systems to target: CRM systems.
Why import/export?
- To understand and categorize reasons for returns, facilitate root cause analysis, and introduce preventive measures to lower return rates.
- To integrate return reasons data into e-commerce platforms for improved categorization of return patterns.
- For sharing information with suppliers, manufacturers, and other partners in the supply chain.
Requests, Resolutions, and Statuses
Potential software/systems to target: RMA-specific software solutions (e.g., Returnly, ReadyReturns, custom-built RMA modules within ERP systems).
Why import/export?
- For real-time tracking and efficient management of the return process to ensure transparent and timely resolutions.
- Essential for reporting, compliance, and maintaining a complete audit trail of the entire return lifecycle.
Tracking data
Potential software/systems to target: Shipping and logistics software (e.g., FedEx, UPS), integrated tracking solutions.
Why import/export?
- To monitor the movement of returned items through the logistics chain, providing accurate and up-to-date information to customers and internal teams.
- Essential for sharing shipment details with customers and ensuring transparency in the return process.
- To provide real-time updates to customers and internal teams regarding the status and location of returned items.
SEO Toolkit x Import-Export
The SEO Toolkit extension optimizes your Magento store and enhances its visibility on search engines. By efficiently managing meta tags, keywords, and other SEO elements, this extension helps improve your website's search engine rankings.
Importing and exporting data related to redirects is essential for the SEO continuity of your store – and you can easily achieve this with Amasty's Import-Export.
Redirects
Potential software/systems to target: Content Management Systems (CMS), Web Development platforms, SEO tools, Analytics platforms.
Why import/export?
- To efficiently manage website traffic by redirecting outdated or broken URLs to new destinations.
- For website restructuring or migration, ensuring a smooth transition and preserving SEO rankings.
- To maintain accurate analytics and reporting by redirecting tracking links or UTM parameters.
Redirect Expiration
Potential software/systems to target: Web Development platforms, Content Management Systems (CMS), Redirect Management tools, Project Management software.
Why import/export?
- To proactively manage and update expired redirects, ensuring accurate and up-to-date URL mappings.
- For compliance and auditing purposes, maintaining a record of redirect expiration dates.
- To streamline communication with external teams or agencies by sharing information on redirect expirations.
Redirect Store
Potential software/systems to target: Redirect Management tools, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), Web Development platforms.
Why import/export?
- To maintain a centralized repository of redirect configurations for consistency across platforms.
- For collaboration with external teams or agencies, ensuring the seamless sharing of redirect data.
- To backup and restore redirect configurations, facilitating quick deployment in new environments.
Gift Card x Import-Export
The Amasty Gift Card extension leverages customer and order data to seamlessly integrate a flexible gift card system into your Magento store. It allows customers to purchase and send personalized gift cards to their recipients, enhancing the shopping experience.
Thanks to our Magento 2 Import-Export, you can effortlessly transfer gift card details, handling accounts, codes, images, or invoices.
Gift Card Order
Potential software/systems to target: E-commerce platforms and marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Instagram, Google Shopping, etc.), CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), POS systems.
Why import/export?
- To track sales, manage inventory, and ensure accurate financial records for transactions where customers purchase gift cards.
- Valuable for financial reporting, reconciliation, and sharing transaction details with accounting or finance systems.
- Necessary for handling returns, refunds, or adjustments related to gift cards, ensuring accurate tracking of gift card balances.
Card Image
Potential software/systems to target: Content Management Systems (CMS), Graphic Design software (Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva), and Marketing tools.
Why import/export?
- To ensure consistent branding and visual representation across different platforms.
- To use card images in promotional materials and campaigns for marketing purposes.
- To streamline design processes by sharing card images with external graphic designers or agencies.
- Gift Card Code / Code Pool
Potential software/systems to target: E-commerce platforms and marketplaces (e.g. Amazon, Target, etc.), Tableau, Power BI, Excel/Google Sheets, Marketing Automation tools.
Why import/export?
- Necessary for sharing information with partners, affiliates, or stakeholders.
- To add new gift cards to the system, whether generated in bulk or individually, ensuring an updated gift card inventory.
- For maintaining a comprehensive record of issued gift card codes.
- To create and manage pools of gift card codes, organizing them based on campaigns, promotions, or other criteria.
- To export code pool data for monitoring campaign performance, analyzing redemption rates, and optimizing future marketing strategies.
Gift Card Invoice / Credit memo
Potential software/systems to target: Accounting software (Quickbooks, Xero), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and External auditing tools.
Why import/export?
- To maintain accurate financial records and reconcile transactions related to gift card sales.
- For tax and accounting purposes, facilitating the inclusion of gift card sales in financial statements.
- To share detailed invoice information with external accounting or auditing services.
Special Promotions x Import-Export
With Amasty's Special Promotions extension, you can implement tailored promotional campaigns on your Magento store. Whether it's creating buy-one-get-one offers, percentage discounts, or other customized promotions, this extension helps boost sales and customer engagement.
Our Import-Export extension seamlessly handles promotional rules and usage limits, ensuring swift and efficient management of your special promotions.
Promo Rules
Potential software/systems to target: Marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Instagram, Google Shopping, etc.), Marketing Automation tools, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Pricing and Promotion Management software.
Why import/export?
- To replicate and apply special promotional rules across different platforms or instances for consistency.
- For collaboration with external marketing agencies, ensuring seamless integration of special promotions.
- To back up and restore promotional rules or quickly deploy them in new environments.
Promo Rule Usage Limit
Potential software/systems to target: Business Intelligence tools, Marketing Analytics software, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
Why import/export?
- To track and analyze the effectiveness of special promotions by monitoring usage limits.
- For strategic decision-making, based on insights into customer behavior and response to promotions.
- To enforce consistent promotional rules across various systems and platforms.
Rewards Points x Import-Export
Our Rewards Points extension lets you implement a loyalty program on your Magento store. Thanks to this module, your customers can earn and redeem points based on their purchases, while you keep fostering customer loyalty and retention.
Such customer-accrued data is sensitive in its own way, and you should preserve it at all costs. That’s exactly what our Import-Export for Magento allows you to do.
Point Transactions
Potential software/systems to target: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Loyalty Program Management tools, Business Intelligence tools.
Why import/export?
- To analyze and report on customer engagement and loyalty through reward point transactions.
- For integration with marketing and customer retention strategies based on reward point usage.
- To facilitate record-keeping and compliance with loyalty program regulations.
Point Customers
Potential software/systems to target: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Marketing Automation tools, Loyalty Program Management systems.
Why export?
- To personalize customer experiences by leveraging detailed information on reward points.
- For targeted marketing campaigns, offering promotions and incentives based on reward point status.
- To integrate reward point data with customer relationship management for a holistic view of customer engagement.
Store Locator x Import-Export
Amasty’s Store Locator extension enhances your Magento store's functionality by providing customers with an easy way to find physical store locations. It integrates maps and store information, improving the in-store shopping experience and raising foot traffic.
Our Magento Import-Export module allows you to efficiently manage the extensive store locator data, ensuring always accurate and up-to-date information for your customers.
Store Gallery
Potential software/systems to target: Multimedia Management systems (Figma, Adobe Suite, etc.), Marketing Automation tools.
Why import/export?
- To showcase visual content such as images or videos related to store locations.
- To use gallery data for marketing and promotional activities.
- To collaborate with external marketing agencies, sharing multimedia content for store promotion.
Store Location Data
Potential software/systems to target: Geolocation services, Mapping tools, Navigation systems.
Why import/export?
- To manage and update the geographical information of store locations for accurate mapping.
- For localization and personalization, providing users with precise location details.
- To collaborate with mapping or navigation services, ensuring accurate representation of store locations.
Store Reviews
Potential software/systems to target: Review Management tools (Google Business), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Reputation Management platforms.
Why import/export?
- To manage and showcase customer reviews and ratings related to store locations.
- For reputation management and customer engagement, analyzing and responding to reviews.
- To integrate review data with customer relationship management for a comprehensive view.
Store Schedule
Potential software/systems to target: Schedule Management tools, Calendar applications, Time and Attendance systems.
Why import/export?
- To manage and update the operating schedules and hours of store locations.
- For customer convenience, providing accurate and real-time information on store hours.
- To collaborate with external scheduling or calendar services, ensuring synchronization of store schedules.
Automatic Related Products x Import-Export
The Automatic Related Products extension leverages customer purchase history and product data to dynamically showcase relevant items on your Magento store. By intelligently analyzing customer behavior, this extension boosts cross-selling and enhances the shopping experience.
Amasty's Import-Export functionality facilitates the easy management of related product data, ensuring effortless import or export in or from Magento 2 to fine-tune your store's recommendations.
Bundle Pack Conditional Discounts
Potential software/systems to target: Sales Analytics software, Inventory Management systems, E-commerce platforms and marketplaces (e.g. Amazon, Target, etc.).
Why import/export?
- To apply and manage conditional discounts on related product bundle packs across different platforms.
- For strategic pricing and promotional planning, analyzing the impact of conditional discounts on sales.
- To ensure consistency in conditional discount rules and settings across various systems.
Bundle Pack Products
Why import/export?
- To maintain an organized catalog of related products within bundle packs for efficient management.
- For marketing and merchandising purposes, showcasing bundled products across various channels.
- To collaborate with external partners, facilitating the seamless integration of related product data.
Potential software/systems to target: Product Information Management (PIM) systems, Merchandising tools, E-commerce platforms and marketplaces (e.g. Amazon, Target, etc.), Collaboration platforms.
Bundle Pack Sales
Potential software/systems to target: Sales Analytics software, Business Intelligence tools, Financial Reporting systems, Audit Management tools, Compliance and Reporting systems.
Why import/export?
- To track and analyze sales data specific to related product bundle packs for performance evaluation.
- For revenue forecasting and strategic decision-making based on historical sales trends.
- To integrate sales data with financial reporting for comprehensive business insights.
- For compliance and auditing purposes, ensuring accurate documentation of sales history.
Bundle Pack Stores
Potential software/systems to target: Inventory Management systems, Channel Management platforms.
Why import/export?
- To manage and update the availability and visibility of bundle packs in different stores or channels.
- For inventory and stock management, ensuring accurate representation of bundle packs across stores.
- To collaborate with external retail partners, sharing information on bundle pack availability.
On a Final Note
Amasty's Import-Export extensions recognize the need for quick, reliable, and – more importantly – extensive data handling processes. Apart from allowing convenient transfer of common data types, our Import-Export solution supports over 30 additional data entities from Amasty extensions.
Leverage this flexibility in dozens of business scenarios that can help you raise customer satisfaction, improve your internal workflows, and, of course, always preserve the continuity of your store history.
