When should you update your Magento Store?
We get this question every other day: “Should I upgrade my Magento store to the latest version?” If you are new to Magento then you might think that the answer is obvious. But it is not that simple, just check out the following stat:
According to a stat by buildwith.com as of June 2023 there are still more than 26,000 websites running on Magento 1.9 which was discontinued in June 2020. And missing on thousands of dollars of potential business revenue.
It’s a common dilemma for e-commerce store owners who want to stay ahead of the game and ensure their online business thrives. Upgrading your Magento store to the latest version is a decision that can have a big impact on your store’s performance, security, and overall success.
In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of upgrading to the latest version of Magento, as well as the challenges involved in the upgrade process. We will also provide some tips on how to make the upgrade process as smooth as possible, helping you make an informed choice. Hope you will find this content useful.
Note: At the time of writing this article the latest stable version of Magento is 2.4.6-p1, so some of the information might take the references of the same.
Understanding different types of versions in Magento
Before discussing anything else, let’s understand the type of version upgrades and releases in Magento..
Major Version Upgrade - Must Updates
Major version upgrades are the most significant type of update. Like upgrading from Magento version 1.x version 2.x. They typically include new features, major changes to the code base, and breaking changes. They may require a complete overhaul of your existing system and might involve compatibility issues with extensions and themes. The process of Major version upgrade generally refers to as a Migration, or Magento 2 Migration.
These updates are essential for long-term sustainability and access to the latest functionalities. In some cases, it becomes force changes that store owners must do in order to keep their magneto store functional.
There is not a clear cycle for a major Magento upgrade, but generally a new major version drops in 7 to 10 years. The first version of Magento, Magento 1.0 was released in 2008, and since then we only had one major update i.e. Magento 2 with was released back in the year 2015.
Incremental Upgrade - Critical Updates
Incremental upgrades are smaller updates that add new features or improve existing ones. For e.g. upgrading from version 2.3 to version 2.4 would be considered as an incremental upgrade.
They are typically less disruptive than major version upgrades, but they can still require some customizations. These updates are crucial as they ensure your Magento store remains stable, secure, and optimized.
Incremental upgrades typically offer new features and improvements without requiring extensive modifications to your store’s core structure.
Usually, an incremental upgrade drops once in a year, but since the rebranding to Adobe Commerce and the last version upgrade 2.4 which was delivered over 2 years ago the pattern seems to be changed.
Quality Patch Upgrade - Minor updates
Quality patches are released to address specific issues and bugs within a particular version. These updates are generally quick to implement and aim to enhance the stability and functionality of your Magento store. Applying quality patches helps maintain a smooth user experience and ensures your store remains reliable. These are generally denoted by a number after incremental update number, i.e. a patch current patch release for version 2.4 would be version 2.4.6.
Security Patches
Security patches are released to fix vulnerabilities and protect your Magento store from potential threats. Applying these patches is vital to safeguard customer data, prevent security breaches, and maintain the trust of your customers. Fortunately, security patches are usually easy to implement, making it essential to stay up-to-date to mitigate potential risks.
Why should you upgrade to the latest version of Magento?
Magento is a constantly evolving platform, and as such, it’s important to keep your store up to date with the latest versions. There are many reasons why you should upgrade to the latest version of Magento, including:
New features: The latest version of Magento typically includes new features that can help you improve your store and attract more customers. For example, Magento 2.4.6 includes a number of new features, such as the ability to create and manage customer groups, the ability to track customer behaviour, and the ability to create and manage product bundles.
Bug fixes: The latest version of Magento includes bug fixes that can improve the stability and performance of your store. This can help to reduce the number of errors that your customers experience, and it can also help to improve your store’s search engine ranking.
Security patches: The latest version of Magento includes security patches that can help protect your store from hackers. This is one of the most important reasons to upgrade to the latest version of Magento.
Compatibility with newer technologies: The latest version of Magento is compatible with newer technologies, such as PHP 8. This can help you future-proof your store and ensure that it continues to work properly as technology evolves.
Improve the user experience for your customers: The latest version of Magento includes a number of improvements that can make your store more user-friendly, like version 2.4.5+ brings changes like a new and improved checkout process and a new mobile-friendly design.
Improve SEO Performance: By improving the stability, performance, and security of your store, it will significantly improve the User experience and web vital score which are big contributors to better SEO performance.
If you’re not sure whether or not you should upgrade to the latest version of Magento, it’s always a good idea to talk to a Magento expert. They can help you assess your needs and determine whether or not an upgrade is right for you.
Challenges while upgrading to the latest version of Magento.
Version upgrade might seem a very simple, but it is rather complicated process. In many cases, it becomes even more complex than developing a new Magento website. The complexity depends on current version, the customization and your existing features.Â
Theme and Extension Compatibility
Some extensions and themes may not be compatible with newer versions of Magento, requiring updates or replacements. This can add complexity and time to the upgrade process.
Customizations
Magento is a very customizable platform, so it’s likely that you’ve made some changes to your store to fit your specific needs. When you upgrade Magento, these customizations may not be compatible with the new version. This means that you may need to update your customizations or revert to the previous version of Magento.
Data Migration
If you have a lot of data in your store, migrating it to the new version of Magento can be a time-consuming and challenging process. This is because the new version of Magento may have different data structures or requirements. It’s important to back up your data before you start the migration process, just in case something goes wrong.
Downtime and Disruptions
Upgrading a live store may cause temporary downtime or disruptions, affecting your business operations. This is because the upgrade process requires the store to be taken offline. The amount of downtime will vary depending on the size and complexity of your store. It’s important to communicate with your customers about the expected downtime. Careful planning, testing, and backup procedures are crucial to minimise the impact on your store’s availability.
Keeping up with minor updates saves major costs in the long run
It is important to keep up with minor upgrades to Magento, even if they do not seem significant. This is because minor upgrades can often fix bugs and security vulnerabilities that could lead to problems down the road. Additionally, minor upgrades can help to ensure that your store is compatible with newer technologies.
Upgrading to minor releases of Magento, such as incremental and quality patch upgrades, can save you considerable costs, resources, and time in the long run. By consistently applying these updates, you
Maintain Security and Integrity
Regular upgrades address vulnerabilities and bugs, reducing the risk of security breaches and ensuring your store remains stable and reliable.
Benefit from Continuous Improvements
Minor upgrades introduce incremental enhancements, performance optimizations, and bug fixes, providing a smoother experience for both customers and administrators.
Simplify Major Upgrades
By staying up-to-date with minor upgrades, you reduce the complexity and effort required for a major version upgrade. Regular updates ensure that you are closer to the latest version, streamlining the migration process when you decide to upgrade significantly.
Changes in Magento from Version 2.4.6 Compared to Last 2.3 Version
Magento 2.4.6 is the latest major release of Magento, and it includes a number of new features and improvements. Here are some of the major changes from version 2.3
New features
- Customer groups: Merchants can now create and manage customer groups, which can help them to better target their marketing campaigns and improve their customer experience.
- Product bundles: Merchants can now create and manage product bundles, which allows them to sell products together as a single unit.
- New checkout process: The checkout process has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and efficient.
- Improved media gallery: The media gallery has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and efficient.
iMPROVEMENTS
- Performance: Magento 2.4.6 has been optimized for performance, which can lead to faster loading times and improved user experience
- Improved integration with third-party platforms: Magento 2.4.6 has been improved for integration with third-party platforms, such as Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel
- Security: Magento 2.4.6 includes a number of security improvements, which can help to protect your store from hackers.
- Compatibility: Magento 2.4.6 is compatible with newer technologies, such as PHP 8.
Upgrading your Magento store to the latest version should be a strategic decision based on your specific business needs, resource availability, and the complexity of the upgrade process. By understanding the different types of version updates, the benefits of upgrading, the challenges involved, and the advantages of keeping up with minor releases, you can make an informed decision that ensures the security, performance, and longevity of your Magento store.
I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
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