The verdict in three sentences
A Berlin distributor of agricultural parts running 85,000 SKUs on Magento 1, without security patches since 2020, should budget EUR 70,000 to 150,000 for its replatforming and 16 to 24 weeks of work. The budget is driven less by design than by migrating machine compatibility data, serial number search and the SEO redirect plan that protects organic traffic. A PIM at EUR 300 to 1,500 a month becomes essential above 50,000 SKUs.
Replatforming budget by line item
Figures are 2026 estimates for an agency specialised in B2B e-commerce in Germany.
| Item | Scope | Timeline | 2026 cost (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery and audit | Magento 1 audit, data, SEO, trade buyer journeys | 2 to 3 weeks | EUR 7,000 to 13,000 |
| Platform and design | Adobe Commerce, Shopware, Sylius or headless, B2B theme | 5 to 7 weeks | EUR 18,000 to 40,000 |
| Catalogue and compatibility migration | 85,000 SKUs, attributes, machine/part tables | 4 to 6 weeks | EUR 15,000 to 35,000 |
| Advanced search | Serial number, OEM reference, exploded views, search engine | 3 to 4 weeks | EUR 10,000 to 25,000 |
| B2B features | Customer pricing, multi-buyer accounts, quotes, invoice terms | 3 to 4 weeks | EUR 11,000 to 20,000 |
| ERP integration | Stock, net prices, orders, invoices (often SAP Business One or DATEV export) | 2 to 4 weeks | EUR 7,000 to 13,000 |
| SEO redirects and QA | URL mapping, testing, cutover | 2 weeks | EUR 2,000 to 4,000 |
A Shopware project, a strong choice in the German market, with a SaaS search engine sits around EUR 75,000 to 90,000. A headless architecture with Adobe Commerce and interactive exploded views approaches EUR 140,000 to 150,000.
Migrating 85,000 SKUs without losing compatibility data
In spare parts, a SKU is only worth something if the buyer knows it fits their machine. Compatibility data, often stored in improvised Magento attributes, is the site's real asset.
| Item to migrate | Typical volume | Difficulty | Recommended approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product pages | 85,000 | Medium | Scripted import from ERP, enrichment in the PIM |
| Machine/part compatibility | 400,000 to 900,000 rows | High | Dedicated table: brand, model, year, serial number |
| OEM references and cross-references | 120,000 | High | Search index with synonyms |
| Images and exploded views | 60,000 files | Medium | WebP conversion, linking by diagram position |
| Trade customer accounts | 4,500 | Low | Migration with password reset |
| Indexed URLs | 95,000 | Medium | 301 redirect plan tested before cutover |
A PIM (Akeneo, Pimcore or a SaaS equivalent) centralises product data and feeds the site, marketplaces and dealer catalogues. Budget EUR 300 a month for an entry offer, up to EUR 1,500 a month for an edition with workflows and connectors.
Protecting SEO through the cutover
Parts distributors often earn 40 to 60% of online revenue from Google searches on specific part numbers. A replatforming without a redirect plan can lose 30% of traffic for several months. Map every product and category URL, keep part numbers in the new URLs, test 301s in staging and monitor Search Console daily for 8 weeks after launch. In Germany, update the Impressum and privacy policy for the new stack at the same time.
Mini case study
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Markus, e-commerce manager at an agricultural parts distributor near Berlin, generates EUR 3.2 million in online revenue. Conversion stalls at 1.4% because buyers cannot find the part that fits their tractor. After a replatforming at EUR 115,000 with serial number search and a PIM at EUR 900 a month, conversion rises to 1.9%.
At constant traffic, online revenue reaches about EUR 4.3 million. With a 28% gross margin, the gain is close to EUR 310,000 a year. Even assuming only half that uplift, the investment and PIM pay back in under a year, before counting the customer service calls avoided.
FAQ
Why leave Magento 1 now?
Magento 1 has had no official security patches since June 2020, exposing customer data and PCI DSS compliance. A breach often costs far more than the EUR 70,000 of an entry-level replatforming.
How long does migrating an 85,000 SKU catalogue take?
Allow 4 to 6 weeks for the catalogue and compatibility data, within an overall 16 to 24 week project. The quality of the source data is the main factor in timing.
Is a PIM really necessary?
Above 50,000 SKUs and several sales channels, yes. For EUR 300 to 1,500 a month, it prevents duplicates and cuts product enrichment time by 50%.
Will we lose SEO traffic?
A 5 to 10% dip for 4 to 6 weeks is common. With a tested plan of 95,000 redirects, traffic returns to its initial level within 2 to 3 months.
Let's scope your project. We define your catalogue migration, machine compatibility data and SEO plan for a budget of EUR 70,000 to 150,000 and a cutover in 16 to 24 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
