If you run an online store on Neto, you have probably noticed that the platform you signed up for is not quite the same one you are using today. Neto was built in Australia for Australian retailers and wholesalers, and for years it was the go-to choice for businesses that needed inventory, POS and marketplace selling in one place.
Things have changed since then, and more store owners are asking whether it is time to move. This guide walks through what a Neto to WooCommerce migration actually involves: what transfers cleanly, what needs to be rebuilt, and how to protect your Google rankings along the way.
A Quick History: Neto Is Now Maropost Commerce Cloud
Neto has been helping Australian retailers and wholesalers since 2009. In March 2021, Toronto-based Maropost acquired Neto for $58 million CAD ($60 million AUD). After a partial rebrand, Neto and its features became part of Maropost’s commerce platform, now called Commerce Cloud.
So if you see “Maropost Commerce Cloud” on your invoices or in your admin, it is the same platform. Your store still runs on Neto’s technology under a new name and owner.
Why Australian Store Owners Are Leaving Neto
Every business has its own reasons, but a few come up again and again. Agencies that handle Neto migrations report that common frustrations include depending on developers for store customisations and slow customer support.
Other common reasons Australian business owners give for leaving include:
- Cost. Platform fees plus paid add-ons add up, especially for smaller stores that do not use the advanced wholesale features.
- Flexibility. Design changes and new features often need a Neto-specialist developer, and there are not many of them.
- Ownership. On a hosted platform, you rent your store. On WooCommerce, you own your site, your data and your code.
Why WooCommerce (and Not Just Shopify)?
Most Neto migration content pushes you toward Shopify. Shopify is a solid platform, but it is not the only option, and for many Australian businesses WooCommerce is the better fit.
WooCommerce runs on WordPress, the world’s most widely used CMS. That means no platform transaction fees on top of your payment gateway fees, full control over your site design and functionality, and a huge pool of WordPress developers, so you are never locked into one specialist. It also gives you strong content and SEO tools, which matters if your blog and category pages bring in organic traffic.
The trade-off is that you are responsible for hosting, updates and security. That is manageable with good hosting and a WordPress care plan, but it is worth knowing before you move. If you are still weighing platforms, the Cognitech Digital Studio comparison of WordPress, Shopify, Webflow and Squarespace covers the bigger picture.
What Transfers From Neto to WooCommerce, and What Does Not
This is the part most people underestimate. Your data can move. Your store has to be rebuilt.
Usually transfers with a migration tool:
- Products, including variants, SKUs, prices and images
- Product categories
- Customers and their order history
- Past orders
- Product reviews (depending on the tool)
Needs to be rebuilt or replaced:
- Your theme and design. Neto templates do not work on WordPress, so your storefront will be redesigned.
- Built-in Neto features. Inventory management, POS and marketplace connections to eBay and Amazon are native in Neto. In WooCommerce, these come from plugins or third-party tools, which need to be chosen and set up.
- Customer passwords. Depending on the tool, passwords may not carry over. Plan a friendly “reset your password” email for launch day.
- Integrations. Your accounting, shipping and email marketing connections need reconnecting on the new site.
Setting Up WooCommerce for Australian Requirements
A good migration is not just a data copy. Your new store needs to work properly for Australian customers from day one. That means:
- GST. Configure WooCommerce’s tax settings for 10% GST, and decide whether prices display inclusive or exclusive of GST.
- Shipping. Set up Australia Post, Sendle or your current courier, with live rates where possible.
- Payments. Connect your gateway (Stripe, PayPal, eWAY or others) and buy-now-pay-later options like Afterpay or Zip if your customers use them.
- Privacy. Update your privacy policy and cookie consent for your new site’s data handling under the Australian Privacy Act.
Protecting Your SEO During the Migration
Your Google rankings took years to build. A careless migration can wipe them out in a week. The single most important step is 301 redirects.
Neto and WooCommerce structure their URLs differently, so your old product and category links will change. Every old URL needs to point permanently to its new equivalent. Otherwise, customers clicking old links (and Google) hit a 404 page.
Before launch, you should also:
- Crawl your current Neto store and export a full list of URLs.
- Map every old URL to its new WooCommerce URL, especially your top-ranking and highest-revenue pages.
- Carry over page titles, meta descriptions and product descriptions.
- Submit the new sitemap to Google Search Console after launch.
- Watch Search Console for 404 errors for the next few weeks and fix any you missed.
The Migration Process, Step by Step
A typical Neto to WooCommerce migration follows this order:
- Audit. Review your products, customers, integrations and the Neto features you actually use.
- Build. Set up WordPress and WooCommerce on quality hosting and build the new design on a staging site, out of public view.
- Test migration. Run a demo transfer of a sample of your data and check it carefully.
- Full migration. Transfer all products, customers and orders.
- Configure. Set up GST, shipping, payments and plugins to replace Neto’s built-in features.
- Redirects and QA. Set up 301 redirects and test checkout, emails and mobile layouts.
- Launch. Point your domain to the new store, then run a final “delta” migration to capture any orders placed during the switch.
- Monitor. Watch sales, Search Console and customer feedback closely for the first month.
Your Neto store keeps running throughout the build, so customers can still buy right up until launch day.
DIY Tool or Hire an Expert?
Automated tools like Cart2Cart and LitExtension can move your data, and for a small, simple store a confident owner can handle a DIY migration.
But the data transfer is only one step out of eight. The tools do not build your design, set up GST and shipping, replace Neto’s inventory and marketplace features, or plan your SEO redirects. For most established stores, that is where hiring help pays off.
The WordPress migration service from Cognitech Digital Studio covers the full process, from audit to launch to monitoring. The Cognitech team works across Australian business hours, so you are never waiting overnight for a reply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my store go offline during the migration?
No. Your Neto store keeps running while the new WooCommerce store is built on a staging site. The switch happens only at launch, and a final sync captures any last-minute orders.
Will I lose my Google rankings?
Not if 301 redirects are set up properly. Most well-planned migrations see small fluctuations that settle within a few weeks. Skipping redirects is what causes major ranking losses.
Can I keep my domain name?
Yes. Your domain is yours, so it simply gets pointed to the new WooCommerce store at launch.
Does Neto’s design transfer to WooCommerce?
No. Neto themes do not work on WordPress, so your storefront needs a new design. Many store owners see this as a chance to refresh their look and improve mobile performance.
How long does a Neto to WooCommerce migration take?
It depends on the size of your catalogue, the integrations you use and how much custom design you need. A small store can move in a few weeks. Larger stores with complex wholesale or multichannel setups take longer.
Ready to Move Off Neto?
Leaving a platform you have built your business on is a big decision, and you do not have to make it alone. Book a free consultation with Cognitech Digital Studio to talk through your store, what you rely on in Neto, and whether WooCommerce is the right move for you.