B2B and D2C Commerce Data Deployment

The data deployment process is a critical step in integrating existing commerce systems into a new platform.

Deploying B2B or D2C Commerce store data involves moving these datasets in ‌this order.

  • Store Metadata
  • Experience Bundle Metadata
  • Object Data

To ensure accuracy and efficiency for each data deployment, organize your deployment into phases.

  1. Plan–Set goals and develop a migration strategy.
  2. Prepare data–Clean, organize, and make sure that it meets the new system requirements.
  3. Map data fields–From the old system to the new, a crucial task that dictates how data is transferred and interpreted in the new environment.
  4. Deploy data–Use your preferred tools or scripts.
  5. Test and validate data–Confirm that the store functions correctly and the data integrity is maintained.
  6. Correct deployment errors–Based on feedback and performance analysis, identify and resolve errors.

Deploying a B2B or D2C Commerce store involves coordinating the deployment of store metadata, experience metadata, and Salesforce object data. All aspects of the store are moved to the target org. Developing a detailed deployment plan is critical to a successful deployment and having the store function as expected in the new environment. Use this sample plan as a basis for executing your deployment process from a source org to a target org, modifying the steps as needed.

  1. Review your business objectives.

    • Confirm that the deployment aligns with your business goals.
    • Make sure that the target org launch is scheduled at a time that minimizes impact on business operations.

  2. Assess the source org.

    • Make sure that the source org meets your requirements.
      • Performance: load time, response time, and scalability
      • Functionality: feature verification, customization verification, and integration
      • Security: vulnerability scanning, access controls, and data protection
      • Data integrity
      • Regulatory compliance
      • Backup and recovery: rollback procedures, backup procedures, and disaster recovery
      • Monitoring and logging
    • Determine the scope of object data, experience metadata, and store metadata that you plan to migrate.

  3. Specify how the existing object data and metadata map to the new Salesforce environment.

    • Data mapping can involve field mapping, data transformation requirements, and identifying gaps in functionality.

  4. Develop a data deployment strategy.

    • Outline the order of deployment to account for data dependencies and how to recreate or improve the new environment.

  5. Validate the data.

    • Perform a thorough analysis of the object data being deployed, for example, product catalogs, customer information, order history, entitlements, and pricing.
    • Validate that all the necessary object data is correctly configured.
    • Plan for data cleansing, deduplication, and transformation as necessary.
    • Make sure that all demo data used in the source org is identified and excluded from the deployment to the target org.

  6. Conduct performance benchmarking.

    • Conduct performance testing in the source org to establish benchmarks.
    • Make sure that the target org is scaled appropriately to handle expected traffic and transaction volumes.

  7. Complete a security compliance check.

    • Review security settings and compliance with relevant object data protection regulations.
    • Verify that the required user roles and permissions are correctly set up for the target org.

  8. Construct a deployment checklist.

    • Create a checklist of all items that are being migrated, including metadata, configurations, code, and object data.
    • Make sure that all dependencies and the order of operations are documented.

  9. Develop a backup strategy and rollback plan in case issues arise during the deployment.

    • Have a rollback plan in case issues arise during the deployment.

  10. Conduct a dry run to identify potential issues.

    • Validate the deployment checklist, and refine the process.
    • Use a version control system.
    • Test in a sandbox environment.

  11. Plan the deployment window and downtime.

    • To minimize the impact on users and operations, schedule the deployment during a low-traffic period.
    • Communicate the planned downtime to all stakeholders well in advance.

  12. Develop a User Acceptance Testing (UAT) plan to execute immediately after deployment.

    • Define clear criteria for success, and establish a process for reporting and addressing issues.

  13. Develop training and documentation.

    • Update existing documentation to make sure that it reflects changes made to the target org.
    • Schedule training sessions for users on new features or changes in the target org.

  14. Develop a communication plan.

    • Inform internal teams and external customers about the deployment and expected changes.
    • Establish a support plan that handles inquiries and issues post-deployment.