An Adobe Commerce upgrade is more than a technical update – it is a strategic investment in security, performance, and future capabilities. But upgrades carry risk when handled poorly. Broken functionality, lost data, and extended downtime can damage customer trust and revenue.
Illuminise delivers Adobe Commerce upgrade services that prioritise safety and reliability. We handle the technical complexity of upgrades while minimising disruption to your trading operations.
Why Upgrade Adobe Commerce
Staying on older versions creates accumulating risk:
- Security vulnerabilities – Older versions eventually stop receiving security patches
- Performance improvements – Newer versions include significant optimisations
- Feature access – New capabilities only available in recent releases
- Extension compatibility – Third-party extensions increasingly require newer versions
- PHP support – Older Magento versions rely on PHP versions reaching end-of-life
Our Adobe Commerce Upgrade Process
1. Discovery and Assessment
We start by documenting your current installation thoroughly – version, customisations, extensions, integrations, and hosting environment. This assessment identifies potential compatibility issues and informs the upgrade path.
2. Upgrade Path Planning
Not all upgrades are equal. Moving from 2.3 to 2.4 involves different challenges than 2.4.5 to 2.4.7. We plan the optimal path, considering whether intermediate versions are needed and which breaking changes require attention.
3. Development Environment Setup
We create an isolated environment matching your production setup. This allows safe testing without risking your live store.
4. Extension Compatibility Review
Third-party extensions often cause upgrade problems. We check each extension for compatibility, source updated versions where available, and identify those needing replacement or custom fixes.
5. Custom Code Migration
Your customisations need updating to work with newer Adobe Commerce versions. We review custom modules, themes, and integrations, making necessary adjustments while preserving functionality.
6. Thorough Testing
We test extensively in staging – checkout flows, payment processing, integrations, admin functions, and customer-facing features. Issues found in testing are far cheaper to fix than issues found in production.
7. Production Deployment
We plan the cutover carefully, typically during low-traffic periods. Rollback procedures are prepared so we can quickly recover if unexpected issues arise.
8. Post-Upgrade Support
We monitor closely after deployment and address any issues that emerge in the live environment.
Common Adobe Commerce Upgrade Challenges
Database Schema Changes
Major versions include database changes that can break custom code and integrations. We handle schema migrations carefully, ensuring data integrity throughout the process.
Deprecated Functionality
Adobe deprecates features between versions. Code relying on deprecated functionality needs updating before it stops working entirely.
PHP Version Requirements
Newer Adobe Commerce versions require newer PHP versions. This may require infrastructure updates coordinated with your hosting provider.
Extension Breaking Changes
Extension vendors do not always maintain compatibility. Some extensions need replacing with alternatives or custom solutions.
Who Benefits from Our Upgrade Services
Our Adobe Commerce upgrade services suit businesses that:
- Run customised Adobe Commerce installations
- Need to upgrade but lack in-house expertise
- Have experienced problematic upgrades before
- Cannot afford extended downtime during upgrade
- Want thorough testing before production deployment
Who This Is Not For
We may not be the right fit if you:
- Run a completely vanilla installation with no customisations
- Have a full in-house team capable of handling upgrades
- Need the cheapest possible option regardless of risk
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an Adobe Commerce upgrade take?
Duration depends on your current version, target version, and complexity. Simple upgrades might complete in 2-3 weeks. Complex upgrades with many extensions and customisations can take 6-8 weeks or more. We provide realistic timelines after assessment.
Will there be downtime during the upgrade?
We minimise downtime by doing most work in staging. The production cutover typically requires a few hours of maintenance window, scheduled during your lowest traffic period.
What if something goes wrong after deployment?
We prepare rollback procedures before every deployment. If serious issues emerge, we can revert to your previous version quickly while we address the problems.
Do you upgrade from Magento 1?
Magento 1 to Adobe Commerce is a rebuild, not an upgrade. The platforms are fundamentally different. We can help plan and execute this migration, but it is a larger project than a version upgrade.
What about our data during the upgrade?
Your data remains intact throughout the process. We back up everything before starting and verify data integrity after migration.
Can you upgrade our extensions too?
Yes, extension updates are part of our upgrade process. We check compatibility, source updated versions, and handle replacements where needed.
Start Your Adobe Commerce Upgrade
Every upgrade has unique challenges. Book a discovery call to discuss your current setup, target version, and timeline – then we can plan the right approach for your business.