# Data migration with imports, replication and bulk loads

*B2C Solution Architect Study Guide · Data Models and Management · Last updated November 13, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/b2c-solution-architect/data-models-and-management/data-migration-with-imports-replication-and-bulk-loads*

How to move data into, out of and between B2C Commerce instances with import, export and replication, load historical orders and large record sets into the Salesforce org, and promote configuration between orgs and Marketing Cloud Engagement business units.

- Certification: Salesforce B2C Solution Architect
- Exam section: Data Models and Management
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/b2c-solution-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario that requires knowledge of common data migration strategies and standard Salesforce data migration tools, demonstrate best practices on how to transfer data between products and development environments.

## What the exam expects

- Choose between B2C Commerce import, export and data replication for a feed, an external system or a new instance.
- Predict what MERGE, UPDATE, REPLACE and DELETE imports do to objects, attributes, lists and price books.
- Sequence customer, order and custom-object migrations, and know what replication doesn't carry.
- Plan historical Order Management loads and large Bulk API 2.0 loads, and move configuration with change sets and Engagement Package Manager.

Key terms: **import mode** (how a B2C Commerce import interprets a feed); **data replication** (copying data from staging to another B2C Commerce instance); **delta feed** (a feed with only the changes since the previous one); **Unmanaged order** (an order summary not processed by Order Management features); **change set** (a bundle of Setup customizations sent between related orgs).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Replication scope | Between B2C Commerce instances only | [Import and Export](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_import_and_export.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Frequent feeds | Into Production and Staging together | [Import/Export Process](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_overview_of_the_import_export_process.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Price book REPLACE | Replaces the entire price book | [Import Modes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_import_modes.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Active Data import | Always REPLACE | [Import Modes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_import_modes.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Duplicate customer number | Rejected by the customer import | [Customer List Import/Export](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_customer_list_object_import_export.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Customer Lists task | No profiles or sequence numbers | [Data Replication Tasks](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_data_replication_tasks.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Lifecycle type | Set at summary creation; can't change | [Importing Data into Order Management](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/commerce/salesforce-order-management/guide/order-management-importing-data-into-data-mgmt.html) |
| API limit increase | Allow at least 2 weeks | [Importing Data into Order Management](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/commerce/salesforce-order-management/guide/order-management-importing-data-into-data-mgmt.html) |
| Fastest bulk operation | Insert, then update, then upsert | [Loading Data from the API](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/salesforce-large-data-volumes-bp/guide/ldv-deployments-best-practices-api-loading-data.html) |
| Change set contents | Metadata, not records | [Change Sets](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.changesets.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- When should a load use Bulk API 2.0 rather than bulkified synchronous calls?
- Why group child records by ParentId within the same batch?
- Which B2C Commerce instances need a secure connection set up before import files are transferred to them?
- Why leave users and permission settings out of a sandbox site export?

## Sources

- [Import and Export in B2C Commerce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_import_and_export.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Overview of the Import/Export Process in B2C Commerce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_overview_of_the_import_export_process.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Import Modes in B2C Commerce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_import_modes.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Customer List Object Import/Export in B2C Commerce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_customer_list_object_import_export.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Data Replication Tasks in B2C Commerce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_data_replication_tasks.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Importing Data into Order Management](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/commerce/salesforce-order-management/guide/order-management-importing-data-into-data-mgmt.html)
- [Importing Data When Using Salesforce B2C Commerce](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/commerce/salesforce-order-management/guide/order-management-importing-data-using-b2c-commerce.html)
- [Loading Data from the API (Large Data Volumes)](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/salesforce-large-data-volumes-bp/guide/ldv-deployments-best-practices-api-loading-data.html)
- [Change Sets](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.changesets.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Package Manager Supported Objects](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_overview_pm_supported_objects.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Manage Marketing Items Across Business Units](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_overview_manage_packages_across_environments.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 15 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the B2C Solution Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams