®
Migration Flow
A practical migration plan from Dotdigital to Bento
This guide follows a simple sequence: export cleanly, map data correctly, then validate before cutover. No generic product pitch, just the steps your team needs.
Stage 1
Export checklist
- 1Log in to Dotdigital and open Contacts
Sign in at dotdigital.com and use the main navigation to go to the Contacts area, where your address books and segments live.
- 2Export all contacts and address books
From Contacts, view All contacts or an individual address book, then use the export option to download a CSV including all fields.
- 3Export key segments and preferences
Locate your saved segments and marketing preference groups and export the members for each one that drives important campaigns.
- 4Export suppression and bounced lists
Go to your suppressed, unsubscribed, and bounced contacts and export them to CSV so they can be imported to Bento as suppressed contacts.
- 5Document automation programs
Open Automation or Programs and document each active journey, including triggers, filters, delays, and the emails or SMS they send.
Stage 2
Data portability map
Know in advance what imports directly and what may require a rebuild.
Stage 3
Validate and cut over
Treat cutover like launch QA. Validate your highest-risk paths first, then move sending traffic.
Switching from Dotdigital can be done in one focused session
We help you map lists, rebuild key automations, and validate deliverability before cutover so your first week on Bento is smooth.
BentoOperator Notes
Dotdigital to Bento language map
Keep this open while rebuilding flows. It maps terminology and highlights what to do first during migration QA.
- Address bookTag/Segment
Dotdigital uses address books as contact groups; in Bento you organise people with tags and dynamic segments.
- ContactPerson
An individual in your database with an email address and associated data.
- SegmentSegment
Dynamic grouping of contacts based on rules like behavior, orders, or fields.
- ProgramAutomation/Sequence
Automated journeys that send messages based on triggers and delays.
- CampaignBroadcast
One-time marketing email sent to a list, tag, or segment.
- Triggered campaignAutomation email
A single email sent automatically when a condition is met, such as an abandoned cart.
- Suppressed contactsSuppression list
Contacts who should not receive email because they unsubscribed or bounced.
Tips
- Export address books, segments, and suppression lists before changing anything in your Dotdigital account.
- Plan how address books will translate into a clean tag and segment structure in Bento instead of copying list sprawl.
- Rebuild your highest revenue programs first, then migrate lower-impact campaigns afterward.
- Invite your team into Bento early so they can test broadcasts, sequences, live chat, and shared inboxes together.
Watchouts
- Automation programs and triggered campaigns do not migrate automatically; you will need to rebuild them inside Bento.
- Engagement and historic email performance data stays inside Dotdigital and will not appear in Bento reports.
- If you forget to import suppression lists you may accidentally email unsubscribed or bounced contacts, which can hurt deliverability.
Keep Exploring
Other migration playbooks
Ready to leave Dotdigital?
Move with confidence: export cleanly, import safely, and launch on Bento with migration support from our team.
Free30-day trial·No credit card required·Book a demo