Migrating from SmartShell to IZI: Step-by-Step Guide
Migrating from SmartShell to IZI: Step-by-Step Guide
Section titled “Migrating from SmartShell to IZI: Step-by-Step Guide”Information about other vendors’ products on this page comes from their own publications, with the source and capture date listed in the Sources section. We do not rate other vendors’ functionality. Pricing and features change at every vendor — verify current terms on their websites before deciding.
This guide is for a venue that has decided to move to IZI. It describes the order of work and what gets configured on the IZI side — it is not an assessment of the system you are leaving. SmartShell is a product of OOO “SMART SHELL”; before switching, verify its current terms and features at smartshell.gg.
What You Get in IZI After the Move
Section titled “What You Get in IZI After the Move”| Area | How it works in IZI |
|---|---|
| Hall and sessions | IZI Hall — PC and session management |
| POS | IZI POS — built into the platform |
| Clients | IZI Clients — unified database |
| Bonuses and loyalty | IZI Automation — no-code rules |
| Analytics | IZI Analytics — revenue, ARPU, load |
| Disk protection | IZI Boot — master image and PC reset |
Step 1. Inventory Your Current Setup
Section titled “Step 1. Inventory Your Current Setup”Before starting, document:
- Number of hall PCs and their configuration
- Active tariffs (day/night/weekend/zone-based)
- Whether you have a client database and in what format
- Other software in use (POS, bar, accounting)
Step 2. Configure IZI Before Switchover
Section titled “Step 2. Configure IZI Before Switchover”Set up IZI in parallel while SmartShell is still running:
- Organization and venues
- Tariffs: day, night, zone-based, multi-pass
- Client groups and automation rules
- Bar menu and stock items (if applicable)
Step 3. Migrate Client Database
Section titled “Step 3. Migrate Client Database”If you have a client database in SmartShell or a separate CRM. SmartShell lists “Выгрузка базы — возможность выгрузки в CSV клиентской базы” (CSV export of the client database) in its plan comparison (smartshell.gg/price, captured 2026-08-20):
- Export to CSV (phone, name, balance)
- Check for duplicates
- Import into IZI via the built-in import tool
If there’s no client database, skip this step.
Step 4. Install the IZI Client on Hall PCs
Section titled “Step 4. Install the IZI Client on Hall PCs”The IZI installer deploys the IZI client (IZI agent) on each hall PC. The agent handles session management, PC monitoring, and communication with IZI CRM. Note: IZI Boot is a separate paid server-side product — it stores the master disk image on the IZI Boot server and handles disk protection and network-based PC reset. Process for installing the client:
- Download the IZI client installer from the admin panel
- Install on each PC (or deploy via network)
- Confirm each PC appears in the Hall section of IZI CRM
Step 5. Switchover Day
Section titled “Step 5. Switchover Day”Choose a low-traffic period. On that day:
- Deactivate SmartShell on PCs (or deactivate licences)
- Verify all PCs are active in IZI
- Run a few end-to-end test sessions
- Switch POS to IZI
- Open the first shift in IZI
Step 6. Train the Team
Section titled “Step 6. Train the Team”Workflows to practice:
- Starting and stopping a session
- Accepting payment and topping up balance
- Taking a bar order
- Opening and closing a shift
- Looking up a client and applying a bonus manually
IZI provides onboarding materials and support.
What Stays the Same
Section titled “What Stays the Same”- Player experience: same PCs, same games
- Tariffs carry over with the same prices (just reconfigured in IZI)
- No data loss with a correct migration
Before You Leave — Check What Is Already Covered
Section titled “Before You Leave — Check What Is Already Covered”A migration only pays off if the new system covers your workflows better than the current one. SmartShell publishes on its own site, among other things: rates of 280 / 580 / 1,200 ₽ per gaming seat per month and 30 days free; the SmartGamer mobile app with online booking and deposit top-up; an open API “according to plan features”; a loyalty-system builder; POS and acquiring with fiscal receipt printing; an analytics section covering shifts, revenue, clients and equipment utilisation; special terms for venues from 30 PCs, chains and franchises (smartshell.gg/price, captured 2026-08-20).
Write down which of your workflows rely on those, and ask for each one to be demonstrated in an IZI demo. The decision that follows is yours, not a conclusion imposed by someone else’s comparison.
Sources
Section titled “Sources”- SmartShell — pricing and plan comparison: smartshell.gg/price, captured 2026-08-20
- IZI — pricing and features: izi.is, captured 2026-08-04
Features and pricing change at both vendors — verify current terms on their sites before deciding. If you represent a vendor and believe anything here is inaccurate, write to support@izi.is.
See also: IZI vs SmartShell comparison · Why choose IZI
Frequently asked questions
SmartShell protects PCs — does IZI do that too?
Yes. IZI Boot creates a master disk image and allows any hall PC to be restored in minutes. This covers the core OS protection use cases.
How long does migration from SmartShell take?
Usually 3–7 business days. Most of the time goes to tariff configuration and staff training, not the technical data transfer.
Do we need to reinstall software on each PC?
The IZI client (IZI agent) is installed on each hall PC via the IZI installer. The process takes a few hours and is usually done during off-hours or planned maintenance.
We use SmartShell with a separate POS — how does that change?
In IZI, POS is part of the platform: bar sales, balance top-ups and shifts run in the same interface as the hall. If your POS currently lives as a separate program, you can take it out of the stack after migration — but first list which workflows depend on it (fiscal compliance, acquiring, product catalogue) and check each of them in an IZI demo.