eCommerce one-page checkout is here and this is what you need to know.
Shopify Editions Winter ’23, Shopify made over 100 product updates, and one of the most highly anticipated updates was the introduction of the one-page checkout feature. This announcement generated a lot of excitement among Shopify users, as it promised to streamline the checkout process and improve the overall user experience.
In this blog, we’ll deep-dive into what is Shopify's one-page checkout and analyze if you should incorporate it into your store.
What is Shopify One-Page Checkout
Statista reports that approximately 70% of online shoppers abandon their shopping carts after browsing. This statistic highlights the importance of a simple and streamlined checkout experience. A convoluted checkout process is more likely to result in cart abandonment, making it crucial for businesses to prioritize simplicity in their checkout design.
Shopify One-Page Checkout is a streamlined fast checkout process that allows customers to complete their purchase on a single page, without having to navigate through multiple pages. This checkout process is designed to simplify the purchasing process, reduce cart abandonment, and increase conversions. This is an added benefit to Shopify’s already better-performing checkout experience in comparison to other platforms.
One-Page Checkout is designed to be as simple and streamlined as possible, typically containing fewer fields. The goal is to minimize the number of steps required for customers to complete their purchase, with the assumption that this will reduce the likelihood of drop-off and ultimately lead to higher conversion rates.
Pros and Cons of One-Page Checkout for Shopify
Now that you know what an eCommerce one-page checkout looks like for Shopify stores, let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the same:
Pros
Improved user experience
A seamless and efficient fast checkout experience can improve customer satisfaction and build brand loyalty. The Shopify One-Page Checkout allows customers to complete their purchase quickly and easily, without having to navigate through multiple pages.
Increased conversions
By simplifying the checkout process and reducing cart abandonment, businesses can increase conversions and drive more sales.
Faster processing
Using a single checkout page can significantly reduce the time it takes for customers to place an order, compared to a multi-page checkout. In today's fast-paced world, where customers can easily change their minds, it is crucial to minimize the time and effort required to complete a purchase.
As businesses invest significant resources in marketing to grab customers' attention, it is equally important to ensure that the checkout process is quick and seamless to prevent customers from abandoning their carts.
Better performance
Today's shopping experience is vastly different from what it was a few years ago. With the rise of smartphones, customers can research and make purchases anytime, anywhere. And as mobile commerce continues to grow in importance, it is crucial for businesses to ensure that their websites are mobile-friendly.
However, on mobile devices, page load times can vary significantly, ranging from a few seconds to a minute. If a website has multiple checkout pages, customers may have to spend up to 5-10 minutes filling out their information to complete their purchase. This can lead to frustration and ultimately result in customers abandoning their carts before completing their orders.
Therefore, it is essential for businesses to invest in fast checkout process to minimize the time and effort required from customers.
Cons
Lack of upsell opportunities
With a one-page fast checkout, businesses have limited opportunities to upsell or cross-sell additional products to customers. This can be a disadvantage for businesses that rely on upselling to increase their average order value.
Analytics tracking is difficult
Analyzing websites is an essential aspect of running a business. However, with the adoption of a single URL for the entire checkout process, analyzing data becomes more challenging.
Unlike multi-page checkouts, where funnel data can be easily tracked to identify where customers drop off, one-page checkouts make data analysis more complex. As a result, the data collected may be less reliable, making it difficult for analysts to identify the reasons and motivations for cart abandonment and make improvements accordingly.
Slow page loading speed
While a one-page checkout solution reduces the overall checkout load time, the time it takes to load that single page may increase. Additionally, if there is a lot of information to include in the checkout process, there may be better options than a single-page checkout.
One-Page Vs. Multi-Page Checkout for Shopify stores
While many merchants believe that one-page checkout is superior, it may not be the best option for every business. In fact, for some companies, multi-page checkout may actually result in higher conversion rates.
The suitability of one-page checkout depends on various factors, including the target audience, the product's average order value, and the type of traffic the website receives. Typically, one-page checkout is more suitable for a younger audience, lower-priced products, and mobile traffic.
Additionally, the checkout process may vary depending on geography, with some countries being more likely to complete the process quickly without much hesitation (e.g., North and South America), while others may take more time and consider each field/step carefully (e.g., Japan, Germany). Therefore, it is essential to consider these factors when deciding whether to implement a one-page or multi-page checkout process.
The standard multi-page checkout on Shopify is divided into four steps:
- Information
- Shipping
- Payment
- Order confirmation
The standard Shopify checkout process also includes one-click payment options through express payment methods such as Shop Pay, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Amazon Pay. By logging into their existing accounts, customers can skip the entire checkout process. This hybrid approach combines the best of both one-page and multi-page checkout methods.
|
Features |
Multi-Page Checkout |
One-Click Checkout |
|
Speed |
Slower |
Faster |
|
Upsell opportunity |
Limited |
Lots of possibilities |
|
Conversions |
Depends on the industry, target audience, etc. |
Depends on the industry, target audience, etc. |
|
Type of transaction suitability |
Suitable for high and low-value transactions |
Most suitable for low-value transactions |
|
Information collection |
Reliable |
Not very reliable |
Ultimately, whether to choose a one-page or multi-page checkout process depends on the business segment and the level of optimization of the checkout process.
While one-page checkouts may seem ideal, many e-commerce platforms have overloaded them with excessive information and fields, leading to a poor user experience. Therefore, it is crucial to strike a balance between providing sufficient information and simplifying the checkout process.
How To Get One-Page Checkout On Shopify
If you’re a Shopify merchant and are looking to improve your conversion rates, you may want to consider implementing a single-page checkout solution.
Note: If you are using a regular Shopify plan, you may not be able to optimize the checkout process to suit your business needs. To do so, you will need to either upgrade to Shopify Plus or install a third-party checkout app.
Let’s deep-dive into these -
Shopify Plus
If you decide to implement a one-page checkout on your Shopify Plus store, the following steps will guide you through the process:
Step 1: Log in to your Shopify Plus account.
Step 2: Navigate to Online Store > Themes.
Since Shopify Plus does not offer any pre-built one-page checkout templates, you will need to customize your theme to enable this feature.
Step 3: Edit HTML and CSS > Add a new layout.
Step 4: Select ‘Checkout’ from the dropdown menu.
Step 5: Edit code
Once you reach this step, the system will generate a liquid code that must be customized to create your desired one-page checkout experience. As this requires technical expertise, it is recommended that an experienced developer handle this step to ensure that the checkout process is optimized for your specific business needs.
Need expert help?
Our team of Shopify experts works with Shopify merchants like you to design a store that reflects the personality of your brand and caters to the functionalities you require. Whether you want to revamp your existing design or build a new one from scratch, we will help you create a positive shopping experience on your Shopify store design.
Third-party Shopify apps to set up one-page checkout
If you choose to not implement one-page checkout on your Shopify store using the above steps, there are also a few apps you can opt for instead:
1. Shopify One-Step Checkout by Magebird
2. Skip To Checkout by Koala
Examples of stores using one-page checkout
1. Supreme
2. Stellar Eats
3. Hemlock & Oak
Wrapping up!
In conclusion, the Shopify one-page checkout is a powerful tool that can help businesses improve their conversion rates and provide a seamless checkout experience for their customers. While the decision to implement a one-page checkout process depends on the business segment and the level of optimization of the checkout process, Shopify Plus offers a customizable solution that can be tailored to meet specific business needs.
By following the steps outlined in this guide and working with an experienced developer, businesses can create a one-page checkout that streamlines the checkout process, reduces cart abandonment, and ultimately drives sales.
Need expert help to set up a one-page checkout on your Shopify store?
FAQs
Is one-page checkout and fast checkout the same?
One-page checkout is a form of fast checkout. One-Page Checkout is designed to be as simple and streamlined as possible, typically containing fewer fields. The goal is to minimize the number of steps required for customers to complete their purchase, with the assumption that this will reduce the likelihood of drop-off and ultimately lead to higher conversion rates.
Does fast checkout work on Shopify?
Yes, fast checkout works on Shopify.
How do I speed up Shopify checkout?
Shopify One-Page Checkout is a streamlined checkout process that allows customers to complete their purchase on a single page, without having to navigate through multiple pages. This checkout process is designed to simplify the purchasing process, reduce cart abandonment, and increase conversions. This is an added benefit to Shopify’s already better-performing checkout experience in comparison to other platforms.
What are the best fast checkout apps?
- One Page Checkout by Shopify (Default)
- Shopify One-Step Checkout by Magebird
- Skip To Checkout by Koala
- Qikify Checkout Customizer
- Cartly Cart Drawer Cart Upsell
