What is checkout, and how does it relate to digital payments?
Checkout is the final step in the shopping process, where customers review their order and pay for their products or services. In ecommerce, this typically happens on a secure webpage where customers enter their shipping address, choose their preferred delivery option, and submit their payment details. Once everything looks correct, they click to complete the transaction.
Best practices for an optimised checkout flow
A smooth, easy checkout is crucial for reducing abandoned carts and improving conversion rates. Some simple best practices include:
- Keep the process straightforward: Minimise the number of steps and avoid forcing customers to register an account. Let them check out as a guest.
- Be transparent with pricing: Clearly display all shipping costs, tax, and estimated delivery times before the payment step.
- Offer flexibility: Let customers edit their cart or shipping address and review all order details before they pay.
- Accept a range of payment methods: Give customers multiple options like debit/credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and buy-now-pay-later services for convenience.
By removing friction at checkout, businesses can make shopping quicker and more enjoyable, boosting both sales and long-term loyalty.
