The Indian E-commerce scene has seen exponential growth in the past few years. The pandemic was a key influence for major brands to kickstart their e-commerce operations. With remote payment options being optimised for ease of use, checkout page flow optimisation gained momentum for major e-commerce platforms. Today, it is one of the key factors in the conversion process. Having a smooth checkout process can be an added plus, improving sales and conversions. This article lists some of the best ecommerce checkout flow best practices.
Key Takeaways
Ecommerce checkout best practices are recommended to improve your business conversion rates and improve your customer experience.
Start by simplifying your checkout page – lesser information fields, include guest checkout options, making it easier for customers to navigate checkout.
Display trust badges and use payment gateways that comply with regulatory requirements.
Offer multiple payment options for flexibility.
Display all the charges involved in the purchase on the checkout page.
Shorten & Simplify The Checkout Flow
The first ecommerce checkout flow best practice is to keep your checkout process short and minimal.
A lengthy checkout process can be painful, not just for your brand, but also for both first-time and returning customers. When optimising your checkout flow, it is important to consider that one-page or one-click checkouts are more convenient than a detailed checkout flow.
Streamline Contact Forms
Imagine this, you are at the grocery store waiting at the checkout counter to bill your two items and you are asked for your details right before the billing is initiated. Annoying, right?
Online customers undergo the same process if your checkout process is several pages long.
Consolidate the basic information you would like to have about your new customers.
Stick to a single page and a minimum number of fields.
Include A Guest Checkout Option
There is nothing more annoying than having to create an account before checking out. Including a guest checkout option gives your customers a quick and easy way to purchase your products without having to spend five minutes, creating an account.
Optimize for Mobile Devices
A major percentage of the Indian population uses mobile devices to shop. A mobile-friendly checkout page design can help in expediting the checkout process and increasing conversion numbers. Ensure that tap fields are large, input fields are easy to navigate, and your checkout page is easier to view on the smaller screens of mobile devices. Conduct regular testing on various devices to understand and resolve interactive issues quickly.
Razorpay’s gateways are optimised for mobile devices and are optimised keeping in mind the latest ecommerce checkout best practices.
Offer Multiple Payment Methods
With remote payment options being optimized for varied uses, your checkout page must include several options for payment, like UPI, netbanking, BNPL, credit/debit cards, to ensure a seamless interaction for your customers. Razorpay’s payment gateway supports all of the above payment option, making sure that your business does not suffer drop outs due to this reason.
Be Transparent About All Costs
A clear cut breakup of the bill amount indicates how forthright your business is. This contributes to trustworthiness and reliability for your business, encouraging customer retention and improving sales.
Showcase Trust Signals and Security Badges
Trust signals like the one displayed by Razorpay, ‘Razorpay certified business’, indicates that the payment gateway used by your business uses safe transaction protocols for every transaction. Customers feel that their money is safe and secure, with guaranteed refund in case of technical obstacles. This is one of the most important ecommerce checkout best practices. Prominently display SSL certificates indicating that in addition to simplifying the checkout page, your business is serious about implementing safe checkout process, garnering the trust of customers.
Autofill and Validate Fields in Real Time
Allow customers to autofill their details, saving their time and validate their details in real-time, reducing the possibility of input errors. This eases the process in the backend. Razorpay makes use of network intelligence to validate authenticity of the auto-filled data.
Provide Visual Order Summaries and Progress Indicators
Providing order summaries indicates your order processing speed and quality. Visual indicators like providing a tracking number linked to the order’s movement page allows customers to track progress. Show cart contents, applied discounts, and expected delivery windows throughout the process.
Enable Fast, One-Click Checkout for Returning Customers
Customers expect a quick checkout process when they return to shop from your website. Keeping this point in mind while designing your checkout flow will help them navigate payments faster. This reduces friction and improves purchase rates.
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Conclusion
A frictionless online shopping experience mainly depends on your website’s checkout flow. Implementing measures like guest checkout options, offering multiple payment options, etc. enhances customer satisfaction, ensuring frictionless shopping experience. The ecommerce checkout best practices mentioned above can encourage your customers to come back for more.
FAQs
How can I reduce checkout abandonment rates?
Include one-page checkout process, provide multiple payment options and easy checkouts for returning customers. Include a Guest Checkout option. This helps new customers complete their purchase without having to fill their details. Another option is to reduce the number of fields in the checkout page. Only include relevant fields for information that matters. Employ hosting services that accelerate your website’s speed.
Is guest checkout necessary for conversions?
Guest checkout options allow new customers to complete their purchase without friction. This is convenient and safe at the same time. So, yes, including guest checkout options can significantly improve the quality and quantity of incoming leads.
How important is mobile optimization for checkout?
In an era governed by mobile users, it is of immense importance. Optimising your checkout page for mobile use can be instrumental in improving your conversion rate.
Should I display trust badges during checkout?
Displaying trust badges indicates your brand’s trustworthiness and reliability to incoming customers. Hence, including them would be a good idea. Razorpay displays trust badges to indicate whether a business is a member with them.
