Checkout: what it is and how to optimize it for your business

During the purchase process in an online store , the customer must complete a very important step called checkout. Knowing what it is and how it works will help optimize this stage to generate a good shopping experience and a successful sale.

What is checkout?

This is the last step of the purchase process in which the customer confirms the products he/she wishes to pay the store or e-commerce business for.

At this stage, the customer selects the payment method, confirms the shipping address and finalizes the online purchase. However, a poorly designed checkout page can lead to cart abandonment, affect the results and decrease the conversion rate of an online store.

What are the types of checkout that exist?

There are different types of checkout available for a customer to finalize their purchase:

• Traditionalcheckout: the customer has a form with step-by-step instructions on what to do, such as reviewing the cart, personal information, choosing the shipping option, payment method, confirming data and processing payment.
• Single-pagecheckout: all the information needed to complete the purchase is on the same web page, without redirection, offering a simpler and faster experience.  
• Multi-stepcheckout: the customer must go through several stages during the purchase, which implies a longer process, more clicks and a higher probability of abandonment. 
• Socialcheckout : the retailer uses social networks as a sales channel and completes the purchase process without leaving the applications. 
• Checkout APICheckout API: the buyer does not have to leave the site, since the online store has the payment provider integrated into its page. Once the customer decides to buy, the API manages the data collection. 

How does the checkout process work?

A good e-commerce checkout must follow these steps to complete a purchase: 

1. Product selection in the shopping cart: the customer checks his cart before proceeding to checkout.
2. Choice of shipping method: choose from the available options the most convenient one, depending on shipping costs and delivery times.
3. Registration of personal data and shipping address: enter in the payment page your data for the transaction and the place of reception of the product. 
4. Selection of the payment method: choose from the multiple options available such as credit or debit card, transfer or virtual wallet.
5. Confirmation of the purchase and payment experience: notifies the customer that the purchase process was successfully completed and requests the customer's evaluation of the experience to correct any errors that may have occurred in the future.

Why is security important in the checkout process?

A secure payment gateway with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protects the customer's personal and financial data by ensuring that it cannot be read by intruders or hackers, and that the information will not be modified during a transaction.

The security it provides to the customer reinforces trust in the online store, improves the shopping experience by offering a smooth and seamless checkout process. It also increases the conversion rate and reduces the purchase abandonment rate.

8 best practices for checkout optimization and customization

Improving the checkout of an online store is possible with these best practices:

1. Reduce form fields and use autocomplete: requesting only the basic information to make the purchase and having the function to automatically complete the text helps save time and avoids errors.
2. Offer payment options and multiple means of payment: have available as many options as possible, such as credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, transfers, installment payments, mobile device payments, wallets, so that the customer can choose the one that best suits him/her.
3. Show clear information on how the shipments are: clarify what the waiting times are, if there is an additional charge and the shipping method, especially if they are international.
4. Ensure transparency of personal data and use of SSL protocols: allows the information to be encrypted and guarantees its integrity during the transaction. 
5. Personalize the user experience to improve the shopping experience: each customer has their own needs, the strategy must be adapted according to their preferences and behavior in the online store.
6. Use strategies to reduce cart abandonment and recover them: simplify the checkout process, automate reminder emails, offer different payment methods. Rebill 's smart retries and automatic notifications help recover up to 71% of rejected payments.
7. Constantly test to reduce the abandonment rate and improve the conversion rate: test the page or the checkout process to verify its performance and identify errors that may interfere with the purchase.
8. Provide support in real time and guarantee attention at key times: provide immediate assistance to solve doubts or guide the customer in the final phase so that he/she has a good buying experience.

Rebill is the best payment platform for global companies, with presence in several Latin American countries. Thanks to it, customers will have a payment environment to process purchases in a secure and personalized way, with local and international options. 

Why use Rebill checkout in your business?

With Rebill checkout you will make a difference in your business and improve the customer experience thanks to these advantages:

• Hyper-customizable checkout: customize the design with your logo, colors and domain, offering an experience aligned with your brand and increasing customer trust.
• Mobile optimization and seamless experience: Rebill's one-click payments are designed for mobile and reduce friction, speeding conversion and reducing cart abandonment.
• Automatic notifications and cart recovery: reminders via WhatsApp or email help customers finalize pending payments, increasing the success rate of your transactions.
• Fast and easy integration: with modern SDKs and REST APIs, you can deploy Rebill in your business in less than an hour, without relying on complex development.
• Intelligent and multi-currency payment links: each link automatically adapts to the client's currency and country, allowing you to charge in Argentina and other LATAM markets without complications.
• Recurring and flexible billing: set up subscriptions, upgrades, downgrades and trial periods from the same payment link, ideal for recurring services or online courses.

If you want to have a secure checkout process, keep your customers on your site and reduce chargebacks in your business, contact us, we have a hyper-customizable checkout for you!