Shopify’s one-page checkout

By now, we’ve all heard of the Shopify Editions | Winter ’23 and the amazing upgrades that the eCommerce platform will be offering soon. 

Shopify is one of the biggest players in the industry, holding a substantial market share in the United States and accounting for over $444 billion in global economic activity.

The new update includes nine update categories and over 100 product updates have been announced, including a major overhaul to its checkout pages that aims to provide a more streamlined user experience, including a one-page checkout and code-free ways to offer functions like loyalty memberships, add-ons or ID verifications.

But the biggest customer-facing upgrade is the implementation of one-page checkout. The existing Shopify checkout page takes shoppers through multiple pages to enter their personal, shipping and billing information. But the one-page”update consolidates that, eliminating the load time between pages that might make a customer drop off.

Shopify is also releasing a new Checkout Editor that allows merchants to customise a checkout page by dragging and dropping what tools they want to use, rather than having to edit code in a designated file.

What is a one-page Checkout?

A one-page checkout on Shopify is a streamlined checkout process for online stores built on the Shopify platform. Traditionally, the checkout process involves multiple steps, such as adding items to the cart, providing shipping information, selecting a shipping method, entering payment details, and confirming the order. Each step usually requires loading a new page, which can sometimes be time-consuming and lead to cart abandonment. 

So if we look into a multi-page checkout, the process looks like that: 

Customer Information

Customers can enter their personal details, such as name, shipping address, and email address, directly on the one-page checkout. This information is crucial for processing and delivering the order.

Shipping Options

 The checkout page may also offer various shipping options, allowing customers to select their preferred delivery method. This could include options like standard shipping, expedited shipping, or local pickup.

Payment Details

Customers can securely enter their payment information, such as credit card details or use alternative payment methods like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. The one-page checkout ensures that the payment process is seamless and straightforward.

Order Confirmation

Once customers have provided all the necessary information and completed the payment, the one-page checkout typically displays an order confirmation message. This confirms that the order has been successfully placed, and customers may receive an email with the order details.

With a one-page checkout, all the necessary checkout steps are consolidated onto a single page, allowing customers to complete their purchase quickly and efficiently:

Find out more about the one-page checkout with Shopify here.

One-page vs. multi-page checkout

But is a one-page checkout process always the best solution?

It depends… if your target audience is young and mobile orientated, the one page checkout will be your saviour. In the following let’s explore some upsides of both processes. 

Upsides of the one-page checkout

Simplified Process

A one-page checkout condenses all the essential steps of the checkout process onto a single page. Customers can view and complete their order without having to navigate through multiple pages.

Seamless Experience

With a one-page checkout, customers can enter their personal information, select shipping options, provide payment details, and confirm their order in a streamlined manner. This reduces the number of clicks and page reloads, creating a smoother user experience.

Faster Completion

The consolidated nature of a one-page checkout makes it quicker for customers to complete their purchase. They can review their order details, enter the required information, and make the payment without unnecessary delays.

Conversion Optimisation

One-page checkouts are designed to minimise distractions and friction, which can lead to higher conversion rates. By removing unnecessary steps and simplifying the process, customers are more likely to complete their purchase and reduce cart abandonment.

Upsides of the multi-page checkout 

Step-by-Step Process

A multi-page checkout breaks down the purchase process into multiple steps, each residing on a separate page. Customers progress through the checkout process by navigating from one page to another.

Detailed Information Collection

With multi-page checkouts, customers typically fill in their personal information, shipping details, and payment information on separate pages. This allows for more granular data collection and enables merchants to capture additional details if needed.

Flexibility and Customisation

Multi-page checkouts provide more flexibility for customization. Merchants can design and modify each step/page according to their specific requirements and branding.

Opportunity for Order Review

The multi-page checkout approach allows customers to review their order on each step/page before proceeding to the next. This gives customers the chance to double-check their information and make any necessary edits along the way.

Both one-page and multi-page checkouts have their advantages. One-page checkouts prioritise simplicity, speed, and a frictionless user experience, while multi-page checkouts offer more customisation options and allow for step-by-step order review. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs and preferences of the merchant and their target audience.

Looking towards the future

Our world is fully digitalised. In 2023 we are even that far, that some people want to go back a little bit more towards more personalisation and less automation, more face-to-face contact again. But what we can say for sure, for online shoppers, the simplification of their checkout with an overview of every important information is something that everyone wants. People will never be annoyed by a perfectly working seamless checkout process when they’re online shopping. And by simplifying the checkout process into a single page, you take stress, effort and time for reconsideration from your customers.

To sum up

One-page checkouts aim to reduce friction, improve user experience, and increase conversion rates by minimising distractions and making it easier for customers to complete their purchases – making it a potential game changer for your eCommerce business.

We at Flatline Agency, official Shopify Plus Partners, are here to help you take your business to the next step, including custom development, design, and marketing. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.