Creating an Optimized Mobile Checkout Process

Consumers are spending more time than ever on their phones. But that’s not just scrolling social feeds and Netflix binges, they’re also shopping online.

Mobile-optimized checkout is key for converting this mobile shopper base. Here are some best practices to help you make the most of your eCommerce mobile experience.

Seamless Conversions on Any Device

The checkout process is where most conversions are made (or abandoned) in e-commerce. It’s a crucial point of friction that must be optimized for mobile if you want to keep your customers happy and convert them into loyal, long-term customers.

A few key steps are essential to creating a seamless, smooth mobile checkout experience for your users. First, make sure that your checkout page is free of distractions and that your call-to-action buttons are easy to tap. Avoid using too many colours or information boxes as these can be distracting and detract from the customer’s focus. Instead, embrace the KISS mentality of “Keep it Simple” and keep the number of required form fields to a minimum. Use autofill and pop-up keyboard functions to make entering personal information and delivery information as smooth as possible for your users.

Another important step in mobile checkout optimization is allowing your customers to save their cart for later. This will give them the option to complete their purchase at a time that’s convenient for them, reducing the risk of cart abandonment due to unforeseen circumstances or financial concerns. This feature can be a great way to increase your mobile checkout conversion rate and increase the overall number of completed sales through your app.

Next, it’s essential to optimize your mobile checkout for fast processing times and a variety of payment methods. Studies have shown that 9% of cart abandonment is due to slow checkout speeds. Offer a variety of payment methods so that your shoppers can choose the one that’s most suitable for them, and provide clear instructions about how to use each payment method during checkout.

Finally, it’s important to track your mobile checkout conversion rates so you can measure the impact of any UX changes that you implement. For example, if your app’s current checkout flow has a “Save for later” button but no upsell options at cart level, you can test the effectiveness of these different features by using Leanplum’s App UX Tweak feature to create a new version of your mobile checkout flow with a simple toggle.

Easy Checkout

The checkout process is where shoppers turn into customers, so it should be a smooth and fast experience. The mobile shopping journey is a bit more complicated than desktop, but the same best practices that you apply to the rest of your app or website will help you create an effective and efficient checkout.

The first step to optimizing the mobile checkout is making it easy for your shoppers to enter information. Make sure that forms are simple and intuitive, and try to limit the number of fields or pages. Avoid adding any extra steps that will slow the process down or cause confusion for your shoppers. Streamline your form by offering autofill features that can fill in information like shipping and email addresses, or use geolocation to pre-populate fields with location data. This can save your mobile customers time, and if the information is wrong or outdated, you can validate it in real time.

Another important factor in mobile checkout optimization is providing your shoppers with clear pricing information. This will prevent them from being surprised by any fees or additional charges at the end of the transaction, which is a common cause of cart abandonment. Ensure that your prices are clearly displayed throughout the checkout process, and provide information about taxes, delivery fees, and any other costs upfront.

Finally, it is also a good idea to offer your mobile shoppers a guest checkout option. This can help reduce cart abandonment rates, and it will give your shoppers the flexibility to shop with you again in the future.

With mobile becoming the preferred way to shop, it is important to consider the needs of your mobile users. Mobile shoppers are often on the go, and they want to complete a purchase quickly and easily. By using mobile checkout optimization best practices, you can help them achieve their goals, and you will see a boost in your conversions. Whether they are shopping while they wait for their coffee to brew, browsing during a lunch break, or looking for a last-minute gift, your mobile shoppers will appreciate an easy and convenient checkout process.

Secure Payments

In a world where mobile users are more than double the number of desktop shoppers, it’s time to make your payment process as seamless and secure as possible. The checkout is where most conversions are made or abandoned, so ensuring your mobile experience has the best possible functionality is key to keeping those sales coming in and decreasing shopping cart abandonment rates.

While many mobile design best practices are similar to desktop, mobile checkout needs to be taken on its own terms. After a customer invests significant time in finding the right product, they expect a quick and easy payment process with no unnecessary redirects or unfamiliar payment methods.

To avoid this frustration, ensure your mobile website or app is optimized for mobile payments by following the KISS mentality (Keep it Simple, Stupid) with your forms and fields. Phone screens don’t have room for frivolous forms or excessive information, so keep form fields to a minimum and limit the amount of information you ask customers to fill out. This can also be helped by using a progress indicator, which helps reassure customers that the process is only a few steps away from completion.

Another way to reduce friction is to use pre-filled forms, allowing customers to fill in some of the information themselves rather than manually entering it all. This makes the whole process much faster and more straightforward, especially for rushed mobile users. For example, Sephora uses auto-fill on their mobile checkout to allow users to enter their address or zip code, reducing the number of clicks they need to complete the form and saving them time.

Finally, add some reassurance to your mobile checkout process by including security features that show you’re trustworthy and secure. This can include adding security badges to your mobile site and providing guest checkout options as reassurance for new online shoppers who are still wary of handing over their credit card details to brands they haven’t used before. For instance, Sephora offers a PayPal button for new users to check out as an alternative option to their own checkout page.

Easy Returns

Creating an optimized mobile checkout process takes time and skill, but the payoff is well worth it. After all, the modern eCommerce marketplace exists almost entirely on mobile, and the number of brands that can survive a flawed checkout experience is rapidly decreasing.

Mobile shoppers have different needs and behaviors than desktop users. They are often on the go and trying to accomplish a task between other activities, making speed an absolute must. They also use their fingers and thumbs to click through forms, which are more arduous than using a trackpad or mouse. In addition, they are more likely to encounter errors that can be more frustrating than a simple typo. These differences mean that a cluttered mobile checkout page can easily be overwhelming.

Clear, simple call-to-action buttons can help guide customers through each step of the checkout process. Avoid hyperlinks to other pages, pop-ups, and any other distracting information that could derail the customer journey. Make sure that the correct type of keyboard is displayed for each form field, and make it easy for the user to know if they have entered incorrect or incomplete data. Clear visual error indicators are a must and ideally should appear instantly rather than at the end of the journey.

A save cart for later option can be a great way to encourage mobile shoppers to complete their purchases at a later date. This can reduce shopping cart abandonment and increase conversions by enticing hesitant buyers to buy now and come back later to finish their purchase.

Narvar offers a self-serve returns tool that allows customers to initiate return requests via email or through the app’s dashboard. The platform can also automatically synchronize returned inventory and provide detailed RMA event timelines to expedite the process further. It is lauded by merchants for its ease of use, automation, customizable emails, and ability to handle multiple stores and inventory systems. A free trial is available for Shopify merchants to try this app. Moreover, the recurring monthly fee starts at just $29 per month for up to 200 active returns.

Shopify Development Trends: Most Shopify store owners focus on their digital marketing alongside their web development. Keeping up with the cutting-edge Shopify Apps in ensuring a frictionless checkout for their online store, with additional tools to fill the Shopping Cart. Online shopping continues to grow year-over-year as the user experience improves with tailored customer service practices. Behind the scenes, are Shopify partners such as TheGenieLab. We are helping business owners and shopkeepers to drive continuous improvements through digital marketing services. Furthermore, they are providing Web Development in Shopify, BigCommerce, and other eCommerce store architectures. If you need a hand in any aspect of eCommerce, feel free to reach out to us at wish@thegenielab.com