Why Shopify switches to One-Step Checkouts?

Khatchadour Israelyan
Bootcamp
Published in
3 min readSep 28, 2023

I am always looking for ways to improve the user experience of online shopping. One of the most important areas to focus on is the checkout process. After all, if a shopper can’t complete their purchase easily and quickly, they are likely to abandon their cart.

Why do websites use multiple-page checkouts?

Traditionally, most e-commerce websites have used multiple-page checkouts. This is where shoppers have to navigate through multiple pages to complete their purchase, entering their shipping information, billing information, and payment information on different pages.

There are a few reasons why websites use multiple-page checkouts:

  • To break down the checkout process into smaller, more manageable steps. This can be helpful for shoppers who are new to online shopping, or who are purchasing complex items.
  • To collect more information from shoppers.
    For example, a website may want to collect a shopper’s phone number or email address in case they need to contact them about their order.
  • To upsell or cross-sell products to shoppers.
    For example, a website may offer shoppers the opportunity to add additional items to their cart or to purchase a warranty for their purchase, on one of the checkout pages.

Shopify research

In 2022, Shopify conducted a study to compare the performance of one-step checkouts to multiple-step checkouts. The study found that one-step checkouts resulted in a 10% increase in conversion rates.

The study also found that one-step checkouts reduced cart abandonment rates by 5%.

one step checkout of Shopify

Why should you use a one-step checkout?

From a UX designer’s perspective, there are a number of benefits to using a one-step checkout:

  • Convenience:
    One-step checkouts are more convenient for shoppers, as they allow them to complete their purchases without having to navigate multiple pages.
  • Security:
    One-step checkouts can be more secure than multiple-step checkouts, as they reduce the amount of time that shoppers are exposed to potential fraud.
  • Conversion rates:
    Studies have shown that one-step checkouts can lead to higher conversion rates, as they reduce the number of opportunities for shoppers to abandon their carts.

As a bonus…

Why following big companies’ UX updates is a good idea

Big companies like Shopify invest a lot of time and money into researching and developing new UX features. When they make a change to their UX, it is usually because they have data to show that the change will improve the user experience.

For example, Shopify’s decision to switch to one-step checkouts was based on the results of their research, which showed that one-step checkouts resulted in higher conversion rates and reduced cart abandonment rates.

Therefore, if you are running an e-commerce website, it is a good idea to follow the UX updates of big companies like Shopify. This is because these updates are often based on data and research, and they are likely to improve the user experience of your website.

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