It was only back in 2022 when Shopify announced the release of Checkout Extensibility, a game-changer for online stores seeking a more branded and customizable checkout experience.
Following this, Shopify has now announced that it will be phasing out checkout.liquid entirelyin favor of Checkout Extensibility. This will become the primary way to customize the new Shopify checkout experience.
What does this Shopify upgrade mean for merchants? For starters, if you currently use Shopify checkout.liquid, you'll need to migrate your customizations before August 13, 2024. Any customizations you currently have made with Shopify checkout.liquid code will eventually stop working after this date. There is more time (until August 28, 2025) to migrate the thank you and order status pages.
But the future is bright! This Shopify upgrade will allow you to create truly unique and frictionless checkout experiences for your customers. In this blog, we've rounded up everything you need to know about Shopify Checkout Extensibility. From the benefits of migrating to the new Shopify checkout UI extensions to the exciting features & resources, we'll help you navigate this transition seamlessly.
What is Shopify Checkout Extensibility?
Shopify merchants use Shopify checkout.liquid to take shipping, payment, and customer details to complete and place an order. As the most critical step in a user's buying journey, Shopify ensures a fast and secure checkout experience focused on ease of use. This is the native checkout that Shopify provides:
While it served its purpose, Shopify checkout.liquid had quite limitations that made managing the checkout a headache for merchants. Every time a new Shopify upgrade is rolled out, there is a chance it could clash with your checkout.liquid customizations. This meant potential bugs and a scramble to fix things.Shopify checkout.liquid is also complex and time-consuming, requiring advanced coding knowledge which could also result in poor checkout performance, sub-par buyer experience, and security concerns.
To address these concerns, Shopify launched Shopify Checkout extensions for Plus customers that provide flexibility to Plus merchants to introduce unique checkout experiences, promotions, and custom logic in the Shopify Checkout page without breaking the original code for the regular checkout process. Furthermore, Shopifybranding API can be used with Shopify Checkout Extensions to introduce brand elements on the checkout page which was historically not possible.
If you have not migrated your Shopify Checkout Extensibility yet, here's a short video to get you started in 6 easy steps:
Customizing Checkout Using Shopify Checkout Extensions
In Shopify’s own words - Shopify Checkout extensions make it easier for Shopify Plus merchants to customize their checkout in a way that’s app-based, upgrade-safe, higher-converting, and integrated with Shop Pay. Shopify Checkout Extension is also compatible with Shopify One Page Checkout.
You can find various Shopify checkout extension appsin the Shopify App Store that add functionalities, adjust branding, or modify specific checkout elements. These Shopify checkout extension apps integrate seamlessly with your store for a smooth experience.
For more advanced customization needs, you can leverage Shopify Checkout Extensibility's features to build a custom app. This approach requires coding knowledge and might involve a Shopify Partner for development.
1. Optimizing Your Store with Shopify Checkout Branding API
Using the Shopify Checkout Extensibility, Shopify branding API, and Checkout editor, you can now customize the entire checkout page to convey the same brand experience as your store. While customizing fonts and colors is extremely simple with the checkout editor, you can also use Shopify branding API to introduce more advanced elements like a section that speaks of brand values such as ethically sourced, locally grown, etc.
2. Add New Functionality
a) Custom Fields
Introduce custom fields using Shopify checkout UI extensions to customize orders like choosing a color, adding a gift message, ordering notes, or getting buyer information
b. Product Offers
Offer exclusive deals on hitting a cart milestone, cash backs, upsell products (recommended buys, mini samplers, newly launched, gift wraps, greeting cards, free samples, etc.), and customized deals based on customer history at checkout.
c. Informational
Add trust badges, banners, images, or text to convey information and increase credibility and conversion.
3. Add Custom Logic
Rename, reorder, or hide payment and delivery methods based on different rules at checkout. Or customize what offers customers see based on products added to the cart or UTM channel from where the customer was acquired. With Shopify checkout extensibility, you can also offer tiered pricing and discount combinations at checkout with custom logic.
4. Discount Codes and Gift Card
Shopify checkout UI extensions allow buyers to add discount codes and redeem gift cards directly at checkout and update cart line items accordingly.
5. Storefront API and Shopify Checkout Extension Integration
Ability to query storefront API to get information like product tags, collections, currency conversion, etc. Use this to display product information that will ensure a conversion like “Locally produced by artisans from a nearby town
Note: All graphics above have been produced with our app Checkout Wizard which helps you switch to the Shopify upgrade and set up every single feature we discussed above. It is a no-code Shopify checkout extension app that will completely transform your checkout with minimum setup.
What Are The Benefits of Shopify Checkout Extensibility?
1. Increase Conversion Rate or Reduce Cart Abandonment
A smooth and user-friendly checkout process is crucial for minimizing cart abandonment. Shopify Checkout Extensibility allows for customizations that streamline the checkout flow, like adding clear instructions, offering guest checkout options, and ensuring mobile-friendliness. These features can significantly reduce friction at the checkout stage, leading to more completed purchases.
Here are some ways you can ensure a purchase once the customer has reached the checkout page using Shopify checkout extensions:
Offer a gift at checkout to increase the likelihood of conversion
Provide exclusive deals, relevant discounts, cashback, or product information at checkout to reinforce the purchase.
Payment and delivery options based on geography and location. For instance, provide the COD option to customers shopping from a location where COD is preferred over credit cards. Hide or re-order payment options based on different parameters.
Provide additional details like guaranteed delivery dates based on the location provided to ensure buyers are convinced about timely delivery.
Shopify Checkout Extensibility provides the perfect platform to implement strategic upselling and cross-selling tactics that can significantly increase your AOV. There are several ways to urge a customer to add more at checkout in return for relevant product offers:
Upsells such as greeting cards, gift wraps, recommend products based on cart items, add a “try new launch section”, offer trial samples at discount, etc.
Introduce a post-purchase page to offer one-click upsells to increase AOV.
Bundling Discounts that encourage customers to add more items at checkout to get a bundle offer.
Promotions such as adding another product at a heavy discount or exclusive deals unlocked based on cart value.
Acquiring a new customer is 5X-7X more expensive than retaining an existing one. This means that for every dollar you spend on retaining a happy customer, it could cost you five to seven dollars to acquire a new one. As a Shopify merchant, you do not want to miss out on this opportunity. Shopify checkout extensibility helps online stores create a checkout experience that makes your customers come back for more. Here’s how:
Unlock cash-back deals to redeem for future purchases. For eg. Add $50 more to get $15 cashback that can be redeemed at a later time.
Shopify Checkout Extensibility allows you to offer streamlined guest checkout options. This reduces friction for first-time buyers and encourages them to complete their purchases without the hassle of creating an account.
Integrate seamlessly with features like Shop Pay, allowing customers to save their payment information securely. This way the new Shopify checkout streamlines future purchases, minimizing friction and encouraging repeat business.
Introduce a post-purchase page after checkout and offer memberships, or deals that can be availed at a later point.
Add custom fields to get additional information from customers like Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc. in return for a pre-loaded gift card on the provided dates.
Use advanced Shopify checkout extensibility features like web pixel extension to collect customer data for marketing campaigns, store optimization, and analytics by inserting tracking pixels into the checkout.
4. Increase Trust
Standard checkout pages may not always reflect your brand identity. Shopify checkout extensibility allows customization using the branding API. You can tailor the checkout page's look and feel to match your brand's colors, fonts, and overall aesthetic. This consistency creates a familiar and trustworthy environment for customers throughout their shopping journey. Here are some pro-tips:
Use Shopify checkout branding API to have a seamless on-brand experience throughout the customer journey. Re-inforcing the same brand values and ethics during checkout is a great way to build trust.
Provide checkout tooltips, buyer FAQs, and relevant warnings in time like expected delays due to weather conditions in the provided location or brand not shipping to certain zip codes, etc.
Provide additional confirmation when customers avail of discounts or gift cards. For eg. display a message in the cart that the Gift Card was successfully applied.
Reduce shipping costs by introducing router logic and deciding where and how products are shipped. Pass on the reduced shipping costs to customers as deals.
Use the post-purchase Shopify checkout extension to collect feedback and ensure a better experience
Shopify checkout extensibility offers several tools to turn window shoppers into paying customers by increasing customer acquisition:
Integrate Shopify checkout extension apps that showcase customer reviews or social proof elements directly on the checkout page. This builds trust and convinces new customers to complete their purchase.
With Shopify checkout extensibility, you can introduce apps that offer referral discounts during checkout. This encourages customers to share your store with friends and family, driving new customer acquisition.
Provide gifting features at checkout that allow you to collect receiver information for future marketing. For example, encourage users to send an e-greeting card or video message and get the receiver's email for the same
Upgrade from Checkout.liquid to Shopify Checkout Extensibility
To start using Shopify Checkout Extensions, you first need to be subscribed to Shopify Plus Plan. If you are a plus customer, get in touch with us to help you upgrade from checkout.liquid to Shopify checkout extension. We have helped over 100 merchants migrate smoothly to Shopify checkout extensibility and have a ton of experience building lightning-fast, mobile-responsive, and native checkout experiences optimized for conversions.
We have written a detailed migration guide to understand how to upgrade from Shopify checkout.liquid to the all-new new Shopify Checkout Extensibility. Give it a read. You can also check out the successful migration of Yamazaki that led to higher conversion rates on their store.
We have also built an app -Checkout Wizard that can help you take complete control of your checkout and do any customization you wish without any need for coding. Use the app to enhance and create a smoother, more enjoyable branded Shopify checkout UI, leading to higher customer satisfaction and fewer abandoned carts. With a single app, you can do everything we explained above and much more.
1. What is Shopify Checkout Extensibility and what are its benefits?
Shopify checkout extensibility, a replacement for checkout.liquid, is a tool that allows Shopify Plus merchants to customize their checkout process. It helps boost average order value, increase conversion, improve customer experience, and reduce fraud orders and errors.
2. How does Checkout Extensibility impact the user experience with its latest features?
Checkout Extensibility enhances the user experience by enabling personalized checkout experiences, faster load times, and additional features like upselling and cross-selling.
3. How else can I improve my Shopify checkout process?
Checkout Wiz, an app that integrates with checkout extensibility, provides advanced customization capabilities to personalize the checkout as per the brand and add custom elements (e.g., automatic form filler, progress bar, etc.) that will improve conversion rates and average order value.
Hurrify customers to buy within a given timeframe with a sales countdown timer & improve conversions
Another popular Shopify checkout app is Checkout Promotions. The app comes with the ability to leverage a collection of highly robust visibility rules that help show customers one-click post purchase upsell promotions after an order payment has been made. Some of its key features include:
Features
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Complete branding control.
Checkout Upsell for increasing AOV.
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Pricing
Development
Free
Monthly Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
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Surya V
Surya leads Product Management at Skai Lama. He talks about Shopify Checkout, Conversion Optimization, and growth tactics for Shopify Plus stores.
Get higher conversions with Checkout Wiz
Transform your Shopify Checkout with Custom Blocks, Upsell Widgets, Surveys and Full Branding Control
Skyrocket Your Sales with Checkout Wiz: Unlock 10+ Conversion Boosting Features!
Skyrocket Your Sales with Checkout Wiz: Unlock 10+ Conversion Boosting Features!
Transform your checkout with Checkout Wiz: Enjoy custom content blocks, upsell widgets, surveys, and full branding control for maximum conversions and revenue.
Transform your checkout with Checkout Wiz: Enjoy custom content blocks, upsell widgets, surveys, and full branding control for maximum conversions and revenue.
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