Checkout friction at your store in BigCommerce Store can be a major barrier to improving sales and delivering a seamless shopping experience, especially for mobile users. With over half of all eCommerce transactions now made on mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly checkout process is non-negotiable. Addressing common checkout mistakes and reducing friction can significantly increase conversions and ensure customers complete their purchases with ease.
This guide will help you understand what checkout friction is, why it matters, the most common mistakes in BigCommerce stores, and practical solutions to reduce bottlenecks. By optimizing your mobile checkout experience, you’ll not only enhance customer satisfaction but also boost your bottom line.
What Is Checkout Friction?
Checkout friction refers to anything that disrupts or complicates the process of completing a purchase. It could be slow-loading pages, lengthy forms, or limited payment methods, all of which can frustrate customers and lead to cart abandonment.
For mobile users, friction becomes an even bigger problem. Small screens, touch interactions, and shorter attention spans mean that any additional step or inconvenience can feel amplified. BigCommerce store owners must address these issues to create a smoother, faster checkout process that keeps shoppers engaged from start to finish.
By reducing checkout friction at your store in BigCommerce Store, you can improve conversions and ensure customers have a positive shopping experience.
Why Mobile-Friendly Checkouts Are Essential
Mobile commerce is no longer just a trend—it’s the new reality. According to recent data, around 72.9% of all eCommerce sales are expected to come from mobile devices by 2025. This shift has made it critical for BigCommerce store owners to prioritize mobile-friendly checkouts.
A poorly optimized mobile checkout not only pushes customers away but also makes your store appear outdated and untrustworthy. Modern mobile shoppers expect speed, simplicity, and a seamless user experience. If your checkout isn’t optimized for mobile, you risk losing sales to competitors who have already adapted.
Optimizing your store ensures customers can easily browse, add items to the cart, and complete their purchase without unnecessary friction.
Key Takeaway: One of the quickest ways to boost conversions is by tailoring your BigCommerce checkout process to meet the needs of mobile shoppers.
Common Checkout Mistakes in BigCommerce Stores
The checkout experience is where businesses can either win or lose customers. Understanding and fixing these common mistakes can drive significant improvements in your store’s performance:
1. Complicated Checkout Forms
Mobile users crave simplicity. Long, multi-step forms can feel overwhelming and cause abandonment. Asking for excessive information, such as unnecessary phone numbers or optional details, only increases frustration.
2. Slow Loading Speeds
Studies show that a delay of even one second in page load times can result in a 7% decrease in conversions. On mobile devices, slow checkout pages are often caused by unoptimized images, bulky code, or poor server performance.
3. Hidden Fees at Checkout
One of the leading causes of cart abandonment is unexpected costs like shipping or taxes that appear only at the final step. This transparency gap erodes trust and drives customers away.
4. Forcing Account Creation
While creating an account benefits your business, it’s not always what the customer wants. Many mobile shoppers are browsing on the go and prefer to check out as guests.
5. Lack of Mobile Payment Methods
With the rise of digital wallets like Apple Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay, customers expect to see familiar and convenient payment options. Limiting these choices could mean excluding a significant audience.
6. Cluttered Navigation
If your store’s layout makes it difficult for users to find the “Proceed to Checkout” button or if they’re greeted by pop-ups and distractions, they’re more likely to abandon the process altogether.
Pro Tip: Review your current checkout process on various mobile devices to identify where improvements are needed.
The Drawbacks of Checkout Friction at Your Store in BigCommerce Store
Checkout friction negatively impacts more than just your cart abandonment rates. Here are the deeper, long-term drawbacks BigCommerce store owners must consider:
1. Lower Conversion Rates
The primary downside of checkout friction is fewer completed purchases. If the process is too complex or time-consuming, customers will abandon their carts for competitors who offer a better user experience.
2. Damage to Brand Reputation
Frustrated customers are unlikely to give your store another chance. Worse, they may share their negative experiences on social media or review sites, discouraging potential buyers.
3. Lost Revenue Opportunities
Every abandoned cart represents lost revenue for your business. For BigCommerce stores, this could mean missing out on thousands of dollars annually due to small, fixable issues.
4. Customer Disengagement
Shoppers who experience friction are less likely to return. Once a customer disengages, it becomes costly to reacquire them through marketing campaigns or discounts.
Reducing checkout friction at your store in BigCommerce Store will enhance customer loyalty, boost revenue, and even improve your store’s reputation in the competitive eCommerce landscape.
How to Optimize Mobile Checkout in BigCommerce
Here are actionable tips to minimize checkout friction and create a seamless mobile experience:
1. Streamline the Checkout Flow
Break the checkout process into only three or four clear steps. Use autofill options for fields like shipping address and payment information to save time.
2. Prioritize Speed
Compress images, use responsive design elements, and leverage BigCommerce performance tools to keep loading times above industry standards.
3. Transparent Pricing
Show total costs, including taxes and shipping fees, before the customer proceeds to checkout. Being upfront builds trust and keeps shoppers on track.
4. Enable Guest Checkout
Offer guest checkout as an option, especially for first-time buyers. You can always follow up with a prompt to create an account after the purchase is complete.
5. Mobile-Friendly Payment Options
Integrate mobile-optimized payment gateways into your BigCommerce checkout to include popular methods like Apple Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay.
6. Clear Navigation
Ensure the checkout button is prominently placed and easy to tap on mobile screens. Avoid unnecessary distractions like pop-ups at crucial stages.
Quick Win: Use tools like BigCommerce’s Currency Converter or Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) to enhance your store’s mobile experience.
FAQs About Checkout Friction at Your Store in BigCommerce Store
Here are some commonly asked questions about mobile checkout friction:
Q1. What is checkout friction at your store in BigCommerce Store?
A1. Checkout friction refers to anything that makes the checkout process difficult, such as slow pages, hidden fees, or limited payment options.
Q2. How can I identify friction points in my BigCommerce store?
A2. Use analytics tools to monitor customer behavior, conduct heatmap analysis, and seek customer feedback to find areas where users struggle.
Q3. Can improving your checkout process boost sales?
A3. Yes! Streamlining your checkout flow can reduce cart abandonment rates and significantly increase conversions.
Q4. Does offering guest checkout make a difference?
A4. Absolutely. Guest checkout reduces the time and effort needed to complete a purchase, making it ideal for mobile shoppers.
Q5. Are payment options like Apple Pay necessary?
A5. Yes. These options cater to customer preferences, especially on mobile, and increase the likelihood of completed purchases.
Call to Action
Reducing checkout friction at your store in BigCommerce Store is one of the easiest ways to boost conversions and grow customer loyalty. By addressing the common mistakes outlined here, your store will offer a friction-free, mobile-friendly experience that keeps shoppers coming back.
Are you ready to transform your BigCommerce checkout process? Explore our resources and tools today to get started!
