Given the competitive nature of online retail, every friction point is an invitation for a shopper to look elsewhere–especially when these unexpected obstacles occur during the final, critical moments of checkout.
Enter e-commerce guest checkout. By enabling customers to complete transactions without creating an account, a guest checkout option can help reduce barriers to conversion.
Guest checkout is a cornerstone feature in e-commerce for good reason: It directly addresses the modern shopper’s demand for convenience, speed, and minimal hassle.
This functionality is particularly important for large enterprises catering to vast customer bases with a proliferation of shopping preferences and expectations. With one study finding that nearly 75% of online shoppers choose to manually enter their payment information via guest checkout.1 it’s more important than ever to customize your buyers' experience via flexible checkout options that accommodate diverse expectations.
Most enterprises leverage guest checkout which can eliminate friction in the purchasing process and help to increase conversion. In fact, up to 70% of abandoned shopping carts occur because of suboptimal checkout processes.1 This underscores the vital role of optimizing the online checkout experience to meet customers' demands for quick and frictionless transactions.
Guest checkout also helps to address consumers’ worries about security. In 2023, 55% of shoppers who stored payment credentials experienced friction that stopped their payments, such as expired or stolen cards.1 These challenges highlight a clear preference among a considerable segment of the market for not storing payment details, instead opting for the convenience of guest checkout.
Offering guest checkout in e-commerce can provide substantial benefits while also introducing certain challenges. It’s essential to carefully evaluate guest checkout considerations within your broader online sales approach.
Some common guest checkout benefits include:
While the advantages are clear, the potential drawbacks of guest checkout options warrant careful consideration as well:
These steps can you help you better ensure a more effective integration of guest checkout into your e-commerce strategy:
To further enhance the customer experience, consider these guest checkout best practices:
Refining guest checkout is an ongoing journey that can influence sales, customer satisfaction, and loyalty. In response to customer feedback and technological developments in e-commerce, businesses must stay adaptable and continuously seek ways to improve the checkout experience.
By doing so, they can create a more inviting and efficient online shopping experience that meets customers' evolving needs, aligning with the future of online checkout and ensuring checkout e-commerce success. Learn more about how Fastlane by PayPal is designed to create a speedy guest checkout experience and enhance conversion rates.
Let's talk about how PayPal can power your growth.
Tell us a little about your business so we can connect you with the right people
Want to speak with an account specialist right away?
Call 1-855-787-1009Need help with your existing account?
Visit our Help CenterWe use cookies to improve your experience on our site. May we use marketing cookies to show you personalized ads? Manage all cookies