Unleash the Power of Shopify Checkout Extensibility: Mastering the Basics

In the ever-changing landscape of online shopping, it’s crucial to be on the cutting edge. If you’re a Shopify Plus merchant, shifting from the classic Checkout.liquid to the powerhouse Checkout Extensibility is like giving your store a turbo boost. It’s not just an upgrade – it’s a game-changer for ramping up customization, elevating user experience, and spiking those conversion rates. We’ve got the lowdown on this major transition, so read on as Verz Digital discusses why it matters and what’s in it for you.

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What is checkout.liquid?

For Shopify Plus merchants, the checkout.liquid is a foundational part of the Shopify platform, responsible for rendering the checkout pages on your online store. It is a Liquid template that allows for some customization of the checkout experience, providing merchants with a degree of flexibility. An extensive amount of development work and a solid grasp of e-commerce code were needed to edit this file. Changes would frequently negatively impact Shopify’s system updates, resulting in issues with checkout. Countless store owners have had a bad experience with this and up until recently, Shopify Plus merchants could only alter this file to add custom content to their checkout pages.

Why is Shopify depreciating checkout.liquid?

Customizing the Shopify checkout through checkout.liquid has historically been a complex and time-intensive task, requiring advanced coding expertise. Unfortunately, such customizations often face challenges during platform upgrades, leading to compromised checkout performance and a less-than-optimal buyer experience. Security concerns also loom over checkout.liquid modifications. A notable setback occurred in August 2022 when a conflict with Google Tag Manager in the theme code triggered a 12-hour global outage for Shopify checkout. In response, Shopify has been diligently working to ensure checkout stability and performance while facilitating the addition of new capabilities.

Enter Checkout Extensibility – a suite of apps and tools designed to simplify the customization of the Shopify checkout and create tailored checkout experiences. With its emphasis on security, code-free operation, app-based functionality, upgrade safety, and enhanced conversion rates, Checkout Extensibility represents a significant leap forward. Notably, it seamlessly integrates with Shop Pay, allowing for the customization of express checkout for the first time ever.

The Checkout.liquid Depreciation Timeline

To provide a smooth transition for merchants, Shopify has outlined a phased deprecation timeline for checkout.liquid:

• August 13, 2024: The Information, Shipping, and Payment pages will be affected.
• August 28, 2025: The Thank you and Order Status pages will undergo changes.

Shopify is deprecating checkout.liquid to usher in a new era of checkout customization and flexibility. The deprecation will occur in stages, with key milestones set for August 13, 2024, affecting the Information, Shipping, and Payment pages, and August 28, 2025, impacting the Thank you and Order Status pages. This phased approach allows merchants to adapt and prepare for the upcoming changes.

What is Shopify Checkout Extensibility?

Shopify Checkout Extensibility is the next-generation solution that empowers merchants with unparalleled control and customization over their checkout process. It introduces a modular and flexible approach, allowing for enhanced customization, improved user experience, and seamless integration with third-party apps and services.

What does this mean for Shopify Plus merchants?

For Shopify Plus merchants, this transition represents an opportunity to embrace advanced customization and ensure their checkout process aligns seamlessly with their brand identity. The deprecation of checkout.liquid signifies a commitment to providing merchants with a more robust and flexible solution to meet the evolving demands of the e-commerce landscape.

Future-Proof Your Store and Stay Ahead with Checkout Extensibility.

Embrace the future of e-commerce by upgrading to Checkout Extensibility.

Key Benefits of Checkout Extensibility

The Shopify Checkout.liquid has long been a reliable foundation for online stores. However, as the demands of e-commerce evolve, so too must the tools and features that power it. Checkout Extensibility offers a suite of advanced customization options, providing merchants with unprecedented control over the checkout process.

1. Increased Speed and Conversion

Checkout Extensibility is engineered on the latest platform technology, delivering a checkout experience that is 2X faster than its predecessor. With swift checkout interactions and seamless page transitions, merchants can expect an average conversion increase of over 1%. This enhanced speed not only reduces friction in the buying process but also significantly contributes to higher conversion rates, positively impacting your bottom line.

2. Integration with Shop Pay

Seamless integration with Shop Pay is a game-changer for merchants upgrading to Checkout Extensibility. By adding customizations to Shop Pay, you not only create a consistent and branded checkout experience for your customers but also tap into the unparalleled speed of Shop Pay’s 4X faster checkout. This integration ensures a frictionless journey for your customers, translating into improved satisfaction and increased loyalty.

3. Powerful New Checkout Features

Unlock a host of powerful new features by upgrading to Checkout Extensibility. From a streamlined one-page checkout to the innovative Shopify bundles offering and stackable discounts, merchants gain access to a suite of tools designed to enhance the overall shopping experience. These features not only make your checkout process more user-friendly but also enable you to stay ahead of market trends and customer expectations.

4. Upgrade-Safe

One of the standout advantages of Checkout Extensibility is its upgrade-safe nature. Unlike dealing with checkout.liquid, where manual upgrades are often necessary, Checkout Extensibility ensures that you never have to perform a checkout upgrade again. This means you gain instant access to new checkout features as soon as they become available, without the hassle of manual interventions.

5. Enhanced Security

Security is paramount in the world of e-commerce, and Checkout Extensibility addresses this concern by leveraging Shopify UI components and APIs within a sandboxed environment. This approach enhances the overall security of your checkout process, giving both merchants and customers peace of mind regarding sensitive information during transactions.

6. Consistent Buying Experience

With Checkout Extensibility now available for Shopify Plus merchants on the Thank you and Order status pages, you can upgrade your entire checkout flow from start to finish. This consistency ensures a seamless and branded buying experience for your customers, fostering trust and loyalty.

Upgrading to Checkout Extensibility from checkout.liquid is not just a technological shift; it’s a strategic move to empower your online store with cutting-edge features, unmatched speed, and enhanced security. From increased conversion rates to a more consistent buying experience, the benefits are clear.

Connect Your Customizations in Checkout.liquid to Checkout Extensibility

Customize the look and feel of your new checkout

Customizing the appearance of your checkout has evolved with the introduction of Checkout Extensibility. Previously, the look and feel were adjusted using branding settings in the Theme Editor or by incorporating custom CSS/styles into your checkout.liquid theme file. Now, with Checkout Extensibility, you have the flexibility to customize the checkout through apps, ensuring a consistent visual experience throughout the buying process. You can utilize the checkout editor or the Branding API to make visual adjustments.

For color schemes, font choices, and overall styling modifications, the checkout editor is your go-to tool. In the checkout editor, head to Settings to personalize the checkout’s appearance, or navigate to Sections to modify functionality. If a more granular control over checkout branding is required, developers can leverage the Branding API to transform the look and feel dramatically.

Add Custom UI or Content to Your Checkout Process

Enhancing the checkout process with custom UI or content was traditionally achieved by adding JavaScript code to your checkout.liquid file. With Checkout Extensibility, these customizations are seamlessly integrated through apps. Whether you choose to install an app from the Shopify App Store or develop a custom app, the checkout editor allows you to configure these apps effortlessly. Explore apps powered by checkout UI extensions, offering features such as upsells, custom banners, loyalty programs, and custom delivery workflows. A curated app guide and the extensive app store with over 400 compatible apps provide a rich resource for your customization needs.

Extend or replace key parts of Shopify’s backend with custom logic

When it comes to extending or replacing key components of Shopify’s backend with custom logic, Shopify Scripts used to be the go-to solution. However, the introduction of Shopify Functions signals a new era. These functions can replace essential backend logic and will eventually phase out Shopify Scripts. Just like with UI customizations, you can either install an app or develop a custom one, configuring them in your Admin. Currently, Shopify Functions support discounts, payment and delivery customizations, checkout validations, order routing, custom bundles, and fulfillment constraints. While Shopify Scripts will remain compatible with Checkout Extensibility until August 25th, 2025, the transition allows you to upgrade without concerns about your Scripts.

Track customer events

Tracking customer events used to require custom code or third-party tag managers. With Checkout Extensibility, a streamlined solution emerges – the Customer events page in your Shopify admin. Manage and track customer events effortlessly by adding pixels, either through apps from the Shopify App Store or custom pixels. It’s recommended to explore pixel apps before opting for a custom pixel to ensure a secure and optimized integration experience. For a glimpse into future use cases, refer to the Checkout Extensibility roadmap.

Make the Switch from Checkout.liquid to Checkout Extensibility with Verz Digital Today.

Upgrading from Checkout.liquid to Checkout Extensibility on Shopify Plus is a strategic move that positions your online store for success in the ever-evolving world of e-commerce. By embracing advanced customization, optimizing the user experience, and ensuring flexibility for future growth, you’re not just upgrading your checkout process – you’re future-proofing your business. Take the leap, follow the steps outlined in this guide, and unlock the full potential of Shopify Checkout Extensibility for your brand.

While upgrading to Checkout Extensibility brings numerous benefits, it’s essential to be aware of potential challenges. Common issues may include compatibility with existing apps or themes. This is where Verz Digital PH comes in. Our team of professional developers can help address compatibility concerns before they become significant roadblocks.

Partnering with Verz Digital PH today to ensure a seamless migration, and unlock the full potential of Shopify Checkout Extensibility for your business. Call us at +63 920 914 8537 or email us at enquiry@verzdigital.com.ph for a free consultation!

Get Expert Assistance: Upgrade with Verz Digital PH

Ready to make the switch? Let Verz Digital PH, certified Shopify partners, guide you through a seamless upgrade to Checkout Extensibility. Upgrade confidently with expert assistance.