Checkout
The checkout represents the final step in the purchasing process of an online shop. This is where your customers enter their delivery details, choose a payment method and confirm the order. The checkout is one of the most critical points in e-commerce — this is where it is decided whether a shopping cart becomes a purchase or is abandoned.
There are different checkout variants: The Hosted Checkout redirects your customers to the payment provider's page. The Embedded Checkout integrates the payment form directly into the shop page. And the Guest Checkout allows an order without registration — which typically increases the conversion rate.
For checkout optimisation, the selection of payment methods is crucial. Swiss customers expect TWINT, credit cards and often purchase on account. Missing preferred payment methods are one of the most common reasons for shopping cart abandonment.
Checkout examples
An online shop offers Visa, Mastercard, TWINT and purchase on account at checkout. You can choose your preferred method.
A hosted checkout redirects you to a secure payment page of the PSP, where you enter your card details.
A shop introduces a guest checkout and increases its conversion rate by 15% because you no longer need to register.
Checkout FAQ
What is a checkout in an online shop?
The checkout is the payment process where your customers enter their order details, choose a payment method and complete the purchase. It is the final step in the buying process.
What is the difference between Hosted Checkout and Embedded Checkout?
With hosted checkout, customers are redirected to the payment provider's page. With embedded checkout, the payment form is integrated directly into the shop page — without redirection.
How can you improve the checkout conversion?
Offer your target audience's preferred payment methods, enable a guest checkout without registration, reduce the number of form fields and display shipping costs at an early stage.
Which payment methods should your Swiss checkout offer?
For Swiss shops, Visa/Mastercard, TWINT, PostFinance Pay, Apple Pay and purchase on account are the most important payment methods. The optimal choice depends on your target group and industry.
