Latest Tips for Shopify Customized Checkout Migration in 2023

by  YJ Ma

Updated: March 06, 2024

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Published: May 22, 2023

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8 mins read

What is checkout.liquid & new checkout extensibility?

New checkout extensibility is custom or public apps that can be installed via the Shopify App Store to add custom features or modifications to the Shopify checkout process. Checkout extensions are easy to install and update. On the other hand, checkout.liquid is the old way of customizing the Shopify checkout process, which involves editing the checkout.liquid file directly. However, this method was time-consuming and expensive, often resulting in sub-par buyer experiences and poor performance. With the introduction of checkout extensions, Shopify Plus merchants can customize their checkout using powerful apps and branding tools instead of editing code. The deprecation of checkout.liquid for certain pages in the checkout process was announced by Shopify, and this will require Shopify Plus merchants to upgrade to Checkout Extensibility.

Why is Shopify new checkout extensibility better?

Shopify merchants can use Checkout Extensibility to make code-free customizations to their checkout using apps and develop custom apps for bespoke customizations using a collection of components and APIs. Shopify Plus users can leverage checkout extensibility to tailor the Information, Shipping, and Payment pages on Shopify's Checkout.liquid to their needs. The app-based model allows admins to customize their checkout quickly without touching a code line. Custom fields can be leveraged to collect additional information from buyers, such as delivery instructions or requests for sustainable packaging. Checkout UI extensions allow app developers to build custom functionality that a Shopify Plus merchant can simply drag and drop into designated placements in the checkout flow. Shopify Functions allows developers to customize native Shopify server-side business logic, and the Checkout Branding API allows merchants to tailor the look and feel of the checkout to be in keeping with the rest of the store.

It offers additional security measures to safeguard sensitive client data and lower the likelihood of fraud. It is optimized for mobile, which is important since 70% of customers proceed with their purchases using mobile devices. Shopify's default checkout will become a one-page experience later this year, making it even quicker for customers to complete their purchases. With checkout extensibility tools, there are five ways to tailor the Shopify checkout to a merchant's needs, not forgetting Shop Pay.

Checkout UI extensions enable app developers to build custom functionality that a Shopify Plus merchant can simply drag and drop into designated placements in the checkout flow. Custom and public apps can be developed using checkout UI extensions, creating huge potential for app developers. Shopify functions allow developers to customize native Shopify server-side business logic. Checkout Branding API enables merchants to tailor the look and feel of the checkout so it is in keeping with the rest of the store. Overall, Shopify checkout extension provides a faster, upgrade-safe way for brands to customize their checkout using powerful apps and branding tools instead of editing code, making it a better option for merchants who want to improve their checkout experience and increase conversions.

Unlike the old way of customizing Shopify Checkout. Checkout extensibility replaces the need for checkout.liquid, which is deprecated and will no longer work for in-checkout pages on August 13, 2024. Any brands that customize their in-checkout pages with checkout.liquid will need to upgrade to checkout extensibility. The new Shopify checkout extensibility provides merchants with a powerful API that empowers them to create a checkout process that works for them and their customers, increasing revenue and customer loyalty.

The context provided helps to further explain the benefits of using Checkout Extensibility over Checkout Liquid. Checkout Extensibility offers a more flexible and upgrade-safe way to customize the checkout process using powerful apps and branding tools instead of editing code like in Checkout Liquid. With Checkout UI Extensions and Custom Fields, merchants can tailor their checkout experience by adding delivery instructions fields, upselling recommended products, and collecting additional information such as special care instructions, sustainable packaging requests, and gift messages to add a personal touch to the order.

Payment and shipping extensions also allow merchants to integrate third-party payment providers and add new shipping providers to the checkout page, giving customers more options and increasing conversion rates. Additionally, Checkout UI Extensions enable merchants to transform the look and feel of their checkout page, adding custom branding elements and designing a unique checkout page that stands out from the competition. Overall, Checkout Extensibility offers increased flexibility and control over the Shopify checkout process, making it a no-brainer for merchants looking to improve the customer experience and drive sales.

Merchants can create custom banners at checkout and choose where to display them. Additionally, Shopify Functions allow brands to customize payment and shipping options to improve their conversion rates. For example, brands can present unique shipping options based on criteria or reorder payment options to highlight the most popular ones. Compared to checkout liquid Shopify scripts, checkout extensibility provides more customization opportunities and is built on the latest platform technology, resulting in a faster checkout experience as Shopify is deprecating checkout.liquid, merchants who have customized their checkout using this script will need to upgrade to checkout extensibility before August 13, 2024. Overall, checkout extensibility is a powerful tool that can help merchants improve their checkout process and boost their conversion rates.

Overall, upgrading or migrating to new Shopify checkout extensibility is a wise choice for business owners who value a customized checkout experience for their customers.

How to migrate from checkout.liquid to Shopify checkout extensibility?

Shopify Plus merchants can no longer request access to checkout.liquid. Instead, they can customize by installing apps from the Shopify Apps Store or developing their custom apps. Checkout extensions offer a lot of flexibility, as they can be used to add any custom feature or modification to the checkout process.

Shopify Plus merchants can leverage checkout extensibility to tailor the Information, Shipping, and Payment pages to their needs. One way to enable checkout.liquid layout for certain features is to navigate to their Online Store > Themes page, click on the menu icon of their active theme and click Edit code, and then click "Add a new layout" under the Layout menu. If there is already a checkout.liquid layout present, there is no need to add another one. However, if there isn't one already, select "checkout" from the drop-down list, and press "Create layout". If the option "checkout" is unavailable in the drop-down, Shopify Plus merchants must contact Shopify support to enable it. It's worth noting that enabling or disabling checkout.liquid requires contacting Shopify support.

AfterShip Personalization is your perfect choice to migrate and upgrade.

AfterShip checkout upsells, or AfterShip Personalization, is a powerful tool to help businesses customize their checkout pages. To use checkout extensibility through Aftership Personalization, Shopify Plus store owners can install AfterShip checkout upsell from Shopify App Store. This allows for adding custom payment and shipping options, order notes, gift-wrapping options, and additional fields to collect important information from customers.

AfterShip Personalization is your perfect choice to migrate and upgradeAfterShip Personalization is your perfect choice to migrate and upgrade

To migrate from checkout.liquid to Checkout Extensibility/Extension, Shopify Plus merchants can use the new suite of Checkout Extensibility features and components to build the checkout experiences they want. This includes Checkout UI extensions, Checkout branding API, Shopify Functions, Post-purchase checkout extensions, and Web pixel app extensions. Existing customizations on checkout.liquid will no longer work, so merchants with these customizations on in-checkout pages will need to upgrade to Checkout Extensibility before this date.

To optimize the Shopify Plus checkout page, you can customize it using various techniques, such as adding trust badges, providing transparency about the purchase, and reducing uncertainty about the product or service. Once you've implemented these techniques, it's important to run a split test and compare the performance of your customized checkout to a regular "blank" checkout. This will help you determine which techniques work best for your business and which ones you should continue using. By optimizing the checkout page and running split tests, you can improve the checkout experience for your customers and increase conversions. These features can help you further optimize your checkout page and increase revenue.

AfterShip Personalization is an effective way to customize the Shopify checkout page easily and quickly without complex development work. This app allows merchants to add features like upsell offers on checkout and post-purchase pages. This can encourage customers to buy more from your store, which can significantly impact your bottom line.

Additionally, merchants can use custom banner messages, display payment and shipping methods with payment and delivery customizations, and allow customers to leave comments. For post-purchase pages, merchants can use AfterShip Peersonalization to add upsell offers.

So why wait? Sign up for a free trial of AfterShip Personalization today, and start customizing your checkout experience immediately!

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