Usability Medium Priority 34% Adoption 3 Seconds Saved
The best designed checkouts use a single-page layout, where all forms and inputs are on a single page. Payment info, shipping info, and purchase review/confirmation should all be on one page. This enhances the checkout process in a few ways:
A well-crafted single-page checkout will always feel faster and simpler than a multi-page checkout.
Many websites use an unnecessarily long and tedious checkout process. Some sites expand it so there are separate pages each for carts, login, shipping address, shipping method selection, payment, and a review/confirmation page. Other sites seem to squish these together into a single page, but implement an accordion-style checkout that still slows down the user and puts more work between them and their purchase – and between you and their money.
Converting to a true single-page checkout means that the user will have all required inputs in front of them from the start. It also means users with slow internet connections won’t be slowed down by the time it takes to load each new page.
Faster checkout time means fewer cart abandonments, which means more conversions.
Put all required forms on a single page, and do away completely with any review/confirmation pages. These pages serve no purpose beyond giving the user a chance to change their mind and abandon their purchase
6pm employs an accordion-style checkout, which, though one-page, still must load individual stages, giving the checkout a multi-page feel.
Overstock employs a single-page checkout. Note that all forms are on a single page, making it feel quick and clear.
ToysRUs doesn't even try for a single-page checkout. As a result, it feels longer and effort-intensive for the user.
An optimal checkout makes guest checkouts the default choice. For customers that wish to login to their account, put that option at the top of your single-page checkout.
A review/confirmation page may seem nice for a user, but in reality it only provides them with another opportunity to rethink and abandon their purchase. Don't ask a user "Are you sure?" Just take the money.
With all required forms on a single page, extra attention should be given to ensuring you have a clean, intuitive layout. For example, shorter fields like City, State, and ZIP can be put on the same line.
Toys-R-Us uses a 5-page checkout. Note they make the checkout look a longer than necessary by counting the receipt page as a step.