One-Click Checkout in WooCommerce: How to Streamline the Checkout Process for Returning Customers

In today’s fast-paced eCommerce world, a smooth and efficient checkout process is critical to improving customer experience and boosting conversions. One feature that can significantly reduce cart abandonment and enhance user satisfaction is One-Click Checkout, which allows returning customers to skip the cart page and proceed directly to checkout.

In this article, we'll show you how to implement a One-Click Checkout functionality in WooCommerce, which not only bypasses the cart page but also pre-fills checkout details for returning customers, making the process even faster and more convenient.

Why One-Click Checkout?

The checkout process is often one of the primary pain points for online shoppers. A lengthy or complicated process can deter customers from completing their purchases, leading to high cart abandonment rates. By implementing a One-Click Checkout system, you can:

- Speed up the purchasing process, especially for returning customers.

- Increase conversion rates by reducing the friction of multiple checkout steps.

- Enhance the overall user experience, encouraging repeat business.

Let’s dive into how you can set this up in your WooCommerce store.

Step 1: Skip the Cart Page for Returning Customers

By default, WooCommerce takes users through a multi-step process: adding products to the cart, reviewing the cart, and finally proceeding to the checkout page. For returning customers, we can streamline this by bypassing the cart page altogether.

To do this, we can add a simple code snippet to the functions.php file of your active WordPress theme.

// Redirect users to the checkout page if they are logged in and have items in the cart.

add_filter('woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect', 'one_click_checkout_redirect');

function one_click_checkout_redirect($url) {

    // Check if user is logged in

    if (is_user_logged_in()) {

        // Skip cart page and go directly to the checkout page

        $checkout_url = wc_get_checkout_url();

        return $checkout_url;

    }

    return $url;

}        

What this code does:

- `woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect`: This filter hooks into WooCommerce’s add-to-cart process.

- User check: It checks if the user is logged in, and if so, redirects them to the checkout page instead of the cart page.

With this code, returning customers will skip the cart and go straight to the checkout page, reducing unnecessary steps in the purchase flow.

Step 2: Pre-Fill Checkout Fields for Returning Customers

Now that we've streamlined the navigation to the checkout page, we can take it a step further by pre-filling the checkout form with the customer's previously saved information. This allows returning customers to complete their purchase without re-entering their details.

Add the following code to the same functions.php file:

// Pre-fill checkout form for returning customers

add_filter('woocommerce_checkout_fields', 'prefill_checkout_fields_for_returning_customers');

function prefill_checkout_fields_for_returning_customers($fields) {

    $current_user = wp_get_current_user();

    // Check if user is logged in

    if (is_user_logged_in()) {

        // Pre-fill billing and shipping fields if customer details are already stored

        $fields['billing']['billing_first_name']['default'] = $current_user->billing_first_name;

        $fields['billing']['billing_last_name']['default'] = $current_user->billing_last_name;

        $fields['billing']['billing_email']['default'] = $current_user->user_email;

        $fields['billing']['billing_phone']['default'] = $current_user->billing_phone;

        $fields['billing']['billing_address_1']['default'] = $current_user->billing_address_1;

        $fields['billing']['billing_city']['default'] = $current_user->billing_city;

        $fields['billing']['billing_postcode']['default'] = $current_user->billing_postcode;

        $fields['billing']['billing_country']['default'] = $current_user->billing_country;

        // You can add similar pre-fill logic for shipping fields if necessary

    }

    return $fields;

}        

What this code does:

- `woocommerce_checkout_fields`: This filter modifies the default checkout fields.

- User data: If the user is logged in, their stored billing details (first name, last name, email, phone, address, etc.) are automatically filled in during the checkout process, saving them time and effort.

This feature significantly enhances the user experience by minimizing the amount of manual input required to complete a purchase, particularly for repeat customers.

Benefits of One-Click Checkout

Implementing this streamlined checkout process offers several key benefits:

1. Faster Transactions: By skipping the cart page and auto-filling customer details, the time to complete a transaction is drastically reduced.

2. Improved Customer Retention: Making the purchasing process easier for returning customers encourages loyalty and repeat business.

3. Increased Conversions: A more streamlined checkout process often leads to fewer abandoned carts and higher overall sales.

4. Enhanced User Experience: Customers appreciate convenience, and this feature demonstrates that your store values their time.

Optional Enhancements

- Apply only to frequent customers: You could enhance this functionality by applying the One-Click Checkout only to customers who have placed orders before. This can be done by checking the user's order history.

- Customization: If you'd like more flexibility, you can customize the checkout fields further, such as showing or hiding specific fields based on user roles or the type of product being purchased.

Conclusion

A streamlined, efficient checkout process is crucial for improving conversion rates and enhancing customer satisfaction. By implementing the One-Click Checkout for returning customers in WooCommerce, you're creating a more seamless shopping experience that encourages repeat business and reduces friction in the checkout process.

If you’re looking to enhance your WooCommerce store further, consider combining this with other features like dynamic pricing, product bundling, or subscription management.

Implementing these features is a relatively simple process, but the impact on your sales and customer loyalty can be significant.