In any e-commerce business, building customer trust plays a major role in achieving long-term success. It’s worth noting that for many consumers in the Philippines, there’s still some hesitation when it comes to buying from online stores. Without seeing the product in person or interacting with a physical store, it’s natural to feel uncertain about a purchase. However, this doesn’t mean trust can’t be built. In fact, there are many touchpoints in the online shopping journey where businesses can show they are credible and are a secure platform to buy from.
One key moment where trust can either grow or fade is during the checkout process. This is the final step in the customer’s journey, where they decide whether to complete the purchase. When done right, a smooth and secure checkout flow can reinforce that the store is legitimate and easy to transact with, which are qualities that build loyalty over time.
The good news is that building trust doesn’t always require a complete overhaul of your website. Sometimes, small yet thoughtful changes to the checkout experience are enough to make a significant difference. In this article, we’ll explore practical tweaks you can implement to make your checkout process more trustworthy and inviting for repeat business.
1. Use a Trusted Payment Gateway and Offer Multiple Options
A powerful way to boost buyer confidence is by using a secure and trusted payment gateway, like Maya Checkout. If your e-commerce store runs on Shopify, consider using the Maya Plugin for Shopify, which lets you easily install this third-party payment gateway Shopify-based businesses trust. Just make sure to sign up for a Maya Business account to access this solution.
What makes Maya Checkout great is thatit supports a wide range of payment options that cater to the preferences of Filipino shoppers, allowing you to accept credit and debit card payments, as well as payments via e-wallet and QR Ph. When customers see that your website has a Shopify payment gateway Philippine customers already use extensively, they are more likely to proceed with the transaction.
2. Display Trust Signals Throughout the Checkout Process
In a digital shopping environment, trust signals serve as important visual reassurances that your site is legitimate and secure. These subtle elements can make a big difference in converting hesitant shoppers.
Throughout the checkout process, make sure to include visible trust indicators such as SSL security badges (like the lock icon and “https://” in your URL), payment provider logos (Maya, Visa, and Mastercard), and customer testimonials or ratings if available.
3. Offer Guest Checkout to Reduce Friction
One common reason for cart abandonment is the requirement to register or create an account before proceeding to checkout. While collecting customer information is important for marketing and retention, forcing account creation upfront can drive away potential buyers. As many online shoppers value speed and privacy, offering a guest checkout option is a smart move.
This feature allows customers to complete their transaction without the extra steps of registration, helping to reduce hesitation and streamline the buying process. After the purchase is complete, you can still invite them to create an account by highlighting benefits like order tracking and exclusive discounts. This way, you show that you value their time while also leaving the door open for long-term engagement.
4. Enable Order Summary Transparency
A transparent and easy-to-understand order summary is also essential to building trust at the final stage of checkout. Shoppers should be able to review a complete breakdown of their order before confirming payment. This includes the product list, item quantities, applied discounts, taxes (if any), shipping costs, and the total amount to be charged.
When this information is clearly presented in one place, customers feel more in control of their purchase. It avoids confusion and helps prevent unnecessary backtracking. On the other hand, vague or cluttered summaries can lead to frustration and last-minute abandonment.
5. Simplify Discount Code Application
While offering discounts, promo codes, or vouchers is a proven way to encourage purchases, a poorly designed discount field can easily frustrate users. If your discount input section is hard to find or doesn’t work properly, it could actually cause customers to abandon their carts out of annoyance.
To avoid this, make sure your promo code field is prominently displayed, ideally before the final payment step. Consider auto-applying the best available promo or showing eligible codes directly in the cart or checkout page. You can also use prompts like “Have a voucher?” to encourage customers to enter a code without disrupting the flow. The easier it is for buyers to redeem their discounts, the more seamless and enjoyable their experience will be.
6. Add a Progress Indicator to the Checkout Process
Another simple yet highly effective tweak is adding a checkout progress indicator, which is a visual tool that shows shoppers where they are in the checkout process. Whether you’re using a linear bar with labels like “Cart > Shipping > Payment > Confirmation” or numbered steps, this small feature helps set expectations and reduce anxiety.
When customers know how many steps remain, they’re less likely to abandon their cart out of impatience or confusion. A clear, step-by-step guide also makes your checkout process feel more structured and efficient, which, in turn, contributes to an overall sense of professionalism and care.
Encourage Customers to Trust Your Business with Maya Business Solutions
If you want your customers to stay until checkout and come back for repeat business, sign up for Maya Business. It lets you access a payment gateway Shopify-based businesses already know to be easy to install and built to provide seamless checkout experiences.
When you set up a Maya Business account, you can later open a Maya Business Deposit account and use it as your settlement account. With an industry-leading 2.5% per annum interest rate, you’ll earn PHP 25,000 in interest per year on a PHP 1 million deposit. Furthermore, you’ll be able to send money to your partners and suppliers for free via InstaPay and PESONet, letting you save more.
Signing up also qualifies you for a no-collateral Maya Flexi Loan offer of up to PHP 2 million in just 3 months, allowing you to have another funding source to further develop your business. Just use Maya as your primary processor for all wallet and card payments. The more you use our solutions, the better the loan offer will be.
Sign up for Maya Business today and enjoy the benefits of Maya Business solutions.
