Similar to Amazon's One-Click Checkout, we should allow users with valid / validated CIM profiles to simply "Add to cart" and complete the order in one move. The order would essentially be created with their configured settings (Billing info, Shipping info, preferred card) the same way Amazon does, but instead of having the user go through Checkout and Review, would bring them immediately to a confirmation page. (The destination should be configurable too; for instance, maybe we want to keep a user on the catalog, or bring them back to the catalog?)

My idea would be this:
1. User hits Add to Cart
2. Direct user to Confirmation page to confirm the order
3. User clicks OK (or Cancel)
4. Return the user to configured destination.

I think it's doable, and for a modern commerce site, it would probably dramatically increase conversion rates. I'm not sure if this is something that should go into uc_cim or should become its own module (uc_skip_checkout perhaps?) but the functionality would rely on the CIM settings. Since the core CIM integration doesn't give us options to change user card data, this module is our best chance, IMO.

Comments

freelock’s picture

freelock
Location Seattle
commented

Hi,

Interesting idea. But there's a few things to consider: Amazon doesn't actually complete the checkout for a full hour, if I recall correctly. So there would need to be a timeout before finishing the order, to give the user a chance to go back and change their mind. Also to add more stuff to the order.

I would tend to think that's a separate module--there's lots of nice things about using authorize.net cim without wanting a one-click checkout, and I think you would want to be careful about where you use this--could piss off a lot of people if it's not totally clear (and more bug-free than it is now!)

How about something like this: a checkbox and countdown timer on a shopping cart block?

If the user is logged in, has stored cim details, and checks the box, then we auto-create an order and show a countdown timer until it's automatically placed?

There is one somewhat fundamental Ubercart flaw we've hit that might affect this: customers can't open/complete existing orders.

e.g. Customer adds stuff to cart, goes to checkout, clicks Review Order, then abandons cart. Ubercart creates an order and puts it in the "In Checkout" state. But there's no way to go back and complete this order, at least not that I've discovered. Which also gets in the way of having an administrator create an order, assign to a user account, and let the customer open the order and provide payment details and complete the checkout.

So I guess my point is, be sure the customer has an easy way of getting back in and canceling or modifying an existing order before implementing an auto-checkout feature!