What is shopping cart software?

One of the most important moments of the ecommerce experience is when a customer adds an item to their cart. This simple action happens in an instant, but it’s a strong indicator that a site visitor is ready to purchase. The digital shopping cart is a bridge that turns a browser into a buyer. And it’s all made possible by shopping cart software.

Shopping cart software is the engine that powers online sales; it's not just about holding items in a virtual cart. This ecommerce software is designed to manage the complex tasks of online shopping smoothly, connecting with other systems like payment gateways, inventory management, and customer data to create a hassle-free experience for buyers and sellers.

Here are the key features and benefits, and what to look for when choosing the right shopping cart software for your business.

• Shopping cart software defined
• Key features of shopping cart software
• Benefits of using shopping cart software
• How to choose the right shopping cart software
• How to optimize your online shopping cart
• Get started with shopping cart software

Shopping cart software is an ecommerce tool that enables businesses to create enjoyable, intuitive shopping and purchasing experiences. Imagine shopping without it: You wouldn’t be able to view your selected items together, couldn’t easily see your order total including tax and shipping, and there would be nowhere to hold items while you continued to shop.

Beyond facilitating sales, shopping cart software can also streamline business operations and help foster customer loyalty. When integrated with inventory management, payments, and CRM systems, businesses can keep better track of inventory, increase conversions, and minimize abandoned carts.

Not all shopping cart software is created equal. These solutions provide a wide range of features that help businesses manage their online stores effectively and offer a stellar customer experience. Here are some of the most critical features of shopping cart software that are essential for ecommerce success:

At any given moment, you have a finite number of items to sell. The best shopping cart software will give you an accurate, real-time view of all the inventory that’s in your customers’ carts so you can avoid overselling.

Your shopping cart software should easily integrate with various payment gateways to give customers a broad selection of secure payment options, from credit and debit cards to popular digital wallets. Built-in fraud detection and prevention measures are also critical to keep customer information safe and protect your business from fraudulent transactions during checkout.

Sometimes, customers will add items to their cart without following through on a purchase. Shopping cart software should include automated workflows that send emails and other notifications to help you recover lost sales and improve conversion rates.

Shopping cart software should automatically calculate shipping costs and taxes based on the customer's location and product specifications. This ensures that your customers receive accurate pricing and a smooth checkout experience, with no surprises.

If a customer adds an item to their cart while using your mobile app, the items should still appear in the cart when they continue shopping on their desktop. This makes shopping with your brand feel less like isolated sessions and more like a complete, seamless experience.

Once a shopper views their cart, they are one click away from a purchase. Shopping cart software should facilitate smooth, secure electronic payments, protecting your customers' financial information. Compliance with industry standards and regulations, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or PCI DSS , is critical to help ensure the security of online transactions. 

No matter what industry you’re in or who your customers are, the right shopping cart software will provide critical benefits and key differentiators for your business.

Imagine a seamless checkout process that effortlessly guides your customers through their purchases, reducing cart abandonment and increasing sales. Shopping cart software makes this a reality by simplifying the checkout experience, ensuring a smooth journey for your customers from browsing to buying.

But that's just the start. Shopping cart software with ecommerce analytics can help you truly understand your customers. By tracking their behavior, preferences, and shopping patterns, you can get valuable insights to help shape your product offerings, marketing strategies, and personalized experiences. This knowledge fosters customer loyalty and builds long-term relationships with your buyers.

Security and compliance are critical in e-commerce, and shopping cart software provides the necessary tools to protect your customers' information and ensure secure transactions. With robust security features and encryption protocols, sensitive data is shielded from unauthorized access, instilling confidence in your customers and fostering trust in your brand.

When it comes to ecommerce, the software you choose can significantly impact your success. Not all shopping cart software is created equal, and it’s important to choose wisely. Here are some important factors to consider as you make your decision.

First, evaluate the size and complexity of your business. For a small business with a limited product range, basic shopping cart software may be all you need. But if your sales process involves customizations and large orders, if your catalog is extensive, or if you sell technical, complex products, you may require a more robust shopping cart with advanced features and room for expansion.

Next, you'll want to evaluate the features and functionality of different shopping cart solutions. You should consider basic features like product management tools and inventory tracking, but there are also other things to take into account. For example, if you sell internationally, you will want a solution that can calculate taxes and shipping — without having to integrate with a third party. It will also be helpful if your shopping cart software can natively support payment and currency plug-ins from all leading providers.

And, of course, you’ll want to consider your budget. Most shopping cart software providers offer a variety of pricing plans, so it's important to compare the cost and benefits of each. Some platforms charge a monthly or annual subscription fee, while others charge transaction fees or a percentage of sales. Choose a plan that aligns with your budget and business model.

Peruse customer reviews and ratings from current users. This can offer valuable and trustworthy perspectives on the performance and reliability of different shopping cart software solutions. Pay attention to feedback on ease of use, customer support, and overall satisfaction. This information can help guide you to a well-informed decision based on the experiences of others.

Lastly, assess the level of support and customer service each solution offers. A dependable shopping cart software provider should offer a range of support resources, including documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer service. This ensures you have the necessary assistance to resolve any issues or questions that may arise during the software's setup and use.

By carefully evaluating these key factors, you can select the shopping cart software that best meets your business needs and ensures a smooth, intuitive shopping experience for your customers.

Optimizing your shopping cart experience is a great way to increase conversions and customer satisfaction. By implementing strategic improvements, you can create a seamless and user-friendly shopping journey that encourages customers to complete their purchases. Here are a few ways to enhance this important part of your digital storefront.

Offer incentives. Sometimes shoppers need a little extra nudge to turn a browsing session into an actual purchase. That’s where incentives like free shipping thresholds and other discounts can help. These encourage customers to add more items to their cart and follow through all the way to checkout. By implementing these offers, you can increase your average order value and conversions.

Keep checkout simple. If the journey from cart to checkout is too complicated, customers will lose interest and abandon their carts. To avoid this, simplify the checkout process by reducing the number of steps it takes to complete a purchase. Minimize the amount of information you request and consider offering a guest checkout option.

Be transparent. Unexpected fees and shipping costs are also a leading cause of cart abandonment. The solution? Be transparent and upfront about these. All costs associated with a customer’s order should be clearly displayed on the shopping cart page. Don’t wait until the final checkout screen to tell customers their total cost.

Implement a “sticky” shopping cart. A sticky cart refers to one that retains items even if a customer leaves your website or closes their browser. This way, customers can easily pick up where they left off without having to search for products they’ve already selected.

Create clear, prominent calls-to-action. Your shopping cart page should be intuitive — and that means clear, easily scannable information. The “Buy” button should be prominent, and all the necessary details about selected items should be easily findable. This includes selected size, product images, prices, and order total. Use persuasive language and contrasting colors to make important details stand out.

Personalize the shopping cart experience. The shopping cart is the last page shoppers see before a purchase. Make it count by displaying personalized product recommendations or special offers based on customers' browsing history or previous purchases. This tailored approach enhances customer engagement and increases the likelihood of conversions.

By optimizing your online shopping cart with these strategies, you can improve the customer experience, drive conversions, and elevate your ecommerce business to new heights.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur starting a small business or you’re an enterprise commerce leader, shopping cart software is the beating heart of online sales. Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a complete platform that helps you create and optimize every part of the commerce journey — from product discovery to the shopping cart and checkout.