What is an Online Shopping Cart?

April 23, 2024

Here is the illustration of an online shopping cart, designed in a colorful and modern style.

Merchant Account Online Shopping Cart Explained:

An online shopping cart is a piece of software used on e-commerce websites to facilitate purchasing products or services over the internet. Think of it like a physical shopping cart you use at the grocery store: as you browse items on a website, you can add products you want to buy to your online shopping cart. This cart keeps track of what you’ve chosen, allowing you to review your selections, make changes like adding more items or removing items, and see the total cost before making a purchase.

When you’re ready to buy, the shopping cart leads you through the checkout process. This involves entering your shipping information, choosing a payment method (like a credit card or PayPal), and finally confirming the purchase. The shopping cart software then works behind the scenes to process the transaction securely and ensure the order is sent to the business so they can fulfill it. Essentially, the online shopping cart makes it possible to shop and buy from online stores smoothly and securely.

Best Practices in Selecting an Online Shopping Cart Software for Your Business

When selecting online shopping cart software, business owners should prioritize features that enhance usability and ensure robust functionality. Key attributes include ease of navigation, flexible customization options, and mobile compatibility to accommodate shoppers on various devices. The software should also support multiple payment gateways to provide customers with diverse payment options. Scalability is important, allowing the platform to handle increases in product volumes and transaction frequencies as the business grows. Effective shopping cart software will also include tools for analyzing sales data, which can aid in making informed business decisions and improving marketing strategies.

Comparing Popular Online Shopping Cart Platforms

When comparing popular shopping cart platforms, it’s important for business owners to assess each option based on factors such as cost, ease of integration with different merchant accounts, customer support, and overall reliability. Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento offer varying features that cater to different business sizes and needs. Shopify provides a user-friendly interface with extensive customer support, making it suitable for newcomers to e-commerce. WooCommerce, a plugin for WordPress, allows for extensive customization and control, ideal for those who already use WordPress. Magento, on the other hand, is best suited for larger businesses that require a highly scalable solution with powerful features. The choice of platform should align with the business’s operational needs and future growth expectations.

About The Author

Phillip Parker

Phillip Parker is the founder, creator and author of this website. He is a payments industry expert, business consultant, and web developer. Since 2009, he has researched over 1,000 merchant services providers and published hundreds of payment education-related articles. His work has received national recognition and his expertise is regularly sought by large media outlets such as CNN, MSN, and INC Magazine among dozens of others. Learn more...

How Phillip Can Help You

Schedule a call with Phillip to get answers to your payment processing questions. Please note that Phillip's expertise focuses on merchant services within the U.S.

Credit card processing costs are complex and often difficult to understand. Hire Phillip to help you optimize your processing costs to the lowest possible rates without switching processors, trading out payment acceptance equipment, or modifying your processes.

Starting a new business or ready to find a new processor? Selecting the right merchant services provider is a crucial component of running successful business. Check out Phillip's processor picks see which companies offer the best services at the lowest costs or schedule a call today to learn how to get custom recommendations for you payment needs.

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Hello and thank you for visiting! I'm Phillip, the creator and author behind this website. My mission with CPO is to hold credit card processors accountable for their business practices. I do this by publishing my research on their policies, contracts, pricing, and client satisfaction. The goal of this research is to provide a comprehensive guide for achieving the lowest costs with the best providers. I have been publishing my findings since 2009, and my work has been recognized by national publications such as CNN, MSN, FOX, and INC Magazine, among many others.