Improving User Experience with the “Save for Later” Feature for BigCommerce

November 5, 2024 Admin

BigCommerce is a popular e-commerce platform that helps businesses of all sizes easily create and manage online stores.

In today’s competitive digital landscape, delivering an exceptional user experience (UX) is essential for online retailers to keep customers engaged and drive sales. One key way to enhance that experience is adding features that make shopping more convenient.

That’s where the “Save for Later” option comes in—it allows shoppers to bookmark items they’re interested in without committing to an immediate purchase.

With the help of a skilled BigCommerce development agency, retailers can seamlessly integrate this feature, improving customer satisfaction and increasing the chances of future sales.

Table of Contents

The Importance of a ‘Save for Later’ Feature

In today’s fast-paced world, online shoppers expect convenience and personalization. A seamless experience can make or break their engagement with a platform. Let’s explore why having a ‘Save for Later’ feature is essential for modern e-commerce.

1. Meeting Modern User Expectations

Shoppers expect websites to remember their preferences and offer flexible buying options.
Personalization isn’t just a luxury—it’s the new standard for retaining customers.

2. Tackling Common E-commerce Pain Points

Cart Abandonment: Many users abandon carts due to indecision or running out of time.
Choice Overload: With so many options, shoppers often feel overwhelmed and hesitate to complete purchases.
Temporary Distractions: Life gets busy, and not every purchase decision can happen immediately.

3. How ‘Save for Later’ Drives Results

Reduces Abandoned Carts: Customers can revisit saved products instead of losing items when ready.
Boosts User Retention: Saved products encourage shoppers to return and finish what they started.
Increases Conversions: When users know they can save products, they feel less pressured, making them more likely to convert later.

Key Benefits of the ‘Save for Later’ Feature

Enhances User Convenience

Shoppers can save products they like without the pressure to buy immediately.
When they’re ready, they can easily find and purchase those items.
This feature is perfect for people who need time to decide or compare options.

Encourages Repeat Visits

Saved items act as a gentle nudge, giving users a reason to return.
It builds engagement, increasing customers’ chances to revisit the site to check availability, prices, or new offers.

Reduces Cart Abandonment

Sometimes, shoppers add items to their carts but hesitate to buy immediately.
The ‘Save for Later’ feature allows them to remove items from the cart instead of abandoning it, reducing clutter and frustration.

Opens Personalization and Marketing Opportunities

Saved products provide valuable insights into a customer’s interests and preferences.
Businesses can send email reminders about saved items or recommend similar products, increasing the likelihood of a future purchase.

Implementing the ‘Save for Later’ Feature on BigCommerce

1. Built-in Options vs. Custom Development

Plugins and Apps: BigCommerce offers a variety of plugins in the marketplace to enable “Save for Later” functionality. Popular apps make it easy to implement without complex coding.
Custom Development: If the built-in apps don’t meet your needs, custom coding allows merchants to create a more personalized feature, though it may require developer assistance.

2. Customization Options

Branding Alignment: Merchants can customize the “Save for Later” button’s look and feel to match their site’s theme and colors.
User Experience (UX): Place the button within the cart or checkout page to ensure easy access and enhance user convenience.

3. Integration with Other Features

Wish Lists: Seamlessly link saved items with customer wishlists, encouraging future purchases.
Abandoned Cart Emails: Include reminders for saved products in follow-up emails to re-engage potential buyers.
Promotions: Tie promotions to saved items, offering discounts to convert interest into sales.

4. Technical Considerations

Ease of Setup: Plugins offer a fast setup, while custom solutions may take longer to implement.
Potential Challenges: Custom features may require troubleshooting, especially with integrations.
Support Resources: BigCommerce provides detailed documentation and customer support to assist with setup and maintenance.

Measuring the Impact of ‘Save for Later’

The ‘Save for Later’ feature can significantly shape customer behavior, but how do you know if it’s working? A few ways to track its impact effectively are mentioned below:

Key Metrics to Watch

Start by monitoring cart abandonment rates, conversion rates, and repeat visits. If people are saving items but not returning to purchase them, it might indicate room for improvement. Conversely, an uptick in return visits or delayed conversions could show the value of the feature in helping users finalize their decisions.

Metric	What it tells you
Cart Abandonment Rate	If it is high, customers might be using ‘Save for Later’ instead of checking out
Conversion Rate	A rise shows that saved items are translated into actual purchases
Repeat Visits	Tracks whether the feature encourages customers to come back and buy

Gathering User Feedback

Feedback is gold. Consider using surveys, in-app prompts, or follow-up emails to ask users if the ‘Save for Later’ feature improved their experience. This valuable qualitative data can reveal what’s working well and where further tweaks might enhance functionality.

For BigCommerce Partners, understanding user preferences through feedback is crucial to delivering a seamless shopping experience that keeps customers engaged and satisfied.

A/B Testing for Optimization

Not all designs are created equal. Use A/B testing to experiment with different feature versions—such as button placement, color schemes, design elements, or labels—and determine which version leads to higher conversions or better user engagement.

This method helps identify subtle improvements that can significantly enhance user interaction and overall performance.