Subscription Management in Shopify Native Checkout

Shopify’s native checkout pages are easy to set up, and well-integrated with its stores. They are convenient for customer use as well, as customers don’t have to be redirected to an external page. However, they do pose limitations on subscription businesses, as they cannot establish recurring payment flows.

While opting for third-party checkout seems like a great option to overcome such limits, not all businesses are comfortable with that. Some prefer keeping checkout processes within Shopify, for more seamless operations.

Fortunately, now businesses can do both: stick with their native checkout, and build recurring payment flows. Let’s find out how you can access subscription management while staying in your Shopify native checkout.

Limitations Posed by Shopify Native Checkout

As of yet, Shopify does not offer direct support for subscription workflows or recurring billing. These are some challenges subscription stores face while using its checkout:

Checkout is designed for one-time purchases

The Shopify native checkout does not cater to subscription payments on its own. Not if the merchant doesn’t use specialized subscription apps offered by Shopify. Shopify doesn’t facilitate automatic subscription creation either. Meaning, merchants have to keep manual records of subscriptions.

No tools to manage subscriptions

There is no system in place that lets your customers modify their subscription plans. They can only request changes manually, and the merchant has to implement them manually as well. They cannot handle billing updates or prorate charges automatically. There is no pre-built option for subscription cancellation as well.

Billing cycles cannot be set up

Since the native checkout doesn’t facilitate recurring payments, it also doesn’t allow the setup of multiple billing cycles. If a store offers, say, monthly subscription, then it has to keep track to its customer’s monthly cycles itself, and bill them on accurate dates.

Payments cannot be collected automatically

There is no way for merchants to fetch recurring payments automatically, or use different gateways. They have to create payment reminders for their customers and send them manually. This can cause payment delays, and merchants might actually miss collecting some payments too.

While manual processes can work for merchants with a limited number of subscribers, they can be extremely inefficient for those aiming big. They require a subscription management app to automate their key tasks, and promote scalability.

Using SubscriptionFlow to Enable Subscription Management in Native Checkout

SubscriptionFlow is a dedicated subscription management platform, also available within Shopify as an app. When customers enable it in Shopify, it integrates with their native checkout. It fetches their customers’ order data from the checkout automatically when they sign up. This information is then utilized in order to form their subscriptions.

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Here’s how this app assists merchants in handling subscriptions without exceeding Shopify native checkout:

Creates Subscriptions Based On Checkout Data

When new subscribers sign up through the native checkout, SubscriptionFlow retrieves their order data automatically. It uses this information to create customers and their subscriptions in its system. Merchants can clearly view all their customers and their plan information in SubscriptionFlow.

They can also segment customers according to their plans and subscription type. Once a customer’s subscription is created, it continues uninterruptedly until cancelled.

Sets Up Recurring Billing Cycles

Subscriptions don’t work without recurring payments. That’s why setting up recurring billing workflows is of utmost importance. SubscriptionFlow bills your customers according to your pre-set subscription cycles. Their billing dates are usually the dates on which they sign up.

This saves a lot of manual effort, and payments are automated. Merchants don’t have to track payment cycles themselves. Customer don’t have to pay manually as well, unless that’s what they prefer.

Supports Custom Cycles

With this subscription management app, merchants can create a variety of billing cycles. Both traditional (such as monthly), and unique (such as bi-monthly) ones can be enabled. Different subscription plans can be created and displayed inside Shopify stores based on these cycles. They can also be assigned flexible pricing.

Automates Renewals

Every customer’s subscription can be renewed automatically, thanks to automatic recurring payments. This leaves no room for unintentional payment delays or losses. This feature ensures that the customers’ subscription journey goes without hiccups caused by operational inefficiencies.

Retries Payments

SubscriptionFlow supports the payment retry feature, as it is invaluable for subscription ecommerce stores. Merchants can face unexpected payment failures that can impact their renewal rate negatively. To combat this issue, they can utilize payment retries, and fetch their pending funds as soon as possible.

Customers’ payment issues can sometimes persist even after retries due to their card expiration or fund shortage. In such cases, merchants can fall back on other dunning strategies also supported by SubscriptionFlow. These include automatically sending payment reminders and dunning emails, among others.

Manages Customer Accounts

This is a core part of subscription management, and entails adjusting and updating customers’ accounts when required. SubscriptionFlow offers self-service portals for customers in which they can manage their own subscriptions.

They are allowed to switch their plans, update payment method, modify payment information, update personal data, view past invoices, and do a lot more. This can reduce administrative burden for merchants, as they don’t have to entertain each customer’s request manually.

In case of any changes initiated by customers, SubscriptionFlow updates their account automatically. Subscription modifications can also be initiated by the merchant. Such as renewing a customer’s subscription manually, pausing or cancelling it, enabling a payment grace period, etc.

Allows Application of Discounts

Merchants can offer discounts on subscription plans in their store. SubscriptionFlow can apply these discounts on the charges of the customers subscribed to those plans. Merchants can specify discount duration, such as for 3 subscription cycles, and the app handles them accordingly.

How Does This Benefit Shopify Merchants?

This is how Shopify stores benefit from enabling subscription management with their native checkout:

Seamless Checkout Experience for Customers

Your customers get a smooth and unified payment experience, as they are not redirected to an external checkout. They shop, choose checkout, and pay while remaining on the same page. This accelerates checkout completion and payment collection.

No Complicated Setup Required

Merchants don’t need to go the extra mile integrating with external checkouts. They can use their native one perfectly well, and begin onboarding subscribers in no time. This is especially advantageous for merchants who prefer simple solutions, and want to stay within their Shopify system while welcoming new subscribers.

Automated Workflows

Merchants can automate their key subscription management tasks using SubscriptionFlow. They can create subscriptions for their new customers, bill customers on a repeat basis, renew their subscriptions, apply discounts, and do a lot more without putting in manual effort.

Access to Advanced Billing

Businesses leveraging the SubscriptionFlow app get to utilize their easy-to-configure native checkout, and at the same time access advanced billing features too. They can manage their products and acquire new customers via their Shopify storefront, while fulfilling their billing needs in SubscriptionFlow.

With this app, they can actually unlock various billing models, such as volume and tiered pricing. It depends on the nature of their subscription offering.

Customer Management from a Single Platform

Merchants get to manage all their subscribers from the SubscriptionFlow app. No integrations with software outside Shopify’s ecosystem needed. In the subscription management platform, they can segment their customers however they like, monitor customer activity, view active and inactive subscriptions, update customers’ accounts, access invoice history, and much more.

If you’re also a Shopify merchant loyal to your native checkout, but also looking for advanced subscription management, look no further! Get the SubscriptionFlow app today, and start managing subscriptions like an expert.