Process flow
Checkout API enabled vs. disabled - Which should you choose?
Last updated
Checkout API enabled vs. disabled - Which should you choose?
Last updated
Process flow determines how the base products and extra product options are processed on your checkout. Optionally, there are two methods of processing checkouts:
Checkout API enabled: Via Checkout API (provided by Shopify)
Checkout API disabled: Creation of new product variants (New variation flow)
Visit Settings tab in EXPO app.
In the Process flow section, enable it to activate Checkout API mode, and disable it to activate the New Variation flow.
It can be summarised in the following table:
Checkout process
Use Shopify's Checkout API to create items and complete checkouts
Create product variant of the form #EXPO
Product options in admin
No new variants created
New variants created with unique ID (eg. #EXPO12345)
Order history in admin
Your order shows "from EXPO ‑ Extra Product Options (via import)" as sales channel
Your order shows "from Online Store" as sales channel
Line items
Line items with extra fees showing on cart, checkout, and email templates
Line items not showing. Extra fees are included in the product item's price
Adding to cart
Normal
It has a minor delay while adding item(s) to cart
Compatibility
Limited integrations with third party apps that interfere in the checkout process
Works with third party apps like bulk discounts, bundles, and tiered pricing apps
Price formula
Unavailable
Supported
Stock/Inventory
Unavailable
Supported
If you select Checkout API as your checkout process flow, the product add-ons/fees will show as separate line items.
Please refer to the images below:
Base product is a t-shirt, which costs $90
Add-on product is "Simple Upgrade" option, which costs $88
Below you will some other differences between the New Variation flow & Checkout API:
In Checkout API, it uses Shopify's API to create abandoned checkout so the checkout page is not the same as the default in some places, and New Variation flow will create product variant of the form #EXPO.
When you enable Checkout API mode, the checkbox ‘Use as price’ of option type Number is disabled so you can’t use the value as price. But in New Variation flow mode, you can check ‘Use as price’ and use the value of option type number as price and you can customize Price formula.
In checkout, Checkout API mode will show the text: ’Selections will add … to the product single price’ when the client selects the options to add to the cart and show all decrease prices as discount fees and increase prices or additional cost as extra fees. But New Variation flow is not, it only shows the text: ’Selections will add … to the product single price’ and don’t display specific items in check out.
