Pre-Checkout vs Post-Checkout Verification

Overview

Cartsaver offers two verification strategies: Pre-Checkout (verify before order is created) and Post-Checkout (verify after order is created). This guide helps you understand when to use each approach and how to configure them for your store.

Understanding the Two Approaches

Pre-Checkout Verification

What it is: Customer must verify their phone number with OTP before the order is placed in Shopify.

Customer Flow: 1. Customer fills checkout form 2. Clicks "Complete Order" 3. OTP sent to customer phone 4. Customer enters OTP code 5. OTP verified ✅ 6. Order created in Shopify 7. Order is ready for fulfillment

Key Point: Order only appears in Shopify after successful verification.

Post-Checkout Verification

What it is: Order is created in Shopify first, then customer receives OTP to verify.

Customer Flow: 1. Customer fills checkout form 2. Clicks "Complete Order" 3. Order created in Shopify immediately 4. OTP sent to customer phone 5. Customer enters OTP code 6. OTP verified → Order marked as "verified" OR OTP failed/ignored → Order marked as "high risk" or auto-cancelled

Key Point: Order appears in Shopify immediately, but requires verification to process.

Pre-Checkout vs Post-Checkout Comparison

| Factor | Pre-Checkout | Post-Checkout | |——–|————–|—————| | When order appears in Shopify | After OTP verification | Immediately | | Customer experience | Must verify before confirmation | Order confirmed, then verify | | Abandoned checkouts | Higher (some don’t verify) | Lower (order already placed) | | Fake orders in system | None (blocked before creation) | Temporarily appear (until auto-cancelled) | | Fulfillment workflow | All orders are verified | Must filter unverified orders | | Best for | Fraud prevention priority | Customer experience priority |

When to Use Pre-Checkout Verification

✅ Use Pre-Checkout If:

1. Fraud Prevention is Your Top Priority

If you have high fake order rates (>15%), pre-checkout verification ensures fake orders never enter your system.

2. You Want Clean Analytics

Shopify reports show only real orders with no need to filter cancelled fake orders.

3. Your Fulfillment Team Wants Simplicity

All orders that appear are pre-verified and ready to ship immediately.

When to Use Post-Checkout Verification

✅ Use Post-Checkout If:

1. Checkout Conversion is Critical

Less friction at checkout means higher completion rates. Customer gets instant order confirmation.

2. You Want Instant Gratification for Customers

Customers receive immediate “Order Confirmed!” message, creating satisfaction before verification.

3. Low to Moderate Fraud Rates

If fake orders are <10% of total, post-checkout verification handles them well with auto-cancel.

Configuring Verification Placement

Step 1: Choose Your Strategy

1. Log in to Cartsaver Dashboard
2. Navigate to Settings → Verification Placement
3. Choose verification timing:
   • ⭐ Pre-Checkout Verification
   • ⭐ Post-Checkout Verification

Step 2: Configure Settings

Customize OTP expiry, retry limits, and automated actions based on your chosen strategy.