BigCommerce launches open source extension to eCommerce platform

BigCommerce has launched Open Checkout, with the ultimate aim of bringing open source innovation to online checkout experiences.

BigCommerce is an Open SaaS eCommerce platform for fast-growing and established brands.

The latest release is an open source extension of the platform's native checkout built for merchants, developers and partners to design fully-customised checkout experiences.

With the global rollout of Open Checkout, BigCommerce is aiming to solidify its reputation as a SaaS eCommerce platform offering production-level checkout experiences with an open source front-end.

Open Checkout's front-end source code is publicly available now on GitHub.

Developed in React, the offering builds upon BigCommerce's Checkout SDK and jump-starts development of bespoke features and use cases.

This includes:

Branded Checkout Pages: Users can design a cohesive brand experience throughout the customer journey by adding custom CSS rules and JavaScript applications.

Modernised B2B Buying: Users can streamline B2B purchasing by inserting custom fields for buyers to enter account information, pay using a purchase order, or submit an order without collecting payment at checkout.

Adapt to New Retail Environments: Users can optimsie checkout pages to facilitate modern delivery options including buy online, pick-up in-store; schedule delivery dates; or facilitate pickup from shared locations like lockers and brick-and-mortar stores.

Customer Group Rules: Users can present a unique front-end interface using customer group rules to offer specific pricing, payment and shipping methods directly on the checkout page.

According to the company, Open Checkout's publicly available front-end source code enables brands to have more control with greater flexibility to define every pixel of their checkout page and build differentiated shopping experiences.

Additionally, Open Checkout leverages the same production-level source code that powers the platform's native checkout solution and is actively maintained by BigCommerce's global team of engineers, enabling developers to apply updates on-demand.

BigCommerce chief product officer Jimmy Duvall says, "Today's unveiling of BigCommerce's Open Checkout is an important milestone that advances BigCommerces Open SaaS strategy by leveraging the benefits of Open source without compromising the speed, security and simplicity that can only be achieved through a SaaS solution.

"By opening up the presentation layer, brands of all sizes selling on BigCommerce can create unique experiences that resonate with shoppers and streamline their path to purchase.

IntuitSolutions, an Elite BigCommerce Partner, is one of the first agencies to tap into Open Checkout to develop its Ebizio Checkout application, which includes six pre-built functionalities, including several of the aforementioned use cases.

IntuitSolutions chief marketing officer Eric Hansen says, "Throughout our partnership with BigCommerce, IntuitSolutions clients have greatly benefited from the custom applications we've been able to develop by building on top of an industry-leading checkout.

"Open Checkout's extensible architecture allowed our team to bring Ebizio Checkout to market faster than we had anticipated.