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ShipperHQ Checkout Compatibility Guide

Understanding how ShipperHQ integrates with your platform's checkout is essential for ensuring a smooth customer experience.

Overview

ShipperHQ is designed to provide accurate shipping rates and options during the checkout process. Understanding how ShipperHQ integrates with your platform's checkout is essential for ensuring a smooth customer experience.

How ShipperHQ is Designed to Work

ShipperHQ is built to integrate seamlessly with native checkout pages on e-commerce platforms and built-in cart calculators that are part of your theme or platform.

Native Checkout Integration

ShipperHQ works directly with the standard checkout flow provided by platforms such as:

  • Magento (Adobe Commerce) - Native checkout page.
  • Shopify - Native checkout page.
  • BigCommerce - Native checkout page.
  • WooCommerce - Native checkout page.

When using the native checkout, ShipperHQ:

  • Receives cart details from the platform.
  • Calculates shipping rates based on your configured rules.
  • Returns available shipping options to display to the customer.
  • Updates dynamically as customers modify their cart or shipping address.

Built-in Cart Calculator Integration

ShipperHQ also integrates with cart calculators that are native to your theme or platform, such as:

  • Mini cart shipping estimates built into your theme.
  • Cart page calculators that are part of the standard platform functionality.

These integrations rely on the platform's standard API endpoints and data structures to provide real-time shipping estimates.

Third-Party Applications and Custom Checkouts

Compatibility Limitations

ShipperHQ cannot guarantee compatibility with third-party applications, custom checkouts, or digital wallets that operate outside the native checkout flow.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Third-party checkout solutions (e.g., custom one-page checkouts, checkout builders).
  • Digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal Express Checkout, Shop Pay when used outside the native flow).
  • Custom-built checkout pages that don't use platform-standard APIs.
  • Third-party cart calculators or shipping estimate tools.
  • Mobile apps with custom checkout implementations.

Why Compatibility May Vary

Third-party applications and digital wallets may:

  1. Bypass standard platform APIs - They might use custom endpoints or data structures that don't trigger ShipperHQ's rate calculation.
  2. Have different data formats - The cart data may be formatted differently than what ShipperHQ expects.
  3. Process checkout differently - The sequence of operations may differ from the native flow.
  4. Cache or pre-calculate rates - Some solutions calculate shipping before reaching the platform's shipping engine.
  5. Have their own integration requirements - They may require specific configurations or custom development.

Working with Third-Party Solutions

If you're using third-party applications or digital wallets:

  1. Test thoroughly - Always test the complete checkout flow with ShipperHQ to verify shipping rates display correctly.
  2. Check with the vendor - Contact the third-party application vendor to confirm ShipperHQ compatibility.
  3. Review documentation - Some third-party solutions have specific integration guides for shipping rate providers.
  4. Consider alternatives - If compatibility issues arise, you may need to:
    • Use the native checkout flow instead.
    • Request custom development from the third-party vendor.
    • Disable the incompatible feature.
    • Contact ShipperHQ support for guidance on known workarounds.

Digital Wallet Considerations

Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal Express often present unique challenges:

  • They may require shipping rates before the customer enters a full address.
  • They operate in a streamlined flow that bypasses traditional checkout steps.
  • They may cache shipping options in ways that don't update with cart changes.
  • Platform implementations of wallet buttons vary in how they integrate with shipping extensions.

Recommendation: Always test digital wallet checkout flows specifically when using ShipperHQ, as behavior can differ significantly from standard checkout.

Best Practices for Optimal Compatibility

To ensure the best experience with ShipperHQ:

  1. Use native checkout pages whenever possible.
  2. Test all checkout paths including guest checkout, logged-in customers, and any enabled digital wallets.
  3. Keep platform and ShipperHQ extensions updated to the latest compatible versions.
  4. Document any customizations made to your checkout process.
  5. Contact support early if implementing third-party checkout solutions.

Getting Help

If you're experiencing shipping rate issues with third-party applications or custom checkouts:

  1. Verify the issue occurs on the native checkout. This helps determine if it's a ShipperHQ configuration issue or a compatibility issue.
  2. Contact ShipperHQ Support with this information if the behavior can be replicated on native checkout. While we can't guarantee compatibility, our team can provide guidance if the issues persist on a native checkout and offer potential workarounds.
  3. If ShipperHQ support determines that rates are appearing as expected, with the native checkout, then please reach out to your developer team, the wallets support team, or the platforms support team, for further assistance with wallets, 3rd party apps, or custom checkout modifications. 

Summary

  • ShipperHQ is designed to work with native checkout pages and built-in cart calculators.
  • Compatibility with third-party applications and digital wallets cannot be guaranteed.
  • Always test thoroughly when using custom checkout solutions.
  • Contact support early in your implementation for the best results.