Skill: leooooooow/checkout-recovery (version 1.1.0)

--- name: Checkout Recovery description: Reduce payment failures and cart abandonment from checkout friction by auditing payment method coverage, error messaging, and retry flow design. --- # Checkout Recovery Reduce payment failures and cart abandonment from checkout friction by auditing payment method coverage, error messaging, and retry flow design. A shopper who reached payment intent is your highest-value prospect — losing them to a fixable friction point is the most expensive mistake in ecommerce operations. ## Quick Reference | Decision | Strong | Acceptable | Weak | |---|---|---|---| | Checkout completion benchmark | Platform norm ±5% | 10% below norm | 15%+ below norm without investigation | | Payment method coverage signal | Covers top 3 local rails for target market | Covers cards + 1 local option | Cards only in markets with dominant local wallets | | Error message quality | Actionable copy + retry suggestion | Generic error code displayed | No error shown or page crashes | | Retry sequence trigger | Automated within 1 hour of abandonment | Within 24 hours | Manual or absent | | Recovery channel stack | Email + SMS + push (where available) | Email only | No recovery sequence | | Forced account creation | Optional / guest checkout default | Account prompt post-purchase | Mandatory before checkout | | Checkout page length | Single page or 2-step max | 3-step with progress indicator | 4+ steps with no progress indicator | ## Solves 1. **Payment method gaps** — Selling into Southeast Asia, MENA, or Latin America without covering dominant local rails (GoPay, GrabPay, OXXO, STC Pay) means a large portion of buyers have no usable payment option. 2. **Opaque error messages** — Generic "payment failed" messages leave buyers stranded with no path forward, converting soft failures into hard churns. 3. **Missing retry logic** — Sellers with no abandoned checkout recovery sequence leave 60–80% of recoverable failures permanently lost. 4. **Forced account friction** — Requiring account creation before checkout kills conversion for first-time buyers, especially on mobile. 5. **Hidden shipping cost shock** — Showing shipping costs only at the final checkout step causes late-stage abandonment that gets misdiagnosed as payment failure. 6. **Weak card retry design** — Not prompting buyers to try a different card, use a wallet, or attempt a partial payment on high-value carts loses sales that a simple prompt would recover. 7. **Platform expansion readiness gaps** — Moving into a new geography without auditing payment coverage for that specific market wastes paid traffic before day one. ## Workflow ### Step 1 — Establish Your Checkout Funnel Baseline Collect the following metrics for the past 30 days: - **Add-to-cart rate**: % of product page views that result in an add-to-cart - **Cart-to-checkout initiation rate**: % of cart sessions that proceed to checkout - **Checkout initiation-to-completion rate**: % of initiated checkouts that result in a completed purchase - **Payment failure rate**: % of payment attempts that fail (if your platform exposes this) Platform benchmarks: TikTok Shop checkout completion ~65–75%; Shopify average ~50–60% across all verticals; mobile-first markets typically 5–10% lower due to checkout UX friction. ### Step 2 — Audit Payment Method Coverage by Market For each target market, list the top 3–5 payment methods by usage share. Compare against what you currently offer. Common gaps by region: - **Southeast Asia**: GoPay, OVO, Dana (Indonesia); GrabPay, Touch 'n Go (Malaysia/SG); PromptPay (Thailand); VNPay, MoMo (Vietnam) - **MENA**: STC Pay, Mada (Saudi Arabia); KNET (Kuwait); Fawry (Egypt); Tabby, Tamara (BNPL across MENA) - **Latin America**: OXXO, Mercado Pago (Mexico); Boleto, Pix (Brazil); PSE (Colombia) - **Europe**: iDEAL (Netherlands); SEPA Direct Debit; Klarna (BNPL across EU); Sofort (Germany/Austria) ### Step 3 — Review Error Message Copy Collect every error message a buyer might see during checkout. For each, evaluate: - **Clarity**: Does the buyer know what went wrong? ("Card declined" is better than "Error 4012") - **Actionability**: Does the message tell the buyer what to do next? ("Try a different card or use PayPal" is better than "Please try again") - **Tone**: Does the message maintain trust? Avoid accusatory language ("your card was rejected" vs. "we couldn't process that card") ### Step 4 — Evaluate Checkout UX Friction Points Review your checkout flow for these known high-impact friction patterns: - **Forced account creation** before payment (remove or make optional with guest checkout) - **Form field count** (each additional field reduces completion; remove non-essential fields) - **Shipping cost visibility** (show estimated shipping cost on product page or cart, not only at checkout) - **Mobile optimization** (test checkout on iPhone and Android; most ecommerce mobile checkout rates are 10–20% lower than desktop due to UX issues) - **Trust signals** (SSL badge, recognizable payment logos, money-back guarantee visible near the pay button) - **Progress indicator** (for multi-step checkouts, show which step the buyer is on) ### Step 5 — Assess Your Retry and Recovery Sequence Map your current abandoned checkout recovery stack: - **Timing**: When does the first recovery message send? (Best practice: within 1 hour for email, 30 minutes for push/SMS if opted in) - **Channel**: Do you use email only, or also SMS and push notifications? - **Sequence length**: How many touches in your recovery sequence? (Best practice: 3 touches over 48–72 hours) - **Copy quality**: Does the recovery message reference the specific product the buyer was purchasing? Does it include a direct link to resume checkout? - **Incentive timing**: If you offer a discount to recover, does it appear only on the 2nd or 3rd touch (not the first, which trains buyers to abandon to get discounts)? ### Step 6 — Prioritize and Build the Remediation Plan Rank findings by expected impact on checkout completion rate. Use this priority framework: 1. **Critical** (fix within 1 week): Payment method gaps causing >5% of target market to have no viable payment option; error messages that show raw error codes; no recovery sequence at all 2. **High** (fix within 2–4 weeks): Missing key retry prompt copy; forced account creation; hidden shipping costs; mobile checkout UX issues 3. **Medium** (fix within 4–8 weeks): Recovery sequence timing optimization; adding SMS/push to email-only stack; trust signal placement ### Step 7 — Output the Structured Recovery Report Produce the three-section output: Payment Coverage Gap Report, Friction Audit, and Recovery Roadmap. Include specific copy suggestions for error message rewrites and a retry sequence template where relevant. ## Examples ### Example 1 — Shopify DTC Brand Expanding to Southeast Asia **Input:** - Platform: Shopify store - Markets: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia - Payment methods currently supported: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay - Checkout completion rate: 48% (self-reported) - Error signals: "Payment failed" message with no additional context; support receives 5–10 tickets/week about payment errors **Output:** ``` PAYMENT COVERAGE GAP REPORT Market | Missing Payment Methods | Estimated Coverage Gap Singapore | PayNow, GrabPay, Atome (BNPL) | ~35% of mobile buyers prefer local rails Malaysia | Touch 'n Go eWallet, GrabPay, Boost, FPX | ~45% of buyers use local e-wallets primarily Indonesia | GoPay, OVO, Dana, QRIS, BCA Virtual Account | ~60% of buyers cannot pay with card only FRICTION AUDIT Issue | Severity | Finding Payment method coverage (SG) | Critical | No local wallet option; PayNow missing for SG buyers Payment method coverage (MY) | Critical | FPX bank transfer and Touch 'n Go both absent Payment method coverage (ID) | Critical | Indonesian buyers rely heavily on e-wallets and VA Error message copy | High | "Payment failed" copy gives buyer no next step Mobile checkout test | High | 4-step checkout on mobile, no progress indicator found Guest checkout | Medium | Account creation prompt appears before payment step RECOVERY ROADMAP 1. Integrate Stripe (with GrabPay, PayNow) or a regional PSP like HitPay or 2C2P — covers SG/MY gaps 2. Add GoPay/OVO via Midtrans or Xendit integration for Indonesia 3. Rewrite error message: "We couldn't process your [card type]. Try a different card or use GrabPay to complete your order." — add a direct retry button 4. Enable guest checkout (remove mandatory account creation pre-payment) 5. Set up Klaviyo or Omnisend abandoned checkout sequence: Email at 1hr, 24hr, 72hr with product reference + direct checkout link ``` ### Example 2 — TikTok Shop Seller with High Abandonment **Input:** - Platform: TikTok Shop UK + own Shopify UK store - Checkout completion rate: TikTok Shop 71%, Shopify 41% - Error signals: Shopify support logs show "payment declined" as most common complaint; buyers complaining on TikTok comments about checkout issues - Current recovery: One abandoned cart email, sent 24 hours after abandonment, no product reference **Output:** ``` PAYMENT COVERAGE GAP REPORT Market | Platform | Coverage Assessment UK | TikTok Shop | Covered — TikTok Shop handles payment processing natively; strong UK coverage UK | Shopify Store | Partially covered — Visa/MC present but no Klarna, no PayPal BNPL, Apple/Google Pay needs verification on mobile FRICTION AUDIT Issue | Severity | Finding Shopify vs TikTok gap | Critical | 30% gap between TikTok Shop (71%) and Shopify (41%) suggests Shopify-specific friction Recovery sequence timing | High | 24-hour first touch is too late — industry standard is within 1 hour No product reference | High | Generic "you left something behind" email underperforms by ~40% vs. product-specific No BNPL option on Shopify | Medium | UK buyers increasingly expect Klarna or PayPal Pay Later for orders above £50 Mobile checkout audit | Medium | Test needed — gap of this size often has mobile UX as a contributing factor RECOVERY ROADMAP 1. Reduce first recovery email to 1-hour trigger; include product image, name, and direct "Resume Checkout" link 2. Add second email at 24 hours with social proof (reviews for the specific product) 3. Add Klarna to Shopify checkout — setup time ~30 minutes via Shopify App Store 4. Run a mobile checkout test on the current Shopify flow and document any friction points 5. Review Shopify checkout analytics to identify exact step where drop-off occurs (initiation vs. payment entry vs. confirmation) ``` ## Common Mistakes 1. **Benchmarking against the wrong platform norm** — Comparing your Shopify store checkout rate to TikTok Shop norms is meaningless. Use platform-specific benchmarks and control for your product vertical. 2. **Fixing payment methods without fixing error messaging** — Adding a new payment option doesn't help if the buyer gets a confusing error and doesn't realize they can use it. 3. **Recovery sequence that trains buyers to abandon** — Sending a discount code in the first abandoned cart email trains high-intent buyers to abandon on purpose to get the discount. Move discounts to the 2nd or 3rd recovery touch. 4. **Ignoring mobile checkout quality** — Most ecommerce traffic is mobile. A checkout that works well on desktop but poorly on mobile has a systematic conversion problem that looks like a payment problem in the data. 5. **Treating all error types the same** — A "card declined" error (bank-side issue) needs a different message than a "network timeout" error (try again message) or an "address verification failed" error (fix AVS data prompt). Generic error handling loses recoverable failures. 6. **No retry within the checkout flow itself** — Offering a single payment attempt with no in-flow retry option forces buyers to start over. A "try a different payment method" prompt within the checkout flow recovers a significant portion of soft failures. 7. **Not testing checkout on target market devices** — A checkout that works on your MacBook may fail on a low-end Android device common in SEA markets. Device and connection speed testing for your actual target market matters. 8. **Blaming product-market fit for a checkout problem** — Checkout completion rate issues are often misdiagnosed as product appeal problems. If add-to-cart rate is healthy but checkout completion is low, the issue is likely checkout friction, not product. ## Resources - [output-template.md](references/output-template.md) — Structured output format for checkout recovery audits - [payment-methods-by-market.md](references/payment-methods-by-market.md) — Reference for dominant payment methods by geography - [error-message-copy-guide.md](references/error-message-copy-guide.md) — Error message rewrite patterns and templates - [recovery-checklist.md](assets/recovery-checklist.md) — Quality checklist for reviewing completed checkout audits

path: references/output-template.md
content: # Output Template — Checkout Recovery Audit

Use this template to structure every checkout recovery audit output. Complete all three sections; a partial output that omits the Recovery Roadmap is not actionable.

---

## [Store Name] — Checkout Recovery Audit

**Audit date:** [Date]
**Platform(s):** [List of selling platforms]
**Target markets:** [List]
**Baseline checkout completion rate:** [%] over [time period]
**Platform benchmark:** [%] (note platform and vertical)
**Gap vs. benchmark:** [+ or - %]

---

## Section 1 — Payment Coverage Gap Report

| Market | Supported Payment Methods | Missing Key Methods | Estimated Buyer Coverage Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Market] | [List what's currently supported] | [List what's missing for this market] | [Estimated % of buyers who cannot pay] |

**Coverage gap assessment:**
- [Market]: [2-sentence assessment of how significant the gap is and whether it explains part of the checkout completion shortfall]

---

## Section 2 — Friction Audit

Rate each item: **Critical** (fix within 1 week) / **High** (fix within 2–4 weeks) / **Medium** (fix within 4–8 weeks) / **Low** (monitor)

| Issue | Severity | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Payment method coverage | [Severity] | [Specific finding for this store] |
| Error message copy | [Severity] | [What error messages currently show; what's missing] |
| Guest checkout availability | [Severity] | [Whether account creation is forced before payment] |
| Mobile checkout quality | [Severity] | [Assessment based on platform/description provided] |
| Shipping cost visibility | [Severity] | [When shipping costs are revealed in the flow] |
| Trust signals | [Severity] | [SSL, logos, guarantees near pay button] |
| Checkout step count | [Severity] | [Number of steps; presence of progress indicator] |
| Recovery sequence timing | [Severity] | [First recovery touch timing vs. 1-hour best practice] |
| Recovery sequence coverage | [Severity] | [Channels used; sequence length vs. 3-touch best practice] |
| Recovery copy quality | [Severity] | [Whether product is referenced; whether checkout link is direct] |

---

## Section 3 — Recovery Roadmap

List 4–6 prioritized fixes ordered by expected impact. For each:

**Fix 1 — [Title]** (Priority: Critical/High/Medium)
- **What to do**: [Specific action step]
- **Implementation**: [How to do it — platform setting, app, provider, or copy change]
- **Copy template** (if applicable):
  > [Paste the suggested copy here — error message rewrite, recovery email subject line, or CTA text]
- **Expected impact**: [Conservative estimate of how this fix affects completion rate]
- **Timeline**: [Estimated implementation time]

**Fix 2 — [Title]** (Priority: [Level])
- [Same format]

**Fix 3 — [Title]** (Priority: [Level])
- [Same format]

**Fix 4 — [Title]** (Priority: [Level])
- [Same format]

---

## Retry Sequence Template (if current recovery is absent or weak)

Use this template to build a 3-touch abandoned checkout sequence:

**Touch 1 — Soft reminder** (Send: 1 hour after abandonment)
- Subject: "Still thinking about [Product Name]?"
- Body: Remind the buyer what they left behind. Include product image + name + price. Direct "Complete Your Order" CTA linking to the exact checkout URL. No discount yet.

**Touch 2 — Social proof** (Send: 24 hours after abandonment)
- Subject: "[Product Name] — [X] customers love it"
- Body: Include a relevant customer review or rating for the specific product. Reiterate the direct checkout link. Still no discount (unless your policy allows it at this stage).

**Touch 3 — Final nudge with optional incentive** (Send: 72 hours after abandonment)
- Subject: "Last chance — your cart expires soon"
- Body: Create mild urgency (truthful only — do not fake scarcity). If your policy allows a recovery incentive, this is the appropriate touch to include a small discount code (e.g., 5–10% off). Direct checkout link.

---

## Disclaimer

This audit is based on the checkout flow, payment configuration, and metrics you described. Recommendations reflect documented ecommerce conversion best practices. Actual improvement results depend on your specific platform, traffic quality, product category, and market conditions.


path: references/error-message-copy-guide.md
content: # Error Message Copy Guide — Checkout Recovery

Checkout error messages are the last conversation you have with a buyer before they leave. Good error copy turns a soft failure into a recovered sale. Bad error copy turns a fixable issue into permanent churn.

---

## Principles of Effective Error Message Copy

1. **Tell buyers what happened** (not just that something failed)
2. **Tell buyers what to do next** (give a specific, actionable next step)
3. **Maintain trust** (avoid accusatory language; it's never the buyer's fault)
4. **Be specific where possible** (card-specific errors vs. generic "payment failed")
5. **Offer an alternative payment path** (if they can't use the current method, show them another)

---

## Error Types and Rewrite Templates

### Card Declined (Bank Declined)

**❌ Weak:**
> Payment failed. Please try again.

**❌ Also weak:**
> Error: CARD_DECLINED

**✅ Strong:**
> We couldn't process your card. This sometimes happens when banks flag online purchases. Try a different card, or complete your order with PayPal — it only takes a moment.

**✅ Alternative for mobile:**
> Card not accepted. Try using Apple Pay or enter a different card to complete your order.

---

### Insufficient Funds

**❌ Weak:**
> Transaction declined.

**✅ Strong:**
> It looks like your card may have a balance issue. You can split this order across two cards, or try PayPal or Klarna to pay later in installments.

*Note: Don't use the phrase "insufficient funds" — it's embarrassing for the buyer and kills trust.*

---

### Address Verification Failed (AVS Mismatch)

**❌ Weak:**
> Your payment was not processed.

**✅ Strong:**
> We had trouble verifying your billing address. Make sure the address matches what's on file with your bank, then try again. Or use PayPal to skip this step — PayPal handles address verification automatically.

---

### Network Timeout / Technical Error

**❌ Weak:**
> Something went wrong. Please try again later.

**✅ Strong:**
> We hit a brief connection issue and your order wasn't placed. Your card has not been charged. Click below to try again — it usually works on the second attempt.

*Key: explicitly reassure that the card was NOT charged. This is the primary anxiety when a buyer sees a payment error.*

---

### Card Number Invalid / Entry Error

**❌ Weak:**
> Invalid card details.

**✅ Strong:**
> Double-check your card number — we couldn't validate it. If you're sure it's correct, try a different payment method below.

---

### 3D Secure / Authentication Failed

**❌ Weak:**
> Authentication failed.

**✅ Strong:**
> Your bank asked us to verify your identity, but we couldn't complete it. This sometimes happens when your banking app times out. Try opening your bank's app and approving the request, or use a different payment method.

---

### Card Expired

**❌ Weak:**
> Card expired.

**✅ Strong:**
> That card has expired. Enter your updated card details, or use PayPal or Apple Pay to check out instantly.

---

## Recovery Nudge Copy Within Checkout Flow

After a payment failure, display an alternative payment option nudge immediately:

**Inline nudge template:**
> Having trouble with your card? Try [PayPal / Apple Pay / Klarna] instead.
> [Button: Pay with PayPal] [Button: Pay with Apple Pay]

This keeps the buyer in the checkout flow instead of forcing them back to the cart.

---

## Abandoned Checkout Recovery Email Templates

### Email 1 — Soft Reminder (Send at 1 hour)

**Subject options:**
- "You left something behind, [First Name]"
- "Still thinking about [Product Name]?"
- "Your [Product Name] is waiting for you"

**Body template:**
> Hi [First Name],
>
> You were so close! Your [Product Name] is still in your cart — we've saved your order so you can pick up right where you left off.
>
> [Product image] | [Product Name] | [Price]
>
> [Button: Complete My Order]
>
> Your cart is saved for [24/48] hours. If you have any questions, reply to this email or reach us at [support email].
>
> [Store Name]

---

### Email 2 — Social Proof (Send at 24 hours)

**Subject options:**
- "[X] people love [Product Name] — here's what they say"
- "Here's what customers are saying about [Product Name]"

**Body template:**
> Hi [First Name],
>
> Still deciding? Here's what customers are saying about [Product Name]:
>
> ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "[Customer review quote — specific and authentic]" — [Customer name/initials]
>
> ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "[Another customer review quote]" — [Customer name/initials]
>
> [Button: Complete My Order]
>
> [Store Name]

---

### Email 3 — Final Nudge (Send at 72 hours)

**Subject options:**
- "Last chance — your cart expires soon"
- "[First Name], your [Product Name] is about to go"

**Body template:**
> Hi [First Name],
>
> Your cart is about to expire. If you've been waiting for the right moment — this is it.
>
> [If including discount]: Use code COMEBACK10 for 10% off your order, valid until [date/time].
>
> [Product image] | [Product Name] | [Price / Discounted Price]
>
> [Button: Complete My Order]
>
> After [date], your cart will clear and we can't guarantee availability.
>
> [Store Name]

*Only include a discount code on the 3rd email — not the 1st or 2nd. Sending discounts in the first email trains buyers to abandon intentionally.*

---

## SMS Recovery Templates

### SMS 1 (Send at 30 minutes after abandonment if SMS opt-in)
> [Store Name]: You left [Product Name] in your cart. Complete your order here: [short link] Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

### SMS 2 (Send at 24 hours)
> [Store Name]: Still interested in [Product Name]? [X] customers bought it this week. Order yours: [short link] Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

---

## Push Notification Templates

### Push 1 (Send at 1 hour)
> **You left something in your cart** 🛒
> [Product Name] is waiting for you. Tap to complete your order.

### Push 2 (Send at 24 hours)
> **Your cart is about to expire**
> [Product Name] — finish your order before it's gone.

---

## What to Avoid

| Avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| "Your card was rejected" | "Rejected" feels accusatory — use "couldn't process" instead |
| Raw error codes (e.g., "Error 4012") | Meaningless to buyers; creates anxiety |
| "Please try again later" | Vague and off-putting; buyers leave |
| Discount in email 1 | Trains buyers to abandon for discounts |
| Generic "you left something" with no product reference | 40% lower recovery rate than product-specific messages |
| Fake urgency ("only 1 left!" when it's not true) | Destroys trust permanently if detected |


path: references/payment-methods-by-market.md
content: # Payment Methods by Market — Ecommerce Reference

This reference documents the dominant payment methods by geography for ecommerce sellers. Use it to identify gaps in your payment method stack when entering new markets.

**Update note**: Payment landscape evolves quickly. Verify current market share data with your PSP before making integration decisions.

---

## Southeast Asia

### Indonesia
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoPay | E-wallet | ~30% | Gojek ecosystem; dominant for app-native shoppers |
| OVO | E-wallet | ~25% | Tokopedia partnership; strong across demographics |
| Dana | E-wallet | ~20% | Ant Financial backed; growing |
| QRIS | QR code | Growing | National QR standard; accepted across wallets |
| BCA Virtual Account | Bank transfer | ~15% | Most common bank transfer method |
| BNI/BRI/Mandiri VA | Bank transfer | ~10% | Other bank VA options |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~15% | Lower penetration than other SEA markets |
| Indomaret/Alfamart | Cash at store | ~10% | Significant for unbanked population |

**Integration options for non-Indonesian businesses**: Midtrans, Xendit, Doku, or international PSPs with Indonesia coverage

### Malaysia
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FPX (Financial Process Exchange) | Bank transfer | ~40% | National online banking standard; most popular |
| Touch 'n Go eWallet | E-wallet | ~30% | Dominant wallet; linked to highway toll system |
| GrabPay | E-wallet | ~20% | Strong among urban users |
| Boost | E-wallet | ~15% | Growing; Axiata backed |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~25% | Relevant but often secondary to FPX |
| DuitNow | QR/transfer | Growing | National real-time payment system |

**Integration options**: iPay88, Billplz, Stripe (with FPX), Razer Merchant Services

### Singapore
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayNow | Bank transfer (real-time) | ~45% | Dominant for P2P and increasingly ecommerce |
| GrabPay | E-wallet | ~25% | Strong urban adoption |
| PayLah! (DBS) | E-wallet | ~20% | Major bank wallet |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~60% | Higher card penetration than rest of SEA |
| Atome | BNPL | Growing | Pay-in-3; strong for fashion/beauty |

**Integration options**: Stripe (PayNow, cards), HitPay (Singapore-focused), Adyen

### Thailand
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PromptPay | QR/bank transfer | ~50% | Government-backed; very high adoption |
| TrueMoney Wallet | E-wallet | ~25% | CPGroup ecosystem; strong offline + online |
| Rabbit LINE Pay | E-wallet | ~20% | LINE messaging app integration |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~30% | Relevant, especially for higher-income segment |
| Bank transfer (SCB, Kasikorn, BBL) | Manual transfer | ~20% | Still used for larger purchases |

**Integration options**: 2C2P, Omise (now Opn Payments), Stripe (cards only)

### Vietnam
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VNPay | QR/bank transfer | ~40% | Dominant payment gateway; bank app integration |
| MoMo | E-wallet | ~35% | Largest standalone e-wallet |
| ZaloPay | E-wallet | ~20% | Zalo (messaging app) ecosystem |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~20% | Growing but still secondary |
| COD (Cash on Delivery) | Cash | ~40% | Still dominant for many product categories |

### Philippines
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCash | E-wallet | ~50% | Dominant; linked to Globe telecom |
| Maya (formerly PayMaya) | E-wallet | ~25% | PLDT ecosystem |
| Bank transfer | Bank | ~20% | InstaPay/PESONet real-time systems |
| COD | Cash | ~35% | Still significant, especially outside Metro Manila |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~20% | Urban, higher-income segment |

---

## Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

### Saudi Arabia
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mada | Debit card (local) | ~60% | National debit card network; dominant |
| STC Pay | E-wallet | ~30% | STC telecom backed; growing rapidly |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~40% | International cards relevant, especially Visa |
| Tabby | BNPL | Growing | Leading BNPL in KSA |
| Tamara | BNPL | Growing | Competitor to Tabby |

### UAE
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~70% | High card penetration |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | Digital wallet | ~30% | Strong among premium segment |
| Tabby | BNPL | Growing | Strong adoption for fashion/electronics |
| Network International | Local processing | — | Most UAE card processing routes through here |

### Egypt
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fawry | Offline/online payment | ~40% | Unique pay-at-outlet network |
| Meeza | Debit card | ~25% | National debit card scheme |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~30% | Available but lower penetration than Gulf |
| Vodafone Cash / Orange Money | Mobile money | ~20% | Telco wallets |
| COD | Cash | ~35% | Still significant for trust reasons |

---

## Latin America

### Mexico
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXXO | Cash voucher | ~30% | Pay with cash at OXXO convenience stores |
| Mercado Pago | Wallet/payment | ~25% | Mercado Libre ecosystem |
| SPEI | Bank transfer | ~20% | Real-time bank transfer |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~40% | Credit penetration varies significantly by income segment |
| Clip | POS/payment link | Growing | SMB payment links |

### Brazil
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pix | Real-time transfer | ~50% | Government-backed instant payment; dominant and growing |
| Boleto Bancário | Cash ticket | ~20% | Print/digital payment slip; long-standing method |
| Credit card (installments) | Card | ~55% | Brazilians heavily use installment (parcelamento) for larger purchases |
| Mercado Pago | Wallet | ~20% | MercadoLibre ecosystem |

### Colombia
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea) | Bank transfer | ~40% | Dominant online bank transfer method |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~35% | Relevant but often used alongside PSE |
| Efecty/Baloto | Cash payment | ~15% | Pay-at-agent network |

---

## Europe

### Netherlands
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iDEAL | Bank transfer | ~70% | Dominant; non-negotiable for NL ecommerce |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~25% | Secondary to iDEAL for most Dutch buyers |
| Klarna | BNPL | ~15% | Growing for fashion/electronics |

### Germany
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEPA Direct Debit | Bank debit | ~35% | Very common for recurring and one-off purchases |
| PayPal | Wallet | ~50% | Dominant for online shopping |
| Klarna (invoice) | BNPL/invoice | ~30% | "Buy now, pay after delivery" very popular in DE |
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~25% | Secondary to PayPal and Klarna |
| Sofort (Klarna) | Bank transfer | ~20% | Real-time bank transfer |

### UK
| Method | Type | Market Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa/Mastercard | Card | ~65% | Dominant |
| PayPal | Wallet | ~30% | Strong for online purchases |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | Digital wallet | ~25% | Growing strongly on mobile |
| Klarna | BNPL | ~20% | Strong in fashion/beauty verticals |
| Open Banking | Bank transfer | Growing | New but emerging; strong regulatory support |

---

## PSP Integration Options by Region

| Region | Recommended PSPs |
|---|---|
| Global (cards + wallets) | Stripe, Adyen, Braintree |
| Southeast Asia | 2C2P, Xendit, Midtrans, HitPay, Omise |
| MENA | HyperPay, PayTabs, Tap Payments |
| Latin America | Mercado Pago, PagSeguro, EBANX |
| Europe | Stripe, Adyen, Mollie (especially NL/BE) |
| Africa | Flutterwave, Paystack |


path: assets/recovery-checklist.md
content: # Checkout Recovery — Audit Quality Checklist

Use this checklist to verify that a completed checkout recovery audit covers all critical areas and meets quality standards before it is shared with the seller.

---

## Category 1 — Input Quality (5 items)

- [ ] Checkout completion rate provided as a specific percentage (not just "low")
- [ ] Platform(s) identified clearly (Shopify, TikTok Shop, Lazada, etc.)
- [ ] Target markets specified (not just "international")
- [ ] Current payment methods listed explicitly
- [ ] Error signals or customer complaints described (not just "some issues")

**Category score: __ / 5**

---

## Category 2 — Payment Coverage Assessment (7 items)

- [ ] Missing payment methods identified per market (not just globally)
- [ ] Local/regional payment rails checked for each target market (not only cards)
- [ ] Estimated buyer population affected by coverage gap noted
- [ ] Integration options for missing methods recommended (PSP names)
- [ ] Marketplace facilitator coverage confirmed per platform (TikTok Shop, Amazon, etc.)
- [ ] BNPL options assessed where relevant (Klarna, Atome, Tabby, etc.)
- [ ] COD (Cash on Delivery) assessed where relevant (SEA, MENA)

**Category score: __ / 7**

---

## Category 3 — Friction Audit Coverage (8 items)

- [ ] Error message copy quality assessed (not just "present or absent")
- [ ] Specific error message rewrites provided for critical error types
- [ ] Guest checkout availability confirmed (forced account creation flagged if present)
- [ ] Shipping cost visibility in checkout flow assessed
- [ ] Mobile checkout quality addressed (even if only based on platform description)
- [ ] Trust signals near payment button assessed (SSL, logos, guarantee)
- [ ] Checkout step count noted; progress indicator presence noted
- [ ] Severity rating assigned to each friction item (Critical/High/Medium/Low)

**Category score: __ / 8**

---

## Category 4 — Recovery Sequence Assessment (6 items)

- [ ] Existence of current recovery sequence confirmed (present vs. absent)
- [ ] First touch timing assessed vs. 1-hour best practice
- [ ] Recovery channels documented (email only vs. email + SMS + push)
- [ ] Sequence length assessed vs. 3-touch best practice
- [ ] Recovery email copy quality reviewed (product reference present? direct checkout link?)
- [ ] Discount timing assessed (discount in email 1 flagged as problematic if present)

**Category score: __ / 6**

---

## Category 5 — Remediation Plan Quality (6 items)

- [ ] Recovery Roadmap contains 4–6 prioritized fixes
- [ ] Fixes ordered by expected impact (highest impact first)
- [ ] Each fix includes a specific implementation path (not just "improve error messages")
- [ ] Copy templates provided where relevant (error messages, email subject lines)
- [ ] Timeline estimate included for each fix
- [ ] Retry sequence template included if current recovery is absent or weak

**Category score: __ / 6**

---

## Category 6 — Benchmarking Accuracy (4 items)

- [ ] Benchmark used matches the correct platform (not a different platform's norm)
- [ ] Benchmark accounts for product vertical where relevant (fashion vs. electronics vs. beauty)
- [ ] Gap calculation is stated as a specific percentage difference from benchmark
- [ ] Mobile vs. desktop split mentioned if relevant to the seller's traffic mix

**Category score: __ / 4**

---

## Category 7 — Output Structure (5 items)

- [ ] Three required sections present: Payment Coverage Gap Report, Friction Audit, Recovery Roadmap
- [ ] Payment Coverage Gap Report includes all four required columns
- [ ] Friction Audit uses a table format with severity ratings
- [ ] Recovery Roadmap is numbered and ordered by priority
- [ ] Disclaimer present noting that improvements depend on platform/traffic/market conditions

**Category score: __ / 5**

---

## Total Score

**Total: __ / 41**

- **38–41**: High quality — ready to share
- **32–37**: Good — minor gaps, review flagged items before sharing
- **25–31**: Needs revision — multiple gaps, revise before sharing
- **Below 25**: Significant gaps — do not share without substantial revision


Security scan verdicts — ClawScan: clean | static analysis: clean | VirusTotal: clean | SkillSpector: clean (LOW)