Amazon Pay

Amazon Pay is a payment service that lets millions of customers use their Amazon accounts to make purchases on third-party websites. For WooCommerce – the world’s most popular eCommerce platform, built on WordPress – this means merchants can offer a trusted and convenient payment option to their customers through the Amazon Pay plugin.

Originally developed by another agency, the Amazon Pay plugin for WooCommerce was facing challenges. With the rapid evolution of eCommerce and frequent updates from WooCommerce, WordPress, and PHP, the plugin needed constant maintenance to stay functional and secure.

Automattic, the company behind WooCommerce, recognized the importance of keeping the Amazon Pay plugin in top shape. They needed experts who could handle the technical complexities and ensure a smooth experience for both merchants and customers. That’s where we at Saucal came in.

The Challenge

When we took over the Amazon Pay plugin for WooCommerce, we knew we had a big task ahead. With over 20,000 active installations, the stakes were high. Amazon had rolled out a new version of their API, and the plugin needed to transition to it. Our main challenge was to migrate all existing merchants to this new API without disrupting their businesses. We had to ensure that their checkout processes remained smooth and that there was no downtime.

Not all merchants could or wanted to migrate immediately. We had to maintain backward compatibility and support both the old and new API versions simultaneously, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their setup, could continue to use Amazon Pay without issues.

Additionally, keeping pace with constant updates from WooCommerce, WordPress, and PHP required vigilant testing and swift adjustments. Additionally, ensuring compatibility with other popular plugins like multicurrency tools and custom checkout solutions was crucial to prevent any checkout disruptions. 

The Amazon API had its limitations, so we had to think creatively within its confines to deliver a feature-rich, user-friendly experience. Since the plugin directly impacts the checkout process – an important milestone for sales – we were extra careful in our development and testing to avoid any glitches.

The Stakes

With over 20,000 merchants depending on the Amazon Pay plugin for their daily transactions, the pressure was immense. A single glitch could disrupt countless businesses, leading to lost sales, frustrated customers, and a potential loss of trust in both the merchants and the Amazon brand.

The diversity of merchant setups added another layer of complexity. Different hosting environments, unique server configurations, and many other plugins meant that the plugin had to be robust and flexible enough to handle various scenarios. Any oversight could lead to widespread issues, support tickets flooding in, and dissatisfied merchants.

We were also keenly aware that our work would reflect on the reputations of Automattic and Amazon. They entrusted us with not just a plugin but a vital piece of their ecosystem that directly impacted revenue and brand perception. Failure was not an option.

The Results

Despite the challenges, our dedicated team at Saucal delivered outstanding results that benefited both merchants and customers alike:

• We successfully transitioned the Amazon Pay plugin to the new API without any downtime. Merchants were guided through a simple re-onboarding process, ensuring their businesses continued to operate smoothly.
• For merchants not ready to migrate immediately, we ensured the plugin remained fully functional with the old API. This flexibility allowed all users to transition at their own pace without disrupting their checkout processes.
• Through careful development and rigorous testing, we improved the plugin’s stability. The number of support tickets dropped significantly, reflecting a more reliable plugin performance across diverse merchant setups.
• We expanded compatibility with popular multicurrency plugins and custom checkout solutions, minimizing conflicts and ensuring a smooth experience for merchants using various tools to enhance their stores.
• Recognizing the growing adoption of WooCommerce’s cart and checkout blocks, we updated the plugin to integrate smoothly with these features. This ensured merchants could offer modern, streamlined checkout experiences to their customers. 

We established an efficient customer support system to address merchant inquiries promptly. Our ongoing maintenance keeps the plugin compatible with the latest versions of WooCommerce, WordPress, and PHP.

The Process

Although we didn’t build the original Amazon Pay plugin, our first step was to thoroughly understand its architecture and functionalities. We assessed the existing codebase to identify areas needing improvement and to plan for the upcoming migration.

Recognizing the critical importance of the checkout process, we devised a migration strategy that would transition merchants to the new API without any downtime. We developed an automated re-onboarding process, allowing merchants to migrate smoothly by simply reconnecting their Amazon Pay accounts.

Next, we engineered the plugin to support both the old and new API versions simultaneously. This dual compatibility meant that merchants who weren’t ready to migrate immediately could continue using the plugin without any disruptions.

Understanding that many merchants serve international customers, we expanded compatibility with popular multicurrency plugins. We also provided guides to help merchants integrate other multicurrency tools, ensuring a smooth experience for global shoppers.

Our support team was on standby to assist merchants with any issues. By promptly addressing inquiries and providing solutions, we minimized friction and built trust with the merchant community.

Regular meetings and open communication with both Amazon and Automattic ensured that our developments were aligned with their expectations. This partnership was key to maintaining high standards and delivering a plugin that met all stakeholder requirements.

Post-migration, we committed to the plugin’s continuous improvement. We monitor updates from WooCommerce, WordPress, and PHP, swiftly adapting the plugin to maintain compatibility and stability.

Conclusion

Our journey with the Amazon Pay plugin for WooCommerce has been a testament to what dedicated expertise and collaboration can achieve. We not only preserved the functionality of a critical payment gateway but also future-proofed it. Our proactive approach to problem-solving, coupled with our deep understanding of WooCommerce and WordPress, allowed us to deliver a plugin that merchants can rely on daily.

At Saucal, we’re more than just developers – we’re partners in your success. Whether you’re facing a complex migration, dealing with compatibility issues, or looking to enhance your online store’s capabilities, we’re here to help. Our team is ready to tackle any challenge head-on, just as we did with the Amazon Pay plugin.
Contact us today to discover how we can empower your WooCommerce store to reach new heights!