Agentic Checkout: The AI Revolution Replacing Traditional Checkout

Imagine a checkout that doesn’t just wait for the customer to click “Buy.” It anticipates, adapts, and acts. That’s the promise of agentic checkout, where artificial intelligence (AI) agents step in to finalize the transaction on behalf of the shopper.

As the final mile in an AI-driven shopping journey, checkout is being reimagined through the lens of agentic commerce, a future shaped by generative AI, automation, and intelligent APIs, driven by advances from leaders like OpenAI, Google AI, Microsoft, and other GPT-based technologies. It’s not science fiction. It’s the next frontier of ecommerce.

In this article, we’ll explore how agentic AI is transforming the checkout experience, what it means for retailers, and how platforms like BigCommerce are positioned to support this shift.

What is agentic checkout?

Agentic checkout refers to AI-powered systems where autonomous AI agents finalize purchases on behalf of the shopper. Unlike traditional checkout flows that require manual input at every step, these systems interpret user intent, contextual signals, and preferences to make decisions and complete purchases automatically.

This emerging model is a core part of agentic commerce, where intelligent software agents guide and optimize the full online shopping experience, all the way through to checkout. 

Key characteristics of agentic checkout include:

• Proactive: Anticipates needs and suggests purchases before the shopper even adds items to their cart.

• Autonomous: Executes transactions without constant user prompts or clicks.

• Personalized: Tailors the checkout experience to the individual, adapting things like payment methods, shipping preferences, and even timing based on behavioral data.

Why agentic checkout matters now

As AI adoption grows among consumers, expectations around convenience, speed, and personalization in ecommerce are rising. Shoppers are increasingly comfortable with AI-powered tools, from chatbots to virtual try-on experiences, and the next logical step is letting AI agents take the lead at checkout.

For retailers, adopting agentic checkout offers clear business advantages:

• Higher conversion rates: By removing friction and reducing the number of steps to complete purchases, autonomous checkout increases the likelihood of conversion.

• Lower cart abandonment: When AI agents can finalize orders based on intent and context, fewer carts are left behind.

• Competitive differentiation: Early adopters of agentic commerce will stand out in a crowded market by delivering smarter, faster, and more adaptive checkout experiences.

Now is the time for retailers to future-proof their operations and meet shoppers where they already are, increasingly ready to let AI take the wheel. With gen AI becoming more accessible, shoppers are growing comfortable with AI not only assisting, but acting on their behalf, from price tracking to purchase completion.

How agentic checkout works

Agentic checkout is powered by AI agents that guide the purchase journey from intent to post-purchase, marking a shift to a new kind of ecommerce where agents shop on behalf of the user. Here's how it works:

Intent capture. 

The AI agent starts by understanding what the shopper wants to achieve. This can come from natural language input, like “I need running shoes by Friday,” or behavioral cues such as repeated searches, preferences, or urgency signals. By interpreting this context in real time, the agent builds a clear picture of the shopper’s intent and sets the purchase journey in motion.

Product selection. 

Once intent is established, the AI agent searches across multiple channels (including platforms like Amazon), storefronts, and product listings to find the best match. It weighs factors like brand preferences, size, availability, delivery timelines, and price, ensuring the recommended product aligns with the shopper’s needs and context.

Checkout optimization. 

After selecting the product, the AI agent streamlines the checkout experience by automatically selecting the most relevant payment method, fastest shipping option, and applying any available discounts. This intelligent automation reduces friction, increases speed, and adapts the flow to the shopper’s preferences, without requiring manual input.

Secure payment execution. 

With everything in place, the AI agent initiates a secure, compliant transaction. Using tokenized payment methods and integrations with trusted providers like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, or Google Pay, the agent ensures the purchase is processed safely, maintaining trust while eliminating extra steps for the shopper.

Post-purchase engagement. 

The AI agent’s role doesn’t end at payment. It continues to support the customer with real-time notifications for order tracking, delivery updates, and proactive support. It can also surface personalized product recommendations, driving repeat purchases and strengthening the overall customer experience.

Key benefits of agentic checkout

By shifting decision-making to AI agents, agentic checkout unlocks significant advantages for both shoppers and retailers. Below are the most impactful benefits driving adoption. This level of automation improves internal functionality and reduces risk, especially in fintech-driven checkout flows.

For merchants.

Agentic checkout simplifies backend workflows and enhances business performance. By enabling real-time inventory and price optimization, merchants can dynamically adjust offers and availability. It also creates new opportunities for upselling and cross-selling, leading to higher average order value (AOV). With operations increasingly automated, teams can focus more on strategy and growth.

For customers.

Agentic checkout makes the buying process feel seamless, often happening in the background without a single click. Shoppers receive tailored recommendations, faster fulfillment, and a frictionless path to purchase. Transactions remain secure and trustworthy, backed by the same protections as traditional methods.

Operational impact.

By automating key steps in the checkout process, agentic AI helps reduce payment declines and minimizes the need for manual interventions. This leads to smoother operations, fewer errors, and a more scalable system that can adapt in real time to shopper behavior and business rules.

Preparing your store for agentic checkout

Adopting agentic checkout requires the right technology foundation and strategic mindset. Here are the key areas where retailers should focus to enable this next-generation capability.

Audit your checkout flow for automation readiness.

Start by evaluating your current checkout experience for friction points, manual steps, and integration gaps. Look for opportunities to streamline inputs, remove redundant screens, and ensure your platform supports real-time APIs and AI-powered decision-making. A clean, flexible foundation is essential for enabling agentic AI.

Integrate structured product data and clear API endpoints.

AI agents rely on rich, structured product data and accessible API endpoints to make smart decisions. Structured data also powers more intelligent search engine results and product discovery, which benefits both AI decision-making and your store’s SEO performance.

Ensure your catalog includes accurate attributes like availability, pricing, and fulfillment options. Well-documented, real-time APIs allow agents to interact with your system efficiently and deliver the right outcomes.

Invest in AI-friendly payment gateways.

To support agentic checkout, choose payment gateways that enable secure, tokenized transactions and integrate easily with AI-driven workflows. Gateways that partner with platforms like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, or Google Pay offer the flexibility and compliance needed for autonomous execution. Look for options that support authentication, fraud prevention, and seamless API access.

Build trust via transparent AI policies and opt-in settings.

Customer trust is essential for agentic commerce to thrive. Clearly communicate how AI agents operate, what data they use, and how shoppers can opt in or customize their experience. Transparent policies and user controls not only support compliance but also foster confidence in AI-powered automation. Linking to your privacy and AI use docs helps clarify what agents can do and reassures users.

Examples of agentic checkout.

From AI-enhanced shopping assistants to fully autonomous transactions, agentic checkout is already taking shape across the ecommerce landscape. Below are a few real-world examples and emerging use cases.

Google Shopping Agent.

Google recently launched a new Shopping Agent experience at Google I/O that brings agentic checkout directly into Google Search. Shoppers can describe what they’re looking for, virtually try on products, track prices, and activate a “buy for me” feature, allowing the AI to choose the right item and complete the purchase autonomously using Google Pay. 

Visa & Mastercard. 

Payment providers are also moving fast to support agentic commerce. In April 2025, Mastercard introduced Agent Pay, a framework for enabling AI agents to initiate and authorize purchases securely on behalf of consumers. By collaborating with the broader fintech ecosystem, Mastercard’s Agent Pay initiative supports safe agent-driven transactions.

Walmart AI.

Walmart is actively exploring agentic AI through its prototype assistant, Sparky, which is designed to act on behalf of shoppers across their entire journey. From building carts to completing purchases, Sparky leverages generative AI to personalize recommendations, compare prices, and finalize orders autonomously. This technology marks a shift toward fully AI-powered commerce, with Walmart viewing agentic checkout as central to its long-term ecommerce strategy.

How BigCommerce can help enable agentic checkout

BigCommerce provides the flexibility and infrastructure retailers need to experiment with and scale agentic checkout. Here’s how our platform supports each layer of this emerging model.

API-first flexibility for integrating AI agents.

BigCommerce’s open architecture and API-first approach make it easy to connect with external AI agents, including tools powered by ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, or custom-built solutions. With robust support for storefront, catalog, and checkout APIs, developers can enable intelligent agents to interact with key systems, from cart creation to payment execution, without platform limitations.

Partner ecosystem for AI personalization, fraud prevention, and payments.

BigCommerce’s extensible ecosystem includes leading AI-powered providers for everything from personalized product recommendations to real-time fraud prevention and secure payments. Whether you're leveraging tools for customer segmentation, dynamic pricing, or integrating with payment gateways like PayPal, Mastercard, or Visa, our platform gives you the freedom to build an agentic checkout stack tailored to your needs.

Headless architecture for embedding agentic workflows across channels.

With headless commerce capabilities, BigCommerce enables retailers to deploy agentic checkout experiences anywhere, from branded storefronts to voice assistants, messaging apps, or custom frontends. This flexibility allows AI agents to operate seamlessly across channels, embedding intelligent workflows that drive conversions without being confined to a traditional checkout page.

The final word

Agentic checkout is more than a trend, it’s a fundamental shift in how ecommerce works. As AI agents become more capable and consumers grow more comfortable with automation, retailers that embrace this change will gain a competitive edge.

With its API-first flexibility, extensive partner ecosystem, and support for AI-powered innovation, BigCommerce is uniquely positioned to help brands lead in the era of agentic commerce.

Ready to explore agentic checkout for your business? Talk to a BigCommerce expert today.

FAQs about agentic checkout

How does agentic checkout differ from traditional checkout optimization?

Traditional checkout optimization focuses on streamlining existing flows, like reducing form fields, improving load times, or adding guest checkout. Agentic checkout, on the other hand, reimagines the entire process by allowing AI agents to interpret intent, select products, and complete purchases autonomously. It's not about improving the funnel, it's about replacing it with a smarter, more proactive experience.

Will agentic checkout replace traditional shopping?

Not entirely. While agentic checkout will transform how many consumers shop, especially for repeat, routine, or intent-driven purchases, traditional browsing and manual checkout will still have a place. Shoppers will likely move between modes, using AI agents for convenience while retaining control when discovery or comparison matters. The future of ecommerce is hybrid, blending autonomy with choice.

How can merchants measure the ROI of agentic checkout?

Merchants can evaluate the ROI of agentic checkout by tracking key performance indicators like conversion rates, cart abandonment, average order value (AOV), and time-to-purchase. Additional metrics may include reduced customer service requests, fewer payment declines, and increased repeat purchases. As AI agents handle more of the purchase flow, these improvements directly translate into measurable business impact.