How Retailers Can Reduce Cart Abandonment During the Holidays

he holiday season is the most lucrative and competitive time of year for retailers. November and December digital sales are expected to reach an unprecedented $1.25 trillion around the globe in 2025. In the U.S., digital sales are forecasted to grow to $288 billion, according to new data from Salesforce. 

Yet even as online traffic grows, many retailers still struggle with a costly challenge: cart abandonment. For retailers, each abandoned cart represents lost revenue, missed engagement, and a potential long-term customer relationship left unrealized.

Here’s how retailers can take practical steps to minimize cart abandonment and increase online sales during the holidays.

During the holidays, shoppers are pressed for time. When eCommerce websites are flooded with traffic, slow performance can lead to frustration and cart abandonment. Slow speeds, poor website design, and the lack of a secure checkout are among the factors that lead shoppers to leave a website or abandon an online shopping cart, according to a new survey from Clutch. Over half of online shoppers will leave a website if it takes longer than 10 seconds to load. 

Website security is also key for online shoppers and can help build trust and minimize cart abandonment. Sixty percent of online shoppers said seeing encryption checkout, trusted badges, or other security indicators makes them feel confident buying from a new site. Eighty-four percent of consumers say website design is at least “somewhat important” when deciding whether to shop with a brand. Almost 80% of shoppers say they’ve abandoned a website due to poor design, even when they wanted an item. 

Unexpected fees and high delivery costs can deter customers from making online purchases. Two-thirds of online consumers say they’ve abandoned a cart due to high shipping costs, according to Clutch. Forty-four percent of shoppers say unexpected delivery fees are their number one pet peeve. Transparency not only prevents cart abandonment but also builds trust and enhances the shopping experience. 

Retailers should make total costs, including taxes and delivery fees, visible early in the checkout process. Offering a shipping cost calculator, clear delivery timelines, or free delivery thresholds helps customers make faster, more confident decisions. Fifty-seven percent of shoppers are motivated by free delivery thresholds, such as offers that unlock delivery once a spending minimum is met. Clear and accurate delivery timelines are crucial, especially for holiday deadlines.

Holiday stresses and overwhelming decisions can have an impact on cart abandonment. Eighty-four percent of consumers report that purchasing holiday gifts can be so overwhelming and frustrating that they abandon their shopping carts entirely as a result, according to the latest holiday survey from Accenture. Concern over not buying the perfect holiday gift is a contributing factor to stress as three-quarters of shoppers say they are stressed about making the right decisions. Additionally, during peak season, questions arise about product availability, returns, and deliveries. Shoppers who can’t get quick answers are more likely to abandon their carts.

AI-driven technologies can help ease holiday stress by guiding shoppers, recommending gift options, comparing features, and streamlining the decision-making process. Integrate live chat or AI chatbots into websites to answer consumers’ questions instantly. Online traffic from AI assistants has grown rapidly in 2025, with volumes growing 119% annually in the first half of the year, according to Salesforce analysis. Nearly half of shoppers who already use AI for shopping are open to having an AI agent make a purchase for them. Salesforce predicts the use of AI and agents for customer service by retailers will grow 39% year-over-year over the holiday season.

Cart abandonment is a perennial challenge, but during the holiday rush, its impact magnifies. By focusing on transparency, website optimization, and customer support, retailers can turn abandoned carts into completed sales.

For more information about how our delivery management solution can help you manage your delivery operations more efficiently, please contact info@bringoz.com.