Key Takeaways:
- AOV (Average Order Value) is the average revenue per order, crucial for sustainable eCommerce growth.
- Increasing AOV is often cheaper than acquiring new customers.
- Product bundling, upselling, and cross-selling are quick wins to increase AOV sales.
- Flexible payment solutions like EMI on UPI (via Snapmint) can increase AOV by 30–40%.
- Smart tactics like free shipping thresholds, tiered discounts, and personalized recommendations also encourage customers to spend more per order.
14 Proven Ways to Improve Average Order Value
If you’ve been wondering how to increase your average order value (AOV), the answer lies in proven, actionable strategies that have increased AOV in retail that top-performing e-commerce brands implement.
You can increase AOV sales by implementing these simple ways, which do not require any extra investment from your end:
1. Product Bundling
To drive higher revenue per order, encourage customers to purchase multiple complementary products. The best way to do this is by offering curated sets of complementary products (e.g., shampoo + conditioner + serum kit).
Bundling not only increases AOV but also solves specific shopper needs in a single purchase.
Let customers customize their own kits. By giving this liberty to the customers, you not only increase AOV but also deepen customer relationships. Shoppers often add more to maximize value.
2. Offer Split Payment Options
MMany times, your shopper is willing to buy multiple products but is held back by budget limitations. If a shopper can only spend 5000, he won’t be willing to look at other relevant products, even if he wants them!
How do you resolve this? By offering split payment options or pay-in-parts options on your website. If the buyer only has to pay 1500 or 2000 at the time of purchase, he/she would indulge in exploring more products and end up with a bigger basket size.
3. Give EMI solutions without Credit Cards (EMI on UPI)
In India, only 100 million people use credit cards, while more than 350 million people transact through UPI. That is 3.5x more potential customers! So, why limit yourself to a smaller audience with EMI on credit cards when you can offer EMI on UPI?
Snapmint integrates directly into your checkout, enabling flexible EMIs on UPI that simplify the payment process for your customers.
EMI on UPI can increase your AOV. Brands offering EMI on UPI have seen AOV rise by 30-40%. This is a proven and cost-effective way to boost your revenue with additional marketing spend.
Offer EMI on UPI Now
4. Optimize Checkout Flow
A frictionless checkout experience is one of the most effective ways to increase AOV in e-commerce. One-click checkout or express checkout can increase shoppers’ willingness to add extras without second thoughts.
5. Volume Discounts
Offer on bulk purchase like Buy 3, get 20% off can lure customers into buying more than they initially intended. This way, you can increase your average order value, and ultimately your revenue.
6. Tiered Discounts, Deals, or Gifts
Tiered discounts, for example, spend ₹2,000 to get 10% off and spend ₹3,000 to get 15% off. This will encourage the shopper to spend more.
If you do not want to offer freebies to everyone, offer tiered free gifts instead. Different gifts at different order thresholds, for example, ₹1,500 - tote bag, ₹3,000 - premium bottle, and so on.
7. Cross-Selling and Upselling
Recommend add-ons or accessories on product and cart pages. Show higher-value alternatives with clear benefits.
You can even show personalised recommendations, for example, previous products they viewed, clubbed into a bundle. Highlight higher-value alternatives with clear benefits so customers see the value in upgrading.
8. Loyalty Rewards or Gifts with Higher AOV Purchase
Offer a freebie above a certain cart size (e.g., free pouch with orders over ₹2,500). Freebies can attract customers, and they won’t make much of a difference for you.
Reward customers with double loyalty points or exclusive perks when their order crosses a specific value. This not only motivates higher spending in the moment but also strengthens long-term retention.
9. Buy Now, Pay Later Options
Flexible payments reduce price friction and push customers toward higher-value carts. By spreading out payments, customers are more willing to upgrade or add extra items.
10. Minimum Cart Discounts
Flat discounts tied to a minimum spend create a powerful psychological nudge. For example, ₹500 off on orders above ₹3,000 makes customers feel like they’re “leaving money on the table” if they don’t add more to their cart.
11. Personalized Recommendations
Utilise emotions and target the pain points of your shoppers through personalized recommendations. AI-powered suggestions, like “Customers who bought X also bought Y” can push your customers into buying more products.
Personalized selling not only boosts AOV but also makes the shopping experience feel more tailored and engaging.
12. Limited-Time Scarcity Offers
Create urgency with countdown timers or limited-time offers on higher-value discounts. Scarcity motivates customers to act quickly, instead of abandoning the cart or checking alternatives.
13. Seasonal / Festive Combos
Holiday-themed bundles encourage larger purchases. By creating seasonal bundles, such as Diwali hampers, brands tap into the cultural mindset of customers who are already primed to spend more. This way, you can utilize festive season sales.
14. First-Time Buyer Incentives
Offer exclusive, higher-value discounts on first purchases to encourage new customers to stock up. This not only increases their initial order size but also improves your chances of turning them into repeat buyers.
Final Thoughts
For D2C brands, increasing AOV isn’t about pushing customers to spend blindly; it’s about offering smarter value, convenience, and flexibility.
By bundling products, using BNPL solutions like Snapmint, setting smart shipping thresholds, and optimizing checkout, you can unlock sustainable growth without burning money on constant customer acquisition.
The real win? You’re not just boosting revenue per order, you’re building trust, loyalty, and long-term customer value.
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