In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, every click and every rate shown to a customer at checkout matters. For Shopify brands, optimizing that moment of decision can be the difference between a completed purchase and an abandoned cart.

Yet, despite the critical role shipping rates play in the buyer journey, most brands are still forced to guess how changes in price, naming, or delivery promises affect conversion and profitability. Shopify’s default settings simply don’t provide the flexibility or data needed to make those insights actionable.

The new Corso + Intelligems integration changes that.

Together, these two powerful platforms give Shopify brands the ability to A/B test shipping rate variations directly at checkout, understand how different configurations impact conversion and revenue, and make informed decisions that drive both customer satisfaction and profit.

The Problem: Guesswork at Checkout

Shopify’s built-in rate settings are static by design. Merchants can set rates, but they can’t easily test or compare how those rates influence conversion or customer behavior.

This lack of visibility creates a ripple effect across multiple teams:

• CX and Operations teams struggle to balance customer expectations for fast or free shipping with the brand’s need for profitability.
• eCommerce managers can’t prove which shipping options perform best without reliable data.
• Finance teams are left uncertain whether small pricing changes could recapture lost margin.
  

As a result, many brands take a “set it and forget it” approach to shipping rates, relying on assumptions rather than insights. Meanwhile, customer expectations continue to evolve, and competitors are optimizing every part of their checkout experience.

The Solution: A Smarter, Data-Driven Checkout

With the Corso Shipping Plus + Intelligems integration, brands can move beyond guesswork.

This integration allows you to connect your Intelligems test groups directly into Corso’s rate modification engine. In practice, that means you can test different rate configurations, whether it’s the price, name, description, or delivery type, and instantly measure which performs best with your audience.

How it works:

1. Create test groups within Intelligems and retrieve each group’s unique ID.
2. Enable the Intelligems integration inside Corso’s admin.
3. Within Corso’s Shipping Plus settings, create a rate modification condition based on the Intelligems Test Group ID.
4. Adjust rates for each test group by adding a small markup, discount, or alternative rate description.
5. Track performance in Intelligems to identify which configuration drives the highest conversion rate and revenue lift.
   

This process enables brands to optimize their shipping setup not only but also gain a deeper understanding of what motivates customers to complete checkout.

Why This Matters for Shopify Brands

For most Shopify brands, shipping rates have traditionally been treated as a pass-through cost, something necessary but not strategic. However, shipping rates can be one of the most powerful levers for conversion optimization, profitability, and customer experience when tested properly.

1. Shipping rates directly influence conversion.

Even small differences in how a rate is presented, such as “Free Standard Shipping” versus “Complimentary Carbon-Neutral Shipping”, can impact perceived value and trust. Testing these differences helps brands identify what messaging or pricing leads to more completed purchases.

2. Data replaces assumption.

Instead of relying on intuition, brands can use real A/B test data to validate decisions. Whether you’re deciding to increase rates by a dollar, offer free shipping thresholds, or adjust rate naming, Intelligems’ reporting gives you measurable insights into the checkout moment.

3. Optimize for both revenue and experience.

For CX and ops teams, this integration bridges the gap between customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. You can test rate markups to find the ideal balance between customer perception and margin recovery, ensuring the business remains both customer-first and profitable.

4. Real results for real brands.

Cove, for instance, is testing $1 rate markups and markdowns to evaluate how conversion changes relative to pricing adjustments. Caraway has already seen value from similar testing strategies with Corso’s Checkout Plus feature, proving that small checkout optimizations can produce measurable gains in conversion rate.

Why It’s a Win for Customers, Too

Data-driven optimization isn’t just good for brands, it improves the experience for customers as well.

When brands test and fine-tune their shipping rates, they gain clarity on what customers truly value. For some audiences, transparency and clarity at checkout matter most; for others, perceived savings or sustainability messaging might drive conversion.

By understanding these preferences through testing, brands can:

• Present shipping options that feel fair and aligned with customer expectations.
• Reduce friction or confusion at checkout.
• Deliver a more personalized, transparent, and trustworthy experience overall.
  

The end result is a smoother buying journey that builds confidence and strengthens long-term customer loyalty.

Beyond Testing: Smarter, Condition-Based Shipping

The Corso + Intelligems integration is just one part of what makes Shipping Plus powerful. Brands can also use Corso to modify rates based on product type, customer location, or fulfillment center, creating dynamic, context-aware shipping experiences that align with operational realities.

By combining those conditions with A/B testing, Shopify brands can continuously refine their checkout experience, ensuring every customer sees the most effective and efficient shipping options.

The Takeaway

With Corso + Intelligems, Shopify brands can finally turn their shipping setup into a performance channel, one that drives measurable improvements in conversion, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

Instead of relying on instinct, brands now have the data to make informed decisions, optimize the customer journey, and capture untapped revenue at checkout.

The eCommerce landscape is becoming more data-driven every day. This integration gives Shopify brands the tools to stay ahead by combining Corso’s powerful post-purchase platform with Intelligems’ testing and analytics capabilities to deliver a checkout experience that converts.

Learn more about how to set up the Intelligems X Corso integration here: https://help.corso.com/shipping-plus/a-b-test-shipping-rates-with-intelligems/

View the Intelligems X Corso partner page here: https://corso.com/partner/intelligems/