3D Secure Abandonments KPI

3D Secure Abandonments

3D Secure abandonments refer to situations where customers drop out of the payment flow during the 3D Secure (3DS) authentication process—before the transaction is completed or even submitted for authorization. This often results in lost sales, even if the customer's intent to purchase was strong.

The 3DS step adds an extra layer of security to online transactions by requiring identity verification, such as a password, fingerprint, or one-time code. However, this added friction can backfire if the process is unclear, inconsistent, or too slow. Common abandonment triggers include:

• Confusing or unbranded 3DS pages that look suspicious.
• Redirects that take too long to load, especially on mobile devices.
• Incompatibility with the customer’s browser or device.
• Lack of clear instructions or support during the authentication step.

Although 3D Secure 2 (3DS2) has improved the user experience compared to 3DS1—with features like biometric authentication and better mobile optimization—abandonment remains a concern, particularly in regions like Japan where UX expectations are high and issuer implementations may still be inconsistent.