Last updated: March 2026 Category: Flows
Overview
Abandoned cart recovery is one of the highest-ROI automations you can set up. When a user adds products to their cart but leaves without purchasing, this flow brings them back with well-timed reminders. This guide walks you through building a complete abandoned cart recovery flow with recommended delays, conditions, and message strategies.
Prerequisites
A BeyondCart account with push notifications configured
Cart abandonment tracking enabled (this is on by default for BeyondCart mobile apps)
Familiarity with the flow editor (see Creating a Flow)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1 — Create the Flow
Navigate to Flows and click "Create Flow".
You can either select the "Abandoned Cart" template or start from scratch. This guide builds from scratch so you understand every decision.
Name the flow: "Abandoned Cart Recovery."
Step 2 — Configure the Trigger
Click the trigger node on the canvas.
Select Event as the trigger type.
Choose cart_abandoned as the event.
The cart_abandoned event fires after a user adds items to their cart and remains inactive for a configurable period (default: 30 minutes of no activity).
[Screenshot: Trigger node configured with cart_abandoned event]
Step 3 — Add the First Delay (1 Hour)
Add a Delay node set to 1 hour. This gives users time to return on their own — many "abandonments" are just interruptions.
Step 4 — Check if They Already Purchased
Add a Condition node: Field = Has Purchased Since Trigger, Operator = is true. On the IF (true) branch, add an Exit node. On the ELSE branch, continue the sequence.
Step 5 — Send the First Reminder
Add a Send Push Notification on the ELSE branch:
Title: "You left something behind!"
Body: "Hey {{user.first_name}}, your {{trigger.product.title}} is still in your cart. Complete your order before it sells out."
Image:
{{trigger.product.image_url}}Deep Link: Cart screen in the app.
Step 6 — Second Delay (24 Hours) + Purchase Check
Add a 24-hour Delay, then another purchase Condition check (same as Step 4). Exit converted users; continue with non-buyers.
Step 7 — Send the Second Reminder
Send a push notification with a different angle — add urgency:
Title: "Your cart misses you, {{user.first_name}}"
Body: "Still interested in {{trigger.product.title}}? It's selling fast — grab it while it's available."
Step 8 — (Optional) Third Reminder with Incentive
After another 48-hour Delay and purchase check, send a final notification with a discount code:
Title: "A little something to help you decide"
Body: "Use code COMEBACK10 for 10% off your order, {{user.first_name}}."
Only use this step if your margins allow discounting.
Step 9 — Add a Goal Node and Activate
Add a Goal node: Name = "Cart Recovered," Event = purchase, Attribution Window = 7 days. Review the full flow, then click "Activate".
[Screenshot: Complete abandoned cart flow on the canvas showing trigger, delays, conditions, notifications, and goal]
Key Concepts
Timing is everything. The delay between reminders matters more than the number of reminders. 1 hour → 24 hours → 48 hours is a proven cadence.
Always check before sending. Purchase check conditions prevent you from annoying users who already converted.
Personalization drives taps. Using the user's name and the specific product they abandoned makes the notification feel relevant, not generic.
Tips and Best Practices
Keep it to 2-3 reminders maximum. More than that risks annoying users and driving app uninstalls.
Vary the message angle. First reminder: helpful nudge. Second reminder: urgency/scarcity. Third reminder: incentive.
Use product images in notifications. Visual reminders of the abandoned product are significantly more effective than text-only messages.
Deep link to the cart, not the homepage. Make it as easy as possible for the user to complete their purchase.
Monitor your recovery rate. Check the Goal node's conversion rate weekly. A good abandoned cart recovery rate is 5-15%.
Respect quiet hours. Make sure your flow settings include quiet hours so reminders do not arrive in the middle of the night.
A/B test with Split nodes. Try different delay timings or message copy on a 50/50 split to find what works best for your audience.
FAQ
Q: When exactly does the cart_abandoned event fire? A: The event fires after a configurable inactivity period (default 30 minutes) following the last cart interaction. If the user returns and interacts with the cart during that window, the timer resets.
Q: What if the user abandons their cart multiple times? A: Each abandonment event can trigger a new flow execution. Rate limiting (see Flow Settings) prevents users from receiving too many messages.
Q: Should I offer a discount in the first reminder? A: We recommend against it. Offering a discount immediately trains users to abandon their carts on purpose to receive discounts. Save incentives for the second or third message.
Q: Can I customize the abandonment timeout? A: Yes. The cart abandonment inactivity window can be adjusted in your BeyondCart app settings. The default is 30 minutes.
Q: What recovery rate should I expect? A: Recovery rates vary by industry and product type. A well-optimized flow typically recovers 5-15% of abandoned carts, with most conversions happening after the first reminder.
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