# How to Add EVs Identiflo to WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
Adding extra security to your WooCommerce store is crucial, especially if you handle sensitive customer data or deal with high-value transactions. EVS Identiflo, a leading identity verification service, can significantly boost your security posture. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to integrating Identiflo with your WooCommerce store, even if you’re a complete newbie to coding.
Why Integrate EVs Identiflo with WooCommerce?
Before diving into the technical aspects, let’s understand why adding EVs Identiflo is beneficial:
- Reduced Fraud: Identiflo helps verify customer identities, significantly reducing the risk of fraudulent transactions. This is especially important for businesses selling high-priced goods or dealing with online payments. Imagine the cost savings from avoiding chargebacks and lost inventory due to fraudulent purchases!
- Enhanced Security: By verifying customers, you’re adding an extra layer of protection against malicious actors trying to compromise your system. This enhances the overall security of your WooCommerce store and protects your customers’ data.
- Improved Customer Trust: Demonstrating a commitment to security builds trust with your customers. Knowing that their personal information is protected can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty.
- Compliance: In certain industries, identity verification is a regulatory requirement. Integrating Identiflo can help you meet these compliance obligations.
- A WooCommerce store already set up and running.
- An active EVs Identiflo account with API access credentials. You’ll need your API key and secret key – keep these secure!
- Basic familiarity with plugins and potentially some PHP (although we’ll provide simple code examples).
Prerequisites Before You Begin
Before you start, ensure you have the following:
Step-by-Step Integration Guide: Two Common Approaches
There are generally two ways to integrate EVs Identiflo: using a dedicated plugin (if available) or by directly integrating the Identiflo API via custom code.
Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Plugin (If Available)
The easiest way is to use a pre-built WooCommerce plugin that integrates with EVs Identiflo. Check the WooCommerce plugin directory or the EVs Identiflo website for available plugins. If a suitable plugin exists, follow the plugin’s specific installation and configuration instructions. This is generally a plug-and-play solution, requiring minimal technical expertise.
Method 2: Direct API Integration (For Advanced Users)
If a dedicated plugin isn’t available, you’ll need to integrate the Identiflo API directly into your WooCommerce store. This requires some coding knowledge. This method offers more customization but is more complex.
Here’s a simplified example of how you might integrate verification into the WooCommerce checkout process (this is a highly simplified example and may need significant adaptation to your specific needs):
// Add this code to your WooCommerce theme's functions.php file or a custom plugin. **Do not add this directly to your main WooCommerce files!**
add_action( ‘woocommerce_checkout_process’, ‘my_custom_checkout_process’ );
function my_custom_checkout_process() {
// … (Code to retrieve user input, e.g., name, address) …
$identiflo_response = call_identiflo_api( $user_data ); // Function to call the Identiflo API
if ( $identiflo_response[‘status’] != ‘verified’ ) {
wc_add_notice( __( ‘Identiflo verification failed. Please check your information.’, ‘woocommerce’ ), ‘error’ );
}
}
function call_identiflo_api( $data ) {
// … (Code to make API call to Identiflo using your API key and secret key) …
// This function would use cURL or similar to send data to the Identiflo API and receive a response.
return $api_response;
}
Important Note: This code snippet is for illustrative purposes only. It omits crucial error handling, security measures, and detailed API interaction logic. You’ll need to consult the official EVs Identiflo API documentation for precise instructions on making API requests and handling responses. Always back up your files before making any code changes.
Testing and Optimization
After implementing the integration, thoroughly test it by placing test orders. Ensure that the verification process works correctly and doesn’t disrupt the user experience. Monitor the effectiveness of the integration by tracking fraud rates and customer feedback.
Conclusion
Integrating EVs Identiflo with your WooCommerce store adds a powerful layer of security. While the direct API integration requires technical expertise, the potential benefits—reduced fraud, improved customer trust, and enhanced compliance—make it a worthwhile investment. If you’re unsure, consider hiring a WooCommerce developer to handle the integration for you. Remember to always prioritize security and carefully follow the official documentation from both WooCommerce and EVs Identiflo.
