Imagine having software that takes manual and repetitive tasks off your to-do lists and does them correctly in less time. The idea of automating a few of your tasks seems really exciting. Automation helps you free up your team's time and concentrate on other important tasks contributing to business growth. Like every other industry, the eCommerce industry has always benefitted from automation for streamlining your business operations. In fact, according to the Marketing Automation Report 2021, 72% of successful eCommerce companies are already leveraging marketing automation in their process workflows and increasing their business ROI. In this post, we will learn more about eCommerce automation, its benefits, and the best eCommerce automation software for your Shopify business.
What Is Ecommerce Automation?
ECommerce automation is the process of using technology and software tools to automate various tasks and processes for streamlining your online business operations. This includes tasks such as order processing, customer support, inventory management, marketing, and more.
The primary goal of eCommerce automation is to enhance process efficiency by reducing manual effort.
For example, if you are managing an online store like a traditional brick-and-mortar shop, you might have to manually track your inventory levels, process orders, manage customer inquiries, and so on. Now, imagine you automate these tasks with the help of advanced tools and transform the entire online shopping experience for your team and your customers.
How Does eCommerce Automation Work?
ECommerce automation helps online businesses streamline their operations through a series of steps. It usually begins when a customer places an order and automated eCommerce tools work their way around to complement the order processing and shipping management processes. This can be explained with the help of the following pointers.
- The customer places an order on your Shopify website. The Shopify system captures the order details and presents them to you in a structured format for processing.
- Next, the inventory management system checks the available stock and updates the new stock levels automatically in real-time.
- During this time, the marketing automation tool sends an order confirmation email, order processing email, and other order-related updates to the customers. You can personalize these emails to ensure better engagement.
- Next, the automation tool will also send follow-up emails, such as cart abandonment, additional product recommendations, and more to elevate customer experiences.
That being said, let us now have a look at eCommerce automation benefits.
Benefits of Automation in eCommerce
ECommerce automation offers a host of benefits that not only enhance operational efficiency but also boost customer experiences, maximize cost savings and more that contribute to overall business growth.
Saves Time
You can save a lot of time and resources by automating routine processes. Configure your automated tools to carry out manual time-consuming tasks on auto-pilot and get more work done in less time. For instance, hiding stock-out items on your Shopify store, responding to common customer queries, and more. 74% of marketers admitted that the biggest benefit automation offers is saving time.
Improves Accuracy and Efficiency
We all know customer data plays a crucial role in the success of your business. Poor data management may lead to potential errors and hamper your business operations. By streamlining repetitive tasks, automation minimizes the risks of human errors and boosts team productivity. For instance, automated inventory management will keep your stock levels up-to-date at all times. A recent study by Oracle revealed that the adoption of automation in sales and marketing improved team efficiency by 45%.
Enhances Customer Experience
Did you know about 86% of customers would leave a brand if they encounter poor brand experiences? Further, only 19% of customers are satisfied with the customer service they are being offered today. Automation helps you capture the attention of your customers and deliver personalized service via chatbots, live chat programs, self-service options, and more. It helps you ensure high customer satisfaction and turns them into loyal brand followers.
Examples of eCommerce Automation
ECommerce automation is being implemented by eCommerce businesses of all sizes to improve their company operations. From leading eCommerce giants like Amazon and Walmart to small businesses, everyone is leveraging the power of eCommerce automation.
Amazon uses robotics and automated systems in its fulfillment centers for faster order processing and logistics. Robots assist in retrieving and transporting products, significantly reducing order fulfillment times. It is further supported by automated conveyor systems and sorting machines to enhance overall efficiency.
[Source](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c0uhDPgtqc8/maxresdefault.jpg)
As for the software aspect, Amazon uses advanced dynamic pricing algorithms to adjust product pricing as per the market conditions, product demand, and more. Similarly, Sephora, a beauty and cosmetics retailer, leverages automation in its marketing efforts. Automated email campaigns, personalized recommendations, and targeted promotions contribute to a more personalized customer experience. Top 5 eCommerce Automation Tools Here are some of the best eCommerce automation tools you must consider investing in.
1. Shopify
Shopify offers a suite of tools to carry out all the store management tasks without any hassles. You can choose from a huge library of easy-to-use store templates and launch your eCommerce store in just a few days. Shopify offers an automation add-on named Shopify Flow that allows you to create custom workflows within your store to collect your orders, manage inventory, process payments, and fulfill orders. Being the best eCommerce builder, Shopify supports integration with leading eCommerce automation apps for seamless business operations. Key Features -
- ECommerce website builder
- Custom workflows
- Ready-to-use workflow templates
2. Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a specialized eCommerce email marketing automation tool that helps you build personalized email marketing campaigns for your customers. It enables you to segment your customer base into various categories depending on their demographics, purchase history, and many other factors and deploy targeted email campaigns to boost customer engagement.
Key Features -
- Customer segmentation
- Personalized email campaigns
- Automated email flows
- A/B testing
- Analytics and Reporting
3. DynamicPricing.ai
[Source](https://dynamicpricing.ai/)
DynamicPricing.ai offers a pricing system that leverages dynamic pricing algorithms to adjust your product prices based on real-time conditions, such as market demand, competitor pricing, and more, and helps you optimize your product pricing strategies. It allows you to allocate competitive pricing for your products while ensuring better sales, boosting customer satisfaction, and maximizing revenue.
Key Features -
- Product pricing management
- AI-driven dynamic pricing
- Competition monitoring
- Analytics and Reporting
4. CartStack
CartStack is a specialized tool that focuses primarily on reducing cart abandonment and maximizing sales. It helps you target those customers who have abandoned their carts and engage them with your brand via personalized emails, text messages, web notifications, push notifications, and more. The goal is to increase the chances of recovering abandoned sales by tracking customer behavior.
Key Features -
- Email personalization
- SMS notifications
- Push notifications
- Exit-intent offers
- Conversion tools
- Real-time analytics
5. Bodt
Bodt.io is an excellent tool to automate customer support for eCommerce stores. The AI-powered intelligence engine that Bodt works on understands your customers and delivers personalized responses to them at all times. With the help of this chat automation tool, you can assist customers with their queries thereby engaging them with your brand and ensuring better retention.
Key Features -
- 24*7 availability
- Proactive engagement
- Live interaction with customers
- Multi-language support
How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Business?
Choosing the right eCommerce automation tool for your business requires careful consideration of your specific needs and goals.
Ask yourself the following questions -
- What are my business goals? The answer to this question will help you set the right direction for your automation efforts. Some of the most common goals include increasing sales, streamlining business operations, boosting team productivity, improving customer engagement, and so on.
- What are the tasks in my current eCommerce operations that I want to automate? By evaluating your existing workflow and identifying the manual, time-consuming tasks, you will learn more about how automation can enhance your efficiency.
- Which tools should I invest in? Does it offer the features I am looking for? Does it integrate seamlessly with my existing website? Does it offer customization? Is it user-friendly? Conduct thorough research to identify the right tools for your business. The more questions you ask, the better your chances of finding the perfect tool that fits your business processes.
- What is your budget? Consider the pricing structure for the monthly subscriptions. Find out if there are any additional costs, such as implementation, ongoing support, or training associated with the pricing.
- What do the existing customers have to say about this tool? Read reviews of these products written by businesses that are similar to yours. You may also seek recommendations from your connections or online communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Shopify Automation Real? Yes, Shopify automation is real. It offers features like automated order processing, inventory management, eCommerce marketing, customer support, and more to streamline store operations and improve efficiency.
- Do Automated eCommerce Stores Work? Yes, automated eCommerce stores indeed work. Automation can turn out to be highly effective when implemented correctly. Leading eCommerce platform, Amazon leverages AI personalization and automation for managing vast product catalogs, managing inventory levels, optimizing logistics, and more to thrive in this competitive industry.
- How does eCommerce automation work with Shopify? Shopify eCommerce automation can be implemented using Shopify's built-in features and other third-party apps. For instance, Shopify can automatically send order-related updates to customers with the help of order automation. Shopify's integration with Klaviyo can help you with personalized email marketing campaigns for enhanced customer engagement.
Conclusion
eCommerce automation is rapidly becoming a cornerstone for online businesses seeking efficiency, growth, and enhanced customer experiences. From order processing to inventory management, from marketing campaigns to customer support; eCommerce automation is known to optimize business operations and maximize sales. Have you implemented automation in your business, and if so, what impact has it had? Feel free to share your tactics with us in the comments below.
