Running an ecommerce store might seem more straightforward than operating a brick-and-mortar store. And it’s true, ecommerce businesses avoid some of the headaches of having a physical location, but they still require inventory management, HR, email marketing efforts, and other processes.
Running an ecommerce business doesn’t need to be overwhelming, especially with the right ecommerce automation tools. These tools, which handle anything from email marketing automation to tax reporting, can streamline your business operations and free you from the repetitive tasks that cut into time better spent on strategy and building relationships.
Here are ways ecommerce stores can use automation software to optimize business processes.
Types of ecommerce automation
- Inventory management automation
- Marketing automation
- Customer service automation
- Accounting automation
- Data analytics automation
An ecommerce automation tool can simplify many tasks required to run an online store. Here are five categories of ecommerce automation:
Inventory management automation
Automated inventory management tools can handle order processing by tracking inventory levels and managing order processing. When customers place orders, ecommerce automation software can automatically alert a warehouse to pack and ship merchandise.
Inventory management software can then send follow-up information to customers, allowing them to track their orders. It can also update inventory counts so you know how many items remain in stock, ensuring timely order fulfillment and reducing the risk of stockouts.
AI-driven inventory management systems can also analyze sales trends to forecast consumer demand and automate reordering.
Marketing automation
You can use ecommerce marketing automation software to run automated marketing campaigns, including automated email campaigns, SMS marketing campaigns, and social media campaigns.
Given how much consumers purchase via social networks—with nearly $1.7 trillion projected for 2024—you may also want an automation platform that focuses specifically on social media automation. This includes handling posting schedules, content sharing, and engagement, allowing you to maintain a consistent online presence.
An ecommerce marketing automation platform can free up your social media and marketing team to focus on higher-order tasks, like devising a marketing strategy and handing off more rudimentary marketing tasks to machines.
Customer service automation
Automated customer relationship management (CRM) tools can help your customer support team serve as many clients as possible by automating processes like lead management, contact management, and customer analytics. Meanwhile, automated customer service software allows customers to track their orders, initiate returns, and access FAQs, reducing the need for human-to-human customer support.
You can also use AI customer service chatbots that respond instantly to customer queries, give product recommendations, and offer solutions to common issues without human intervention.
Accounting automation
An accounting automation tool can automate repetitive tasks like entering financial transactions into a business ledger, reconciling accounts payable and accounts receivable balances, or preparing financial statements like a profit and loss report.
Some accounting tools also include advanced features that let you pay bills automatically.
Data analytics automation
Ecommerce automation platforms can leverage your customer interactions to inform you about your buyers’ demographics. Many ecommerce automation software includes data analytics tools that collect and analyze customer data. You can use this information to predict customer behavior and sales trends and aid in ecommerce marketing efforts.
What are the benefits of ecommerce automation?
- Streamlined operations and efficiency
- Enhanced customer experience
- Optimized marketing campaigns
- Increased revenue and growth
- Seamless ecommerce integrations
From eliminating manual tasks to boosting customer engagement, automation tools can revolutionize your ecommerce operations. Here are five key benefits of automation:
Streamlined operations and efficiency
A comprehensive automation platform offers pre-built automation workflows ranging from social media scheduling to financial reporting. When you automate tasks like these, your team can focus more on strategy and creativity—disciplines that can’t be automated.
Enhanced customer experience
Many businesses streamline tedious tasks using automation tools and then focus on nurturing customer relationships. Or, they use automated tools that improve customer satisfaction, such as chatbots that can quickly answer inquiries.
Optimized marketing campaigns
Marketing automation tools enable you to target specific customer segments based on their behaviors, preferences, and purchase histories. For instance, when you integrate an email marketing tool with your ecommerce platform, you can create and execute targeted email campaigns that resonate with different customer segments, driving engagement and conversions.
Increased revenue and growth
The efficiencies provided by automation can save costs and lead to better resource allocation. You can free up your team to address higher-level decisions by reassigning some human tasks to machines.
Automation also helps identify and nurture leads, converting them into paying customers, driving growth, and increasing revenue. You can use comprehensive tools to follow up with sales leads automatically, automate marketing campaigns, and share data between sales and marketing teams.
Seamless ecommerce integrations
Many automation tools offer seamless integrations with popular ecommerce platforms, including Shopify. By automatically integrating customer data, inventory management, and sales information, these tools can help your online business create a comprehensive view of your customers and their behaviors.
Top ecommerce automation tools
The leading ecommerce automation tools can address nearly every aspect of your ecommerce operations, from marketing and customer service to inventory management and analytics. Here are standout automation tools:
Shopify Flow
Designed for Shopify merchants, Shopify Flow lets you create automated workflows for various tasks such as inventory management, order processing, customer interactions, and other back-office tasks—and it doesn’t require any coding knowledge.
Shopify’s marketing automation tools
Shopify also offers everything you need to manage your email marketing and marketing automations. Capture leads and grow your list with Shopify Forms, send email campaigns using Shopify Email, and automate key marketing moments with automation templates and custom marketing workflows (all built on Flow). You can even create segments of your customers list to better target your messages.
HubSpot Marketing Hub
Marketing Hub is a comprehensive marketing automation tool that integrates seamlessly with Shopify and other ecommerce platforms. Its marketing automation capabilities let you set up email marketing campaigns, social media campaigns, customer loyalty programs, and analytics.
Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a powerful email marketing tool with robust segmentation capabilities, allowing personalized and targeted email campaigns. You can use Klaviyo to segment customers based on user behavior, preferences, and purchase history, then manage campaigns to reach these customers.
Optimizely
Optimizely focuses on optimizing the customer experience through A/B testing and personalization. To enhance conversions and user engagement, you can automate testing different website elements, such as landing pages and product suggestions.
Omnisend
Omnisend specializes in omnichannel marketing, allowing you to automate email, SMS, and other messaging channels for personalized customer engagement. This helps you provide potential customers with content that’s more likely to convert them into paying clients.
Reveal by Omniconvert
Reveal is an analytics and customer segmentation tool that uses AI to track customer behavior and preferences. It can help you identify target customers and automate personalized marketing campaigns.
Zendesk
Zendesk is a customer service platform that automates customer support through AI-powered chatbots, ticket routing, and self-service options, allowing you to manage customer communication efficiently across various channels.
ShipStation
ShipStation is an order fulfillment platform that automates shipping and tracking processes. It integrates with multiple ecommerce platforms, providing real-time tracking information to customers.
Zapier
Zapier is a versatile tool that connects various apps and automates workflows across different platforms. With Zapier, you can create custom integrations and automate tasks between apps without coding.
Ecommerce automation tools FAQ
Are there drawbacks to ecommerce automation?
Ecommerce automation streamlines your online businesses, but it has some potential drawbacks. Ineffectively managed automation can diminish personalization in customer interactions, and new software often involves a learning curve and can be intricate and demanding in terms of setup and maintenance.
Can you fully automate a Shopify store?
While Shopify Flow's automation can efficiently manage many tasks in a Shopify store, and Shopify's marketing automations can send the right message at the right time, it's essential to maintain human oversight and intervention.
Do automated ecommerce stores work?
Automated ecommerce stores can be highly effective in streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, and driving sales. Still, success often depends on strategically implementing automation tools and supplementing them with human intervention and strategic planning.
