Ecommerce Automation: 6 Tasks to Automate and Save Time

Intro

eCommerce automation refers to using tools and systems to automate repetitive tasks, increase efficiency, and enhance the productivity of an online store. From backend operations to customer communication, automation can easily turn these tasks into automated workflows. These workflows trigger specific events and execute actions at the exact moments they're needed.

A trigger can be an event like a customer placing an order, while an action, on the other hand, may refer to the change made once a workflow is activated. For example, a customer who placed an order above $100 could be sent a gift or tagged a high-priority customer.

Top 6 eCommerce Tasks to Automate

• Email Marketing and Segmentation
  • Nurturing Leads With Email Campaigns
  • Recovering Abandoned Carts
  • Encouraging Customer Reviews
• Automating Repeat Purchases to Boost Customer Retention
• Social Media Management
• Adjusting Product Pricing
• Enhancing User Experience
• Low Stock Alerts & Back-in-Stock Messages

1. Email Marketing and Segmentation

Segmenting your audience and tailoring your messages accordingly, is required for the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts.

Several email marketing platforms offer automation features based on factors like purchase history, browsing behavior, and location. These platforms are designed to help you automate email campaigns to nurture leads, recover abandoned carts, and send personalized messages. You can also create automated follow up sequences in Gmail instead of manually following up every time – if you can’t afford such tools.

Nurturing Leads with Automated Email Campaigns

Not all website visitors are ready to buy right away. To convert them into customers, you'll need to engage with them and guide them gradually. Automating lead nurturing campaigns helps you to maintain consistent communication with leads – increasing the likelihood of sales when they’re ready.

Klaviyo is an example of a versatile platform for automating email campaigns.

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You can use email automation to send personalized content to leads based on specific triggers like downloading a resource or signing up for a newsletter. Providing valuable information and addressing common concerns will gradually turn them into loyal customers.

Recovering Abandoned Carts

A study shows that ~70% of online shoppers abandon their carts. However, automating abandoned cart emails will remind and encourage them to complete their orders.

Recovering a good percentage of abandoned carts will significantly boost your revenue.

Here’s an example of an abandoned cart email from Only Curls.

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It’s well-personalized and engaging.

Encouraging Customer Reviews

Online reviews heavily influence the purchase decisions of potential customers. A steady stream of positive reviews about your products equals more trust and credibility in your brand.

Automating review requests will help you gather more feedback without you having to reach out to each customer individually. Use post-purchase email automation to send review requests to customers after they've received their orders.

Here’s a template you can customize.

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Also, try offering incentives such as discounts to encourage customers to leave reviews.

2. Automating Repeat Purchases to Boost Customer Retention

Maintaining existing customers is far cheaper than acquiring new ones. One way to encourage repeat purchases is through eCommerce automation.

Let’s say you sell biscuits: implementing a subscription service that automatically allows customers to pay monthly simplifies the buying process, and helps in predicting your monthly revenue.

Recurly is an example of a subscription-based platform supporting automated billing.

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3. Social Media Management

Managing multiple social platforms can be time-consuming. Automating aspects of social media management helps you maintain a consistent presence online while freeing up time for important tasks.

Tools like Buffer allow you to schedule posts in advance to ensure content is published at optimal times.

Buffer can also act as a social listening tool for monitoring conversations about your brand and its competitors.

4. Adjusting Product Pricing

With other competitors vying for the seller’s attention, you’ll need to strike a balance between attractive pricing and profitability.

Automatic repricing tools use algorithms to analyze market conditions and adjust your prices accordingly. These algorithms, for example, can help you win the coveted "Buy Box" section on Amazon.

Seller Snap – a premium solution for Amazon sellers – combines automated repricing with business intelligence, to help you maximize profit.

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This eCommerce automation saves hours of manual price adjustments and minimizes the risk of losing profits as a result of outdated pricing.

5. Enhancing User Experience

While many aspects of website design and functionality should be addressed before launch, there are also real-time, on-page features that can be automated to improve the user experience.

Tidio’s chatbot software allows eCommerce businesses to automate customer support, and provide active customer service.

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Chatbots give instant answers to questions, while dynamic social proof pop-ups can display recent purchases to encourage visitors to buy a product. Automating these on-page features provides a more engaging and personalized experience for website visitors.

“Social proof or informational social influence is the notion that we look to others to determine the correct behavior or decision.” (Via Bizpedia)

Fenty Beauty’s chatbot, for example, could answer most of my questions, and even offered to connect me with a beauty advisor.

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6. Low Stock Alerts & Back In-Stock Messages

Running out of popular or limited-availability items can frustrate customers and lead to lost sales. To prevent stockouts, use eCommerce automation to:

• Notify you when stock is low
• Notify customers when items are back in stock

Shopify for example, integrates with inventory management apps like Stocky – which has built-in inventory tracking capabilities – to send automated notifications when products go out of stock or reach a predefined threshold.

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Off Hours’ subtle back-in-stock email gives customers a precise date of when inventory will return – while also telling customers to pre-order because quantities are limited.

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Email platforms like Klaviyo also integrate with Shopify and BigCommerce – allowing you to add "Notify Me When Available" buttons to automatically email customers when inventory levels are replenished. This not only improves the customer experience but also helps capture potential sales that may have otherwise been lost.

The Benefits of Ecommerce Automation

Implementing ecommerce automation comes with a wide range of benefits for your business. Here are 3 important advantages that come with automating your ecommerce store.

1. Increased Efficiency

Automating repetitive tasks frees up valuable time to focus on activities that will generate more revenue. This includes expanding into new marketplaces, negotiating deals with suppliers, and creating customer loyalty programs.

2. Improved Accuracy and Reputation

Manual processes are prone to human error, which often leads to fulfillment issues and negative reviews. Automating your ecommerce operations ensures that every task is executed with precision and accuracy. Mistyped addresses and order numbers can result in lost or delayed orders – damaging your reputation and discouraging potential customers as a result.

Automation prevents these errors and reduces the risk of promoting and selling products that are out of stock.

3. Enhanced Customer Delivery Experience

Automation ensures a seamless delivery experience by providing customers with important information. Automated notifications, for example, can keep customers informed about the status of their order, from when it leaves the warehouse to when it arrives at their chosen pick-up location. This level of transparency increases satisfaction and encourages repeat purchases.

Conclusion

Incorporating eCommerce automation into your business saves time, streamlines processes, and ultimately boosts conversions. Automating tasks such as email marketing, and social media management gives you enough time to focus on the growth of your business.

Explore the various automation tools and strategies outlined in this post to find the perfect ones for your business.