5 eCommerce Automation Tips to Start Using Today
September 11th, 2020
A great number of entrepreneurs nowadays are well aware of how lucrative an eCommerce venture can be. This industry is breaking records every day.
According to a study by Statista, this industry was worth a whopping $3.535 billion at the end of 2019. This was recorded after a year-on-year growth measurement that saw a rise in revenue from around $1.3 billion as recently as 2014.
Of course, in a growing industry such as this one, development is vital. To differentiate yourself from the rest, you have to do certain things better than other businesses.
Automation, obviously, is one of the segments you need to work on if you want to set a new standard in the industry. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, keep reading this article on automation tips for eCommerce.
What kind of automation do you need?
Probably the best thing that you can do to improve your business processes nowadays is to take advantage of workflow automation. This can be a way for you to streamline all of your business processes. With it, you can identify repetitive tasks or any manual process that could be better managed by software, apps, or tech.
Once you identify all these tasks or processes, you can take them out of your team’s hands and save precious time for more important things. These dull tasks shall be done automatically, and your employees can, in turn, focus on something more vital to your business.
There are various processes across different departments of your business that can be automated. This can be inventory management, email marketing, apparel management, and so on. It all depends on your niche and products.
Why workflow automation is good for your eCommerce website
To better your business in general, you have to enhance various business processes. There are three key ways where workflow automation can help you achieve that.
Efficiency
Many tasks in the eCommerce industry are dull and repetitive. But that doesn’t mean that you can just ignore them altogether. For instance, order management can be quite mundane. This field requires a lot of data entry, which is not too fun to do.
Data accuracy
Online stores generate a lot of data like information about customers, order details, stock numbers, and so on. Every business needs to enter and store this kind of data accurately in various systems. With automation, you don’t need to do this manually.
Productivity
Automating repetitive tasks frees up a lot of time that can be used for more important business processes. Automation tools let you get the most from your workers, and be as productive as possible. Always remember that workflow automation is all about great business process management.
5 automation tips to start using today
There is more than one way to use tech and automation to better your business processes. However, let’s narrow down the list to five methods that have helped retailers the most.
Workflow automation and marketing
Only when you successfully keep but also manage to acquire new customers can you expect growth. There are ways to improve this area of your business with automation.
First of all, you can use automation tools to schedule social media posts automatically. Social media platforms are simply a must in the world of online marketing. After all, more than half of social media users research products through their preferred platforms.
So, take advantage of automation tools in this area without devoting too many staff-hours and focus your efforts on more important tasks.
Manufacturing and supply chain management
Some entrepreneurs rely on automation tools to handle their supply and manufacturing management processes. For instance, if you have a clothing store, you could make great use of apparel management software. This kind of software will give you all the right tools to help you manage your business inventory easily.
To be precise, this software can:
- Manage manufacturing and supply chain processes
- Provide ERP features specific for apparel retailers
- Provide tools for managing orders, sales floor management, and customization
If you’d like to learn more about this kind of tool, check out Apparel Magic guide to Apparel Management Software.
Inventory management
Every online store owner knows the value of great inventory management. Proper tracking and management of stock can make a big difference. Understock and you won’t be able to fulfill critical orders. Overstock and you will be wasting valuable warehouse space.
But when you automate inventory management, you can make warehousing and fulfillment considerably easier.
Sales automation
The majority of online stores rely on visitors to find their websites and buy products. When you have a sales team, an automated workflow can really make sales agents’ lives easier.
If you implement the right automation software, you eliminate different sales tasks. An agent has to find leads and close deals, and they face a lot of repetitive and time-consuming tasks while doing so.
Automating these mundane tasks can free up your sales team to do what they are best at – finding customers and closing deals. Automated workflows in CRM systems streamline various processes, so all a sales agent needs to do is click once or twice.
For example, consider what happens when a new prospect gets added to a network. Automation tools can then instantly log their details, schedule a sales call, and direct that call to a sales agent.
Order management automation
Order management is the process by which customers’ orders get tracked and processed from the moment they order something until the end. This sequence of actions can be automated too.
For instance, automation tools can help with shipping labels. Since the dispatch and delivery of orders are essential for every eCommerce business, this cannot be undermined.
Failed deliveries can cause big expenses in the long term. It often happens that a worker mistypes an address on a shipping label and that’s how the problem occurs. Luckily, you can eliminate this chance of human error with automation software.
Ready to integrate?
It is clear now that streamlining business processes through automation can only be a good thing. Automation software could make a big difference to your productivity and, as a result, your bottom line.
Do not allow yourself to miss out on this opportunity. Integration may take some time, but it will be worth every second and every dollar.
Are you ready to implement automation software and better your own business processes?
Dave is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Shortlist in 2018, a marketing un-agency that serves as an outsourced dedicated marketing team. He has also co-founded Less.churn, a churn reduction app, prior to selling it in 2018. In 2012, he quit his job to travel the world, and has visited over 65 countries.
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