Ecommerce Automation in 2023
eCommerce Automation in 2023
We can understand that managing orders, tracking and fulfilling them across multiple ecommerce faces can be a complicated side to your business. In fact, most retailers have kept to manual handling and integration which inevitably leads to orders being created incorrectly, postage address missing key information and even the simplest of tasks such as ensuring labels are generated through a courier website. This can result in major time loss and even in customers.
Companies that have adapted to the modernisation of ecommerce have made steps towards automating their orders, but what is ecommerce automation and why is it relevant for modern day businesses heading into 2023?
Here we will give you a run down and additionally some strategies on how to improve your resources and competing with other brands.
What is ecommerce automation?
Ecommerce automation is typically software that will complete jobs that are usually handled by an individual and take shorter periods of time compared to doing them manually. The fundamental basis of ecommerce automation is to ensure the order fulfilment process goes smoothly and effortlessly, giving more opportunities for time to be used efficiently while saving on costs.
A basic example could be when a sale is placed for items that have the least stock left. If a customer has placed an order for the last item, the system would recognise the last quantity has been claimed, therefore the value must be altered to ‘0’ and would automatically switch the item’s status from ‘in stock’ to ‘out of stock’.
Why is ecommerce automation important?
With Covid-19 striking the high-street, online shopping became the sole provider for consumers, the United Kingdom experienced over 20% growth and internationally, businesses that boosted online sales were gaining double income with each year following the pandemic. Naturally great power comes great responsibility, covering inventory across multiple online platforms, tracking orders/inbound stock, organising analytic reports and even allocating the correct couriers for parcels, it can be hard to keep up with the standards of automation as a manually operated business.
The standards held by consumers have never been higher with the competition of e-commerce, so it’s understandable that businesses are strained trying to reach the satisfaction expected in comparison to the big corporate companies with fast and free deliveries. It can be an overwhelming process to handle, but with the correct software it can become a seamless experience for consumer and company, giving you the chance to focus on the smaller details that can provide that final touch.
#1 – Automate your orders
Managing orders requires a lot of care and attention to detail in order to prevent any mistakes, anything from the incorrect item, wrong address line, missing additional fees or even invoices errors can set back valued time and efforts put into one individual alone. Automated management can ensure that rules are followed for procedures such as this, confirming inventory quantity, linking up channels to procure a flow of incoming orders, courier connections which can add a smooth method for generating labels.
Business growth will increase pressure with fulfilling orders in a timely manner, automation is no longer something that can be put off and turns into a requirement in order to show progress and reduce any errors that may occur. While running automation, you do not lose control of how to manage your orders in fact it offers more organisation than can be handled manually and finding the right software can also make it easy to follow and easy to train additional people.
#2 – Broaden shopping integrations
Amazon and eBay are not the only cool-kids on the block. With an increase in online shopping, Shopify, WooCommerce and Etsy have been rising in sales and reaching customers, allowing you access to multiple channels for sales will permit you to fulfil different customers. A lot of the Amazon customers order for free next-day delivery and more often than not turn a blind eye to the cost of the item in comparison to a business’ personal online shop, in those cases, we will see the customers who feel the benefit of finding the item cheaper and wait a longer amount of time for a £2.00 delivery fee. So as long as your orders are being fulfilled on time customers will flock to whichever will work for them best and become a loyal consumer due to the organisation of an automatic integration. Fitting your brand’s account to automated software will keep orders flowing throughout the day and proves to be a smooth set up.
#3 – Manage inventory on all selling platforms
As aforementioned, you can connect your business to multiple channels, once set up on the software, the inventory can keep synced in order to prevent any oversales on specific items, limited editions or bundle. Values that hit ‘0’ in the automation will automatically switch the SKU to ‘Off Sale’. Some software’s have a feature so that any replenished stock that come in on an inbound shipment from your stock providers will complete an automatic update it.
Example being, due to consistent sales, one of our top selling items is now out of stock, after receiving a fresh supply of this SKU, I can upload this as an ASN (Advanced Shipment Notice) and confirm that X of Y stock has been booked in. The system can spot the number has changed since changing it to ‘Off Sale’ and will now enable orders to come through instead of pushing them into Backorder.
There is also an option to allow pre-orders. If an item is a seasonal or limited time for your shop, you can allow an option to show how many orders are coming through for an item which can be pre-determined before ordering the stock in.
#4 – Cover multiple couriers
Within the last year, couriers have shown a struggle and unpredictability with delivering parcels in a timely manner, delays like these only go so far until they are out of your own control. An automated system will have access to different courier portals. Varying from Royal Mail, DPD and Amazon Shipping to FedEx, UPS and other international services.
If any strikes, issues or even technical errors can be forecasted before orders are fulfilled, you can disable the courier in which the labels automatically generate from and switch over to another courier within seconds.
When there are items that exceed courier regulations, be it weight, height or in some cases restricted item types (variety of paints, electrical goods, etc), most systems offer an option to estimate the weight of an order and it will automatically assign a different courier or type of service provided by them. This also works with items that cost over a certain amount in the invoice, providing it a more secure service or a quicker delivery timeframe.
This also works with specific channel types, for example, Amazon will only permit prime couriers if they have a prime badge, eBay offers cheaper delivery services, therefore Royal Mail Tracked 48 would work in this case.
#5 – Enriching your time and efforts
Needless to say, ecommerce automation will free up more of your time than can be fathomed. Not only is it liberating but the system will be working hard on multiple fronts when tasks can be limited by people and periods of time. No need to worry about paying overtime or hours outside of the standard practice for catching up on orders that need importing and packing, the only effort that needs to be made will be down to what you decide to do with the time leftover.
Customers will not only flock with outstanding deliveries times and item quality but that the ecommerce’s functionally has become so advanced and simple that it can easily turn you into their #1 provider for their necessities. This is the prime time to focus on the smaller details or even big projects that you were unable to occupy with manual ecommerce tasks.
Streamline your ecommerce and take your business to the next level, it may seem like a cautious step to take but heading in the right direction after a bit of research, you will find that it can be a chip off your shoulder.