When you’re running an online store, does it ever feel more like you’re on a treadmill than approaching the finish line?
You start the day with big plans — maybe planning a new product launch or marketing strategy — but instead, you’re drowning in order updates, responding to customers, and manually adjusting inventory levels. By the time you catch your breath, the day is gone, and the to-do list in front of you hasn’t shrunk at all but is even longer.
If that sounds like your daily routine, you’ll be happy to hear that ecommerce automations can handle many of these tedious tasks so you don’t have to. From basic inventory management to order processing and shipping, let automations streamline operations so you can focus on growing your business.
Getting started with ecommerce automation
Automated tools handle repetitive tasks for you. For example, rather than manually updating stock levels in a spreadsheet, you can let an automated inventory management system adjust inventory after receiving a new sales order.
With the right ecommerce automation software, you can:
- Optimize order management and fulfillment processes to reduce errors and delays
- Automatically send personalized emails, discounts, and promotions based on customer behavior
- Keep your warehouse organized with real-time stock updates
- Improve the customer experience with faster responses and better customer support
- Streamline marketing automation so online stores sell when you’re not working
Automation processes work through triggers, actions, and conditions. Triggers — like a customer placing an order — activate automated workflows that perform a predefined action, like sending a confirmation email or updating inventory levels. Many ecommerce platforms offer built-in automation software, and third-party tools like Shopify Flow, HubSpot, and ShipStation can further enhance your ability to integrate automation into your business operations.
For example, let’s say a customer purchases a new product. Your ecommerce order management system can automatically adjust stock levels, notify the fulfillment team, and trigger a follow-up email with an order confirmation for the customer — all without you lifting a finger.
Benefits of ecommerce automation
Whether it’s sending automated emails, updating inventory, or improving order fulfillment, automation helps your business run smoother and grow faster. Businesses that use automation see a 14.5% increase in sales productivity and a 12.2% reduction in marketing costs.
Here’s why automating key tasks for your ecommerce business is a game-changer.
It saves you time and money
Think about how much time you spend on tasks like order processing, inventory updates, and customer support. Now, imagine if those tasks were taken off your to-do list. With the right ecommerce process automation, you live just that: You cut down manual work and reduce errors that come from inputting data across platforms.
Your customers get a better experience
Nobody likes waiting for a response to their questions or wondering when their order will ship. Automated workflows send real-time notifications and offer personalized experiences that boost customer loyalty. A study found that 80% of customers are more likely to buy from brands that offer personalized experiences — which can be done with the right automations in place.
It helps you sell more
Ever added something to your cart and then forgotten about it? Automated abandoned cart emails can remind customers to complete their purchases. You can also set up triggers that send discounts, product recommendations, and targeted email marketing campaigns when customers don’t complete a sale.
Fewer mistakes, smoother operations
Updating inventory manually can lead to inaccurate counts, then resulting in overselling or running out of stock unexpectedly. With automated inventory management systems, your stock levels update in real time, reducing errors and keeping customers happy. Plus, ecommerce order management systems ensure that orders are processed and shipped efficiently.
It scales as you grow
The more successful your ecommerce store becomes, the harder it is to manage everything by hand. Automation allows you to handle more orders, customers, and marketing efforts without adding stress — or more employees.
12 ways to automate ecommerce
Here’s how to automate your ecommerce business processes to make your operations more efficient:
1. Automate order management
Instead of manually processing every order, use an ecommerce order management system to handle everything from order fulfillment to invoicing. Tools like Shopify Flow and ShipStation process orders automatically, reducing delays and mistakes.
2. Use Fishbowl for inventory automation
Keeping track of stock manually is time-consuming and prone to errors. Fishbowl’s automated inventory management system helps monitor stock levels, reorder products when they run low, and sync with ecommerce platforms to avoid overselling.
3. Recover lost sales with automated abandoned cart emails
On average, 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned. But a well-timed automated email can bring customers back. Set up email marketing tools like HubSpot or Klaviyo to trigger emails reminding shoppers to complete their purchase.
4. Automate customer support with AI chatbots
Customers expect quick responses, but you can’t be online 24/7. AI-powered customer support chatbots can handle FAQs, order status inquiries, and even refund requests — reducing response times and improving satisfaction.
5. Segment customers for personalized marketing
Use CRM tools to segment customers based on shopping behavior and send targeted marketing campaigns instead of generic emails. For example, first-time buyers could get a welcome discount, while repeat customers earn loyalty perks.
6. Schedule social media and content marketing
Manually posting on social media daily is exhausting. Tools like Buffer and Hootsuite let you plan and schedule posts in advance, keeping ecommerce marketing consistent without extra effort.
7. Automate discounts and special offers
Create automated workflows to apply discounts based on customer actions. For example, you can automatically trigger a discount for a customer who hasn’t shopped in a while or offer free shipping on orders above a certain amount.
8. Streamline shipping and fulfillment
Shipping can be chaotic, but automation software can handle it. Ecommerce warehouse solutions help manage packaging, while tools like ShipStation integrate with multiple carriers to find the best rates and generate shipping labels automatically.
9. Set up automated review requests
Positive reviews boost trust and sales, but most customers won’t leave one unless asked. Use tools like Yotpo or Trustpilot to send automated review requests after a purchase.
10. Use AI for dynamic pricing
With automated pricing tools, you can adjust prices based on demand, competitor pricing, or inventory levels — ensuring you always stay competitive without manually researching and updating prices.
11. Automate stock alerts and replenishment
Get notified when inventory is running low, or better yet, let your ecommerce order management system reorder stock for you. Some automation tools can even prioritize bestsellers to avoid stockouts.
12. Integrate email and SMS automation for better engagement
Rather than manually sending out newsletters and promotions, use automation software like HubSpot or Mailchimp to schedule emails and track engagement.
Top 4 tools to support ecommerce automation
The right tools can take repetitive tasks off your plate so you can focus on scaling your business. Here are four of the best automation tools to help streamline your ecommerce store.
1. Fishbowl Commerce Suite — smarter inventory management
Struggling with stock tracking and order fulfillment? Fishbowl Commerce Suite automates inventory management, preventing stockouts and optimizing reordering. With AI-driven analytics and seamless integrations, it keeps backend operations running smoothly. Plus, Fishbowl’s powerful integrations connect with accounting platforms, shipping carriers, ecommerce sites, and more to organize crucial data in one place.
Why it’s great:
- Includes AI-powered demand forecasting
- Provides an automated inventory management system for smarter stock control
- Integrates with major ecommerce channels to keep their stock levels in sync
2. Shopify Flow – no-code automation for Shopify stores
For Shopify users, Shopify Flow automates repetitive tasks like tagging high-risk orders, segmenting customers, and applying discounts without coding.
Why it’s great:
- Automates fraud detection and customer loyalty programs
- Simplifies backend workflows
- Works with other ecommerce platforms
3. ShipStation – streamlined shipping and fulfillment
ShipStation automates order fulfillment by selecting the best shipping rates, printing labels, and updating customers with tracking notifications.
Why it’s great:
- Syncs with major carriers (FedEx, UPS, USPS)
- Automatically applies the best rates
- Integrates with ecommerce platforms for smooth shipping
4. HubSpot – marketing and customer relationship management
HubSpot automates email marketing, customer support, and CRM, helping you nurture leads and manage the customer experience efficiently.
Why it’s great:
- Automates email campaigns and lead nurturing
- Offers chatbot and ticketing for customer service
- Has deep integrations with ecommerce marketing platforms
These tools eliminate manual work, optimize operations, and improve the customer experience, making it easier to grow your online store.
Simplify and scale your ecommerce operations with Fishbowl
Running an ecommerce business involves endless moving parts — inventory, order fulfillment, customer demands, and more. Without the right automations, it’s easy to get stuck doing manual tasks that drain time and resources.
Fishbowl Commerce Suite takes the guesswork out of ecommerce automation, helping you:
- Automate inventory management to avoid stockouts and overstocking
- Streamline order fulfillment for faster, error-free shipping
- Leverage real-time insights to make smarter, data-driven decisions
- Integrate seamlessly with leading ecommerce platforms and tools
Ready to work smarter and grow faster? Book a demo today and see how Fishbowl Commerce Suite can transform your operations.
