What Is ECommerce Automation & How Does It Work in 2024?

When was the last time you talked to a sales representative explaining the type of product you need in a particular store? When was the last time you contacted a customer support representative about your order delivery-related queries? 

From placing orders to tracking them, it's a matter of a few clicks with the magic of Ecommerce automation. Bringing the entire Ecommerce world at our fingertips and convenience, the entire operation is so seamless with automation.

With every other industry hopping in to adopt this rising technology, Ecommerce is nowhere behind. But, what is Ecommerce automation? How does it work with AI in Ecommerce? What are the types and examples of Ecommerce automation? What benefits does it bring for the industry? Let's explore this today!

What Is E-Commerce Automation?

Ecommerce automation, as the name suggests, refers to the process of automating and streamlining the various Ecommerce operations, right from inventory management to customer support, using various applications and technology. Just like an Ecommerce store is a replacement for an offline store, automation replaces the repetitive manual tasks and processes thus making them more efficient, productive and accurate. 

In the big picture, it frees up employees from the monotonous and routine tasks thus allowing them to focus on more creative aspects. Ecommerce automation includes automation in all aspects and operations of an Ecommerce store, which includes order processing, marketing, supply chain management, customer support etc. 

Now, why must Ecommerce businesses automate? Automation is not just a rising trend; but a necessity. With the expansion of the customer base in Ecommerce, it becomes increasingly difficult to scale the manpower in a business. This comes along with a significant rise in costs. 

However, with automation, businesses can reduce manpower while automating routine tasks. This not just saves manpower but also time, energy and resources. Furthermore, this also improves efficiency and productivity of the operational processes.

How Does E-Commerce Automation Work?

Majority of Ecommerce automation workflow comprises three basic steps: trigger, condition, and action. Let's say, you have integrated automated chatbots in your Ecommerce for enhancing the search features and make it convenient for customers to look for their favourite products easily. 

Firstly, the visitor will land on the Ecommerce store website and search for a keyword related to the product they need. Let's say the user is looking for some gym clothes; he/she will search for "gym outfit". This term is the trigger for the chatbot. 

The chatbot will now look up for similar keywords and products categorised under those keywords. Here, the chatbot is trying to fit the user's search intent with the already established conditions. 

Now, in the "action step", the chatbot will display the list of results the user would be interested in looking at. This automated process helps customers find their perfect product effortlessly while saving time and resources for the business and customers. Additionally, users can add a product to their cart and check out effortlessly with just a few clicks.

Types of Ecommerce Automation 

Ecommerce automation encompasses a wide range of automation. In the Ecommerce industry, there are tons of operations and processes which can and must be automated. Below listed are some of the most common types of Ecommerce automation.

1. Ecommerce Marketing Automation 

Ecommerce marketing automation revolves around using technology to automate the repetitive marketing operations in an Ecommerce business. From managing and analysing Email campaigns and advertisements to posting on social media, it covers all the major marketing areas. 

The best way to do so is to segment your audience based on existing customer data and craft personalised communication channels for each segment. Personalising the communication with customers is the key. 

Furthermore, Ecommerce businesses can leverage email campaigns and social media automation tools and applications to automate the respective operations. Nevertheless, marketing automation can also be used to analyse data and come up with valuable insights on the same.

2. E-Commerce Customer Service Automation

Ecommerce customer service automation is a strategic approach to streamlining and enhancing the support journey. This method involves deploying automated tools and processes to address customer inquiries, concerns, and issues efficiently.

This form of automation revolutionises customer interactions by integrating AI-driven conversational chatbots, ticketing systems, and knowledge bases. Automated responses swiftly handle routine queries, allowing human agents to focus on complex issues, ultimately providing a conversational customer experience.

3. Ecommerce Email Automation 

Ecommerce Email automation is the process of using technology to automate the various email marketing campaigns of a business. This includes not just sending personalised messages to customers but also managing and analysing Email campaigns and customer behaviour. 

This not just helps businesses create a personalised impact on the minds of customers but also boosts engagement and saves time. One example of an Ecommerce email is an abandoned cart recovery email. 

While automating Ecommerce Emails, businesses must focus on sending triggered emails with personalised messages. Furthermore, the email list must be clean, with the emails being mobile-friendly. Besides, Ecommerce businesses must focus on choosing the right set of tools and applications for effective Email marketing automation. 

5 Examples of Ecommerce Automation

Ecommerce Automation is game-changing; it streamlines the processes and enhances customer experiences. Let's delve into the 5 critical examples of Ecommerce automation: 

1. Workflow Automation 

An Ecommerce workflow involves multiple processes, from the beginning of a product displayed on the platform to the delivery of the product to the customer. The efficiency of the entire system can be optimised using automation. 

The operation and administrative responsibilities can be easily handled with any scope of error. Workflow automation accelerates tasks like inventory management, order processing, customer communication and much more.

2. Notification Emails 

Nearly $18 billion in sales revenue is lost annually by Ecommerce brands due to cart abandonment. Cart abandonment emails can boost sales by 4.43% across all Ecommerce industries. Brands can recover abandoned carts, provide notifications for order tracking, and promote products.

Brands can automate email notifications in order to achieve faster reach. Additionally, according to Neal Schaffer, the open rate of these automated emails is 70% more than that of manually sent emails. Furthermore, their click-through rate is also 150% more than traditional emails. 

3. Fraud Filtering 

By using AI and machine learning algorithms, Ecommerce businesses can find out and prevent fraudulent activities during online transactions. Fraud filtering involves analysing loads of data in real-time, learning from historical records and identifying anomalies. This kind of automation helps online retailers to proactively flag doubtful transactions to deteriorate the risk of financial loss and reputational hit. 

On top of that, AI-based fraud detection systems provide the advantage of real-time decision-making, risk assessment, etc. The most important factor is that unlike traditional fraud detection systems, AI-powered fraud filtering takes comparatively little time to complete the security processes. Businesses should really think of integrating fraud filtering automation to strengthen their security system and provide a seamless shopping experience to the customers. 

4. Marketing Automation Integrations 

By using software tools, marketing automation integration efficiently automates marketing tasks, boosts online store growth and enhances business workflows. Sending targeted texts to the customers, recommending the right products, notifying limited offers and improving customer service become a lot easier with marketing automation integration. 

Using AI-powered chatbots is the most effective way to use marketing automation integration as these chatbots can quickly attend to customer queries, send emails, optimise conversation timing etc. In fact, 25% of marketers openly agree that their customer journeys are fully-automated. This shows that through marketing automation integration, online retailers are actually increasing their sales, and online shoppers are indeed getting a smooth purchase and post-purchase experience. 

5. AI-Powered Automation 

Deploying AI-powered chatbots has been the latest active trend in the Ecommerce sector due to their huge number of advantages, especially in the marketing field. Equipped with NLP (Natural Language Processing), these advanced chatbots can easily understand human intentions and interpret human language to reach out to them accordingly and guide them through a successful online purchase. 

These automated assistants can handle product promotion and customer inquiries in an efficient way. Through AI-powered automation, customers can easily get personalised shopping experience, which increases their trust in a brand and further manifolds the number of sales. Ecommerce companies like Amazon, Salesforce and Walmart extensively use AI-powered automation to attract and retain customers. 

7 Benefits of Automation in Ecommerce

Ecommerce automation is a strategic investment that returns with numerous benefits. Here is a list of benefits:

1. Saves Time 

Automation in Ecommerce can directly resolve the issue of time-consuming tasks or repetitive tasks. When brands can automate their operations and administrative tasks, it will reduce human effort and any scope of errors. According to Shopify, automating Ecommerce processes can handle more than 1.1 billion workflows. It will help to save a total of 9.2 million hours, which is equivalent to more than 1000 years.

2. Streamlines Processes 

Ecommerce automation significantly makes marketing easier and profitable by ensuring error-free and well-coordinated workflow through the integration of multiple processes. Automation includes tasks like inventory management, payment and order processing, customer support, etc. 

3. Reduced Cart Abandonment 

By using timely reminders and notifying about offers through personalised conversations, Ecommerce automation solves one of the most challenging problems for an online retailer, cart abandonment. Automation increases the conversion rate by leading customers to a successful purchase through a seamless checkout process. 

4. Increased Efficiency & Productivity 

Reducing bottlenecks and optimising resource allocation through Ecommerce automation results in a brand's rapid growth. By achieving better and more accurate results in a short period of time, marketing teams can work in a more productive manner. Briefly, automation allows businesses to focus more on strategic tasks rather than repetitive activities.

5. Improved Customer Satisfaction

The most strong point about automation is that it provides customers with a personalised experience and streamlines support tasks. Notably, 73% of customers consider the overall customer experience as a decisive factor in shaping their purchasing decisions. Automation can manage multiple tasks simultaneously which provides a streamlined experience to a customer.

Top 5 E-Commerce Automation Tools in 2024

Below are the top 5 E-Commerce automation tools that US businesses must try in 2024. 

1. App0

When it comes to the best automation tools for Ecommerce, App0 always tops the list with its robust set of features and functionalities along with its well known customer base. Headquartered in San Francisco, App0 is a no-code AI messaging platform which helps businesses build and launch AI concierge and conversational chatbots right from scratch. 

Their AI concierge is a market expert built specifically for the Ecommerce industry. It easily analyses customer behaviour and interactions via text messaging, web chat and Email conversations. Accessible across all communication channels, their AI concierge is like a virtual sales associate or customer support capable of handling all types of customer queries. 

With App0's AI concierge, the complex processes like reordering and checkout are simplified processes ending within a few clicks. What makes App0 the best Ecommerce automation tool of 2024 is that it offers enterprise-grade security with robust features and integrations with popular Ecommerce giants. 

Features  

• Automated conversations with conversational AI
• Live chat, web chat, text messaging features
• Text-to-Shop feature
• Chat-driven Seamless checkout
• Seamless and easy integrations with Shopify Plus, Klaviyo, Attentive
• Enterprise-grade security
• Compliance

Pricing 

App0 offers custom pricing to ensure that every individual customer gets a customised solution according to their individual needs. Users should request a demo from their team to have an overview of their solutions and services.

2. Klaviyo

Klaviyo is a renowned global technology firm specialising in a marketing automation platform primarily dedicated to email and SMS marketing. The company enables businesses to transform customer data into tailored messages, facilitating communication across diverse channels. 

Among its key features are 2-way conversations, timely notifications, and AI-driven marketing guidance. With a user base exceeding 135,000 brands across 80+ countries, Klaviyo is strategically crafted to empower businesses in fostering growth by strategically utilising customer data for enhanced and personalised marketing campaigns.

Features

• Email and SMS automation
• Browse abandonment
• Win-back and cross-sell
• Integration with 300+ platforms
• Behaviour-triggered email and SMS
• Real-time segmentation
• Mobile push notifications
• Advanced automation builder
• Interactive quizzes
• Automated A/B testing

Notable Customers

Titan Fitness, ShipStation, and Peterson's Harley-Davidson.

Pricing 

Klaviyo offers a streamlined pricing framework consisting of three distinct plans: Free, Email, and Email & SMS. The delineation of costs associated with each plan is detailed below.

1. Free Plan: Klaviyo's complimentary plan is accessible for accounts encompassing up to 250 subscribers, enabling a monthly allowance of 500 email sends. This plan facilitates monitoring SMS and MMS campaigns through comprehensive analytics and dashboard features, albeit restricted to a maximum of 50 active contacts. Users are granted a maximum of 150 SMS or 50 MMS credits per month in the United States, with a nominal cost of 1 credit per SMS message.

2. Email Plan: Priced at a modest $20 per month, the Email Plan becomes applicable upon surpassing the 250-contact limit of the free program. Offering detailed segmentation based on subscriber count, this pricing model empowers email marketers to fine-tune their strategies precisely. Tailored for mid-sized brands, it provides robust features and extensive support. 

3. Email & SMS Plan: The cost of the Email & SMS Plan slightly exceeds that of the email-only variant, such as $165 per month for managing 10,000 subscribers compared to the standard $150. Starting at $35/month, this plan boasts comprehensive features, including monthly SMS credits that scale with your brand, support for up to 150,000 contacts, 10 email campaigns to every active profile, and priority customer support.

If you are looking for alternatives to Klaviyo, read our blog on the top 10 Klaviyo alternatives and competitors in the US in 2024.

3. HubSpot

HubSpot, established in 2006, is an American corporation specialising in developing and promoting software solutions dedicated to inbound marketing, sales, and customer service. The organisation presents a comprehensive CRM platform, seamlessly incorporating tools for customer relationship management, social media marketing, content management, lead generation, web analytics, search engine optimisation, live chat, and customer support. It is one of the best eCommerce marketing automation software in 2024.

Over the years, HubSpot has evolved into a prominent entity within the industry, prioritising the delivery of exemplary customer experiences for expanding enterprises. The company's software platform is strategically engineered to enhance marketing and sales efficacy by harmonising sales and marketing teams, nurturing sales enablement, and refining inbound marketing strategies for the generation of highly qualified leads.

Features

• Email integration and tracking
• Call integration
• Snippets & Templates
• KPI dashboard
• Sales automation
• Shared inbox for all customer interactions
• Advanced reporting and analytic
• Email integration and tracking
• SMS automation
• Live chat integration
• Facebook Messenger integration
• Chatbot integration

Notable Customers

Mollie, TrustPilot, Airstream, and Zendesk

Pricing

The service plan for Hubspot's customer service segment encompasses robust tools and integrated support. The plan comprises the following tiers.

Free: Hubspot provides a range of free tools covering marketing, sales, CMS, commerce, and operations, all available at $0. No credit card is required to sign up under this free plan.

Starter: Priced at $18 per month, this tier accommodates 2 paid users, with the option to add additional users for an extra fee. The plan encompasses features such as live chat, meeting scheduling, and email and in-app chat support.

Professional: Valued at $450, this plan affords 1000 custom properties per object and boasts a repertoire of 5000 email templates, rendering it a formidable support option.

Enterprise: The enterprise plan, starting at $1200 per month and catering to 10 paid users, builds upon the premium features of the professional plans. Additionally, it augments the shared inbox size.

4. Zapier

Established in 2011, Zapier operates as a platform facilitating the seamless integration and automation of workflows spanning an extensive array of applications. As of 2021, the platform boasts connectivity with over 4,000 apps, offering both complimentary and premium subscription plans. 

With support for more than 6,000 app integrations, users have the capability to construct tailored workflows, develop proprietary applications featuring embedded automation, and leverage artificial intelligence - ai tools in eCommerce for task automation. 

Widely acclaimed for its user-friendly interface, Zapier functions as a mediator between web APIs, enhancing workforce efficiency by proficiently automating repetitive tasks and business procedures. Notably, the company operates on a fully remote basis, boasting a global team comprising over 800 professionals distributed across 38 countries.

Features

• Paths
• Filters
• Schedule
• Formatter
• Webhooks
• Integration of eCommerce platforms and 700+ software tools
• Inventory tracking
• Internal communication and reminders
• Analytics
• Multi-step Zaps

Notable Customers

Asana, Digioh, Georgia Innocence Project, and Unspun

Pricing 

Zapier presents a selection of four distinct pricing plans tailored to accommodate the diverse needs and requirements of its user base.

1. Free Plan: This option is suitable for individuals seeking fundamental automation capabilities. It is offered at no cost and encompasses a limited set of features. Users can leverage basic automation functionalities and execute up to 100 tasks per month.

2. Starter Plan: Specifically designed for individuals with uncomplicated, multi-step automation requirements, this plan is priced at $19.99 per month for annual billing or $29.99 monthly. It provides the capacity to perform over 750 features monthly, with additional capabilities such as Multi-step Zaps.

3. Professional Plan: Tailored for individuals in need of the comprehensive capabilities of Zapier's automation platform, the Professional Plan is available at $73.50 per month for annual billing or $99.99 per month for monthly billing. This plan grants unlimited access to the premium tools pack.

4. Team Plan: Geared towards teams engaged in collaborative automation efforts across the organisation, the Team Plan is priced at $448.50 per month for monthly billing or $898.50 per month for annual billing. This plan includes unlimited user access and premium support.

5. Company Plan: Intended for organisations requiring automation with robust security features and oversight capabilities, the Company Plan offers customisable pricing. To obtain detailed information on pricing, users are encouraged to contact the sales team. Although the most expensive, this plan

5. Verloop.io 

Specialised in conversational AI for customer support purposes, Verloop.io is an efficient Ecommerce automation platform that helps businesses offer their customers a satisfactory shopping and post-shopping experience. Although the idea started brewing in 2015, Gaurav Singh took his time and established the company in 2017. Apart from being the founder, Gaurav Singh is also currently the CEO of Verloop.io. 

With the help of Verloop.io, brands can reduce operational costs by using AI solutions. Verloop.io uses an NLP engine, GenAI, and in-house ML to tackle customer inquiries without even the slightest need for human intervention. Verloop.io covers multiple communication channels, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.

Features

• Pop-up Chat
• Notifications
• Targeted Emails
• In-App Messaging
• Co-Browsing
• Omnichannel Automation
• Tracks bot and agent's KPIs
• Collaboration Tools
• Customer Journey Mapping
• Dashboard, Reporting & Analytics

Notable Customers

Cleartrip, Flyin.com, LenDenClub, and RentoMojo

Pricing 

The pricing structure implemented by verloop.io is characterised by simplicity and transparency. The company assures its clients of a commitment to the absence of concealed fees and extends a 14-day complimentary trial period, affording users the opportunity to discern the plan that aligns most suitably with their needs. The pricing model is principally divided into two categories: Starter and Enterprise.

1. Starter Plan: The Starter Plan is a perpetual free offering that incorporates an automated chat system. This plan is designed to provide users with functionalities such as FAQ automation, the Verloop bot builder, and CRM integration.

2. Enterprise Plan: The Enterprise Plan boasts a personalised pricing framework. Prospective users are encouraged to engage with the Verloop team to tailor a plan that aligns precisely with their specific requirements. In addition to the features present in the Starter Plan, the Enterprise Plan encompasses advanced elements, including customised reports, sophisticated data export capabilities, and access to optimisation consultations.

Conclusion 

Ecommerce automation is the basic move which every Ecommerce business must take to stand out amongst the competition. Besides boosting efficiency and productivity, it saves time, energy, resources and manpower. With automation, businesses can scale up easily without having to worry much about managing the operations.

Do you want to automate your Ecommerce business? Are you looking for the best Ecommerce automation tool which not only automates the operations but understands your customers better? Look no further than App0 - the AI shopping concierge that will learn your customers' behaviours and respond to their needs through text messaging.

Seamlessly integrating with your business, App0's personalised shopper responds to customer needs via text, simplifying shopping without downloads or logins. Tailored to individual preferences, it handles queries, reorders, and more, enhancing experiences while reducing support costs. 

The benefits of using App0 for your Ecommerce business are endless. 

• By implementing this powerful AI concierge, you can boost customer retention and repeat revenue. 
• Furthermore, App0 dramatically lowers your customer support costs. With instant and efficient customer support, there is no need for human intervention, saving you time and resources. 
• App0 also enables you to scale your business on autopilot. As your business grows, the AI concierge manages the entire customer relationship, eliminating the need to scale your team.

Revolutionise your Ecommerce experience with App0 – where AI meets customer satisfaction, loyalty, and business scalability. Experience the future of Ecommerce success—request a demo now and witness the impact firsthand!

Ecommerce Automation: FAQs