Ecommerce automation goes way beyond having just a website and a decent shopping cart system. In fact, it’s all about the whole online journey of your customers’ order experience. Namely, from the initial click to the moment their order arrives at their doorstep. Increasingly, ecommerce tech plays a huge role in managing and monitoring each step of completing customer orders. Indeed, ecommerce automation involves handling inventory, processing orders, taking care of shipping, and ensuring top-notch customer service. By embracing ecommerce automation, businesses can streamline their workflows, cut costs, and increase customer satisfaction. Check out these 7 top trends in the world of ecommerce automation!

1. Ecommerce Cloud-Based Software Platforms To Integrate Workflows And 3rd Party Software.

Here, cloud-based ecommerce software platforms streamline business operations by effortlessly integrating workflows and third-party applications. For example, platforms like Amazon, Shopify, and BigCommerce serve as centralized hubs for software integration. Specifically, these ecommerce solutions enable businesses to efficiently manage inventory, process orders, and link with essential tools such as accounting systems and customer relationship management (CRM) software. Additionally, platforms like Shopify offer ready-made solutions that automate workflows across your online store and connected apps, enhancing overall efficiency.

Also, there are commerce automation and integration systems, such as Webgility that enhances operational efficiency by seamlessly connecting with other cloud-based platforms. For instance, Webgility supports integrations with major online marketplaces and storefronts including Shopify, Amazon, Magento, BigCommerce, among others. These ecommerce solutions also continue to expand their capabilities, offering a host of advanced features. Hence, retailers can now enjoy automated pricing strategies, real-time inventory tracking, sales monitoring, fraud prevention measures, sophisticated marketing tools, and comprehensive customer engagement management.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots: Ecommerce Automation For Customer Service.

For instance, Businesses can use AI-powered chatbots to provide instant customer support and personalized recommendations. To explain, there are companies like Sephora that are using chatbots to help customers find the right products based on their preferences. Other examples, include AI-powered chatbots developed by LivePerson or Zendesk that can handle routine customer queries. As a result, this frees up human agents to focus on more complex issues. For more details, see my article, Ecommerce Chatbot Examples: The 11 Ways That Successful Businesses Can Actually Secure Results.

Ecommerce Chatbot Examples: 11 Ways That Successful Businesses Can Actually Secure Results

3. Mobile Wallets and Seamless Payments: Omnichannel Payments To Increase Sales.

Undeniably, mobile wallets and seamless payment options have become increasingly popular in ecommerce. To explain, these payment methods enable customers to make purchases conveniently across multiple channels. Specifically, this can include mobile devices, websites, and physical stores. For example, Apple Pay and Google Pay offer mobile wallets that provide secure and quick payment options for customers. For details, see my article, 14 New EFT Payment Technology Trends In The FinTech Industry.

14 New EFT Payment Technology Trends In The FinTech Industry

4. API-Driven Headless Ecommerce Enabling Omnichannel Retailing And Personalized Customer Experience.

Indeed, there is a revolutionary wave sweeping across online shopping platforms – it’s called Headless Ecommerce. To detail, this is an API-driven way for online retailers to interact with shoppers across multiple sales channels. Moreover, this transformation is not just changing customer interactions but shaking up how the entire supply chain technology syncs with ecommerce systems. At its heart, headless commerce separates the visual aspect of the online user interface (UI) from the underlying business mechanics.

As a result, this dramatic shift in ecommerce gives businesses unparalleled flexibility, ability to scale, and opportunities for personalization. Further, it seamlessly enables omnichannel retailing. Specifically, these omnichannels can range from multiple websites, different social media platforms, mobile, different shopping platforms, and even Internet Of Things (IoT) devices. For more details, see my article, Headless Ecommerce Fundamentals: Ways It Is Changing Supply Chain Tech.

Headless Ecommerce Fundamentals: Ways It Is Changing Supply Chain Tech

5. Advanced Data Analytics: More than Business Intelligence (BI) for Data-driven Insights.

Without a doubt, data analytics continues to expand its capability to help businesses leverage data to make smart decisions and take effective action. In fact for ecommerce businesses, mastering data analytics is crucial for survival. Further, today’s data analytics is a lot more than just generating Business Intelligence (BI) reports or dashboards. Specifically, there are six distinct types of data analytics used in logistics and ecommerce. Moreover, these distinct analytics types help answer key questions for decision-makers to take action to improve their operations. These include:

Data Analytics Types

• Descriptive Data Analytics: What Happened?
• Diagnostic Data Analytics: Why This Happen?
• Predictive Data Analytics: What Is Most Likely To Happen?
• Prescriptive Data Analytics: What Action Should We Take?
• Real-Time Analytics: What Do I Do Now?
• Cognitive AI Analytics: What Questions Did I Not Know to Ask?

So, these analytics tools help businesses track key performance indicators (KPIs), analyze customer behavior, and make data-informed decisions. For more details, see my article, A Data Analytics Perspective To Better Empower Supply Chain Managers.

A Data Analytics Perspective To Better Empower Supply Chain Managers

6. Intelligent Robotics To Streamline Order Fulfillment.

 Increasingly, businesses are using intelligent robotics to streamline order fulfillment processes in ecommerce. In fact, intelligent robots can automate most order fulfillment tasks such as picking, packing, and sorting products in warehouses. As a result, this reduces human labor costs and improving efficiency. As an examples, companies like Amazon have implemented hundreds of thousands of robots in their fulfillment centers to expedite order processing. According to Gartner, by 2026, 75% of large enterprises that move products will be using smart robots. This includes deploying robots to support warehousing and order fulfillment operations. For more on intelligent robots in logistics, see my article, Warehouse Robots – 9 Types Of Truly Revolutionary Smart Robotics That You Need To Know About.

Warehouse Robots – 9 Types Of Truly Revolutionary Smart Robotics That You Need To Know About

7. Fast and Flexible Delivery Options Powered By Ecommerce Automation.

Advice On The Right Ecommerce Delivery Speed Options That Will Make Your Customers Rave

Lastly, ecommerce and final-mile automation is empowering businesses to provide fast and flexible delivery options to their customers. As a result, businesses are able to optimize their delivery processes, track shipments in real-time, and offer various delivery options such as same-day or next-day delivery.

For instance, companies like Amazon have implemented automated sorting and routing systems in their warehouses to ensure efficient order fulfillment and timely deliveries. Further, companies like Instacart can provide grocery delivery within a few hours of placing an order.  In fact, this automation not only enhances the customer experience but also helps businesses stay competitive in the fast-paced ecommerce landscape. For more details on ecommerce delivery options, see my article, Advice On The Right Ecommerce Delivery Speed Options That Will Make Your Customers Rave.

Logistics Technology 2024 Trends: The Best Advice To Empower Your Supply Chain Right

For more information on trending ecommerce automation, see Gargias’ What is Ecommerce Automation? Everything You Need to Know and Statrys’ What is Ecommerce Automation? How it Works & Benefits. Also, see StyleIntelligence’s Market Report: e-Grocery Infrastructure 2023 for ecommerce trends for the online grocery business.