So what are the stunning eCommerce automation strategies? Let us find out!
Are you having trouble scaling your eCommerce business and cannot maximize the sales potential of each customer? The complexity of a business can ramp up fast during periods of growth. It is important to prepare for that growth by setting up systems that can deal with massive floods of traffic without sacrificing your ROI per customer.
Sounds overwhelming, right? It is fairly simple with automation strategies that can take a huge workload off your team. 63% of marketers are planning to implement automation strategies. You will need to do the same to avoid being left behind by competitors in your marketplace.
The advantages of adding automation strategies to your business far outweigh the costs – and now it is easier than ever before with the impressive choice of tools available.
Why Running a Business Without Automation is Problematic?
Businesses require several departments to work in harmony to provide great customer service and consistently outperform industry sales averages. As you scale, that mission becomes increasingly difficult.
It is similar to how a mom-and-pop shop can offer a lot of attention to a few customers at a time, but offering the same care to each customer whilst operating a national chain of large stores is a different ball game.
No automation means you cannot offer the same support and attention to detail for each customer. You might end up focusing on a group of customers while ignoring the personalized needs of the rest, and in the process, leaving money on the table.
Advantages of Adding Automation to eCommerce Stores
Still not convinced that eCommerce automation is worth the hassle? Once you consider a few advantages, you will not think twice about implementing the strategies to receive those benefits.
- Consistency: Automation is the tool that allows you to provide a consistent quality level. The service would be the same if customers were shopping day or night, Monday or Saturday, and the time of year would not matter. Consistency is important because customers can stop buying from your eCommerce store after one bad experience.
- Leads and conversions: Implement automation strategies, and you can expect to see a 77% conversion increase and an 80% increase in leads. The impact on your bottom line will be huge—especially if you stack multiple automation strategies.
- Data: Automating the data capture at every stage of the buyer journey gives you a better insight into where you are winning and losing sales. You can double down on the winners and improve the others.
Examples of Highly Effective Automation Strategies
Ecommerce has come a long way over the last decade—the strategies have become more sophisticated, and there are more ways to capture, nurture and convert an audience. So here is a list of proven eCommerce automation strategies to increase sales:
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Email nurture approach
Building goodwill and providing value without expecting anything in return is a great use for an email series. Better yet, email series can easily be automated. Let us say you sell yoga mats and want to increase conversion from your sales email. For every sales email, you could send an informational one with topics such as “how to clean your yoga mat” or “top yoga poses.” Once the email sequence is created, it is automatically sent to every new subscriber.
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Personalized emails
Building upon the email nurture approach by adding an element of personalization. Gather data using CRM software, including buying history, and send product recommendation emails based on customer interests. Add a first name field and include dynamic product photos based on customer interests. The tools available nowadays for email personalization contribute to a great customer experience. Customers love emails relevant to their interests—it saves them time because they do not have to waste hours searching for the same products.
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Chatbots
Have you noticed chatbots in the bottom right hand-corner for eCommerce websites? They are everywhere now—if your online store does not have one, then you are lagging. Chatbots enable buyers to ask questions and get instant answers. So there is no need to wait for a customer service representative to connect. However, it is handy if there is a feature to escalate the query with a real person when the chatbot help is not sufficient.
Chatbots can provide relevant suggestions and help the buyer complete the transaction. Further, they increase sales by up to 67%, and as AI sophistication improves, this figure might grow even higher. -
Product recommendations
Scattered throughout your online store, strategically place product recommendations based on the browsing history and customers’ views. For example, if customers usually buy a specific bed model with a certain mattress type, then provide those relevant suggestions for each product page.
Suitable locations for product recommendations include under each product description, the checkout page, thank you email, the home page, and receipts. With so many great locations, it is harder to think of a place where they are not suitable.
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Ask for feedback
Make sure you have a mechanism in place where you periodically ask customers for feedback. It might be a few days after purchase or every month if you are offering a subscription-based model. Customer feedback is a great source of ideas for improvement, content, and new products.
Top CRMs to Implement Automation Strategies
Now that you have a few ideas for what automation strategies work, it is time to implement them into your eCommerce business. Utilizing modern CRM software solutions is key to adding automation in a scalable fashion.
Top CRMs are packed with features such as:
- Customer Data Collection
- Email Marketing
- Customer Support
- Social Media Integration
- Analytics
- Re-engagement of Customers
The marketplace is flooded with amazing CRM software solutions, and the selection process can be overwhelming. So here are 3 of the top choices you can try today:
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Salesforce – all-in-one package
It is one of the most widely used CRMs that provides tools for small and large eCommerce stores alike. The user interface and intuitive features make using Salesforce simple. It is a feature-rich CRM, so you have a lot of tools to play around with. Salesforce allows for complexity and customization if you are looking for added value.
However, the notable drawbacks include potentially high costs as you scale and an endless learning curve. The latter drawback depends on what level of complexity you are looking for.
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Zoho – amazing customer service
Zoho offers suitable pricing plans for all eCommerce store sizes. The notable AI features of Zoho allow you to implement automation strategies to increase sales. Furthermore, the integration features mean you can retain some of the tools you are already using. It includes MailChimp and OneSaaS.
The reporting module is another strong feature that gives you an accurate overview of your business from the well-crafted dashboard interface. However, Zoho’s drawbacks include not conversion optimized forms and lack of depth for some features.
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Pipedrive – sales orientated CRM
Pipedrive is an easy-to-use CRM that is used by over 90,000 businesses. The powerful and intuitive dashboard helps navigate between various modules. Ease of use is the focus of the design philosophy. Use marketing automation features like Outfunnel and Drip to increase your sales. It is also one of the more affordable CRMs—ideal for eCommerce stores on a budget. You can also start with a free trial to see what it is about for yourself.
Choosing the right CRM software depends on the features you value most, the size of your online store, and your budget. Most CRM services provide free trial options that enable you to test features without financial commitment. Perhaps the best strategy would be to try several options before committing to one for the long term. So your time is here. Make a move!
Final Thoughts
To recap, eCommerce automation is a proven way to increase sales in a scalable fashion. The strategies are honest and improve customer service along the way. You can start by creating an information-based email series or add a chatbot to your online store.
Keep adding more automation features to gain a competitive advantage in your industry. So what are you waiting for? Choose a CRM software solution and get started with an automation strategy today.
