E-commerce order automation: how it works and where to start

What does order automation in e-commerce involve?

The system performs every order-handling step that can be described by a rule. An order from the store or a marketplace goes to the ERP and a sales document is created. Once the payment is booked, a label is generated, and the customer gets a tracking number and an invoice. A person steps in only for exceptions.

What can be automated?

• passing orders from the store and marketplaces to the ERP
• issuing receipts and invoices
• reservations and stock updates in all channels
• courier labels and tracking numbers
• customer notifications and status changes
• purchase orders to suppliers when stock runs low

What is multichannel sales?

Multichannel sales means offering the same goods at once in your own store, on Allegro (Poland’s largest marketplace) and in other channels, often with BaseLinker (an order and listing management platform). It needs a single source of stock and prices, usually the ERP system, which receives orders from every channel.

Where do you start with automation?

• write out the order’s path step by step, including the exceptions
• find the task that takes the most time or causes the most mistakes
• decide which system holds the authoritative data on stock, prices and customers
• start with one channel and one type of order, then add more

How much does e-commerce order automation cost?

At KCD Studio a project with a store and ERP integration starts from PLN 5,000 net (from PLN 6,150 gross). The final price depends on the number of sales channels, the systems to connect and the exceptions to handle. The quote is free.