Dropshipping is a popular way to start an online business, where companies sell products without keeping stock. In 2024, technology makes it easy to automate many parts of the dropshipping process.
Automated dropshipping makes business easy. It needs little money upfront and lets you focus more on growing your business.
Explore the benefits and drawbacks of automated dropshipping and find out how to set up automation for your dropshipping site.
Table of Contents
What is Automated Dropshipping?
Automated dropshipping is when a seller lets a third party manage inventory and ship orders, with most tasks done automatically. Instead of manually sending, approving, and packing orders, technology takes care of the whole process for the seller.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Automated Dropshipping
Using automated dropshipping as a business model has its benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits
- More efficient: Automation boosts efficiency by handling reviews and communications. You specify the rules, and the system follows, reducing delays in the workflow.
- More accurate: Accurate data is crucial for business decisions. Automation reduces human error by eliminating manual processes, improving data quality for better decisions.
- Lower upfront costs: With dropshipping, you don’t have to invest in inventory. Suppliers handle production, storage, and shipping, so you only pay for products when customers order them.
- Cut costs: Automated dropshipping cuts costs by eliminating errors and boosting tasks. This reduces time, resources, and creates a more efficient operation, freeing up funds for other areas of the business.
Drawbacks
- Lower profit margins: Dropshipping can be profitable with the right strategy, but profit margins are usually lower than creating and managing your own products. While automation and outsourcing make it easier, they also come with costs, so dropshippers often need to sell at scale to earn a real profit.
- Requires more technical skills: Automating the dropshipping business requires using digital tools and platforms, plus regular updates and maintenance.
- Less control over the process: Dropshipping means you lose control over many parts of your business. Suppliers handle products and shipping, and some limit customizations. Errors by third parties are also out of your control.
- Harder to make exceptions or adjustments: Outsourcing product sourcing and fulfillment limits dropshippers’ ability to handle unique requests or create original products.
How to Automate Dropshipping Websites?
Here’s how to dropship more efficiently with automation:
1. Browse Blinkstore.in for Automated Dropshipping Tools
Create and customize your online store on blinkstore, then add the apps that best suit your needs. There are many all-in-one automation options available in the Blinkstore Play Store.
2. Simplify Order Processing with Your Supplier
One of the best ways to automate your dropshipping business is by streamlining order processing. When customers place an order on your site, it can automatically be sent to the dropshipping supplier through an app. This lets the supplier know about the order right away, so they can begin packing and shipping the product faster.
Some platforms can even work with multiple suppliers, sending orders to the right one based on availability.
By automating this process, you cut down on delays and get products to customers more quickly.
If you sell both dropshipped products from other sources, you can set up automation to send dropshipped orders to the supplier and handle other items through your own fulfillment.
3. Sync Inventory Across Channels
Automation in dropshipping ensures your inventory is updated correctly everywhere it’s tracked. This helps prevent running out of stock or having too much, both of which can be expensive for retailers.
4. Set the Right Prices for Your Business
You can automate pricing, syncing, and adjusting for your dropshipping business.
With automatic pricing, make sure to set rules that keep your profits safe. You don’t want to sell items for less than what you paid, but you also don’t want prices so high that customers don’t buy.
5. Add Order Tracking Updates
Order tracking is important for a good customer experience. Keep customers informed about their packages. If you can’t provide real-time updates, sending emails and notifications about the order’s progress can still help.
You should automate these updates to make the process smoother for customers. Also, make sure you receive these updates too, so you can quickly address any delays and offer support.
6. Automate Marketing Strategies
- Choose a tool: Pick a platform with built-in marketing or integrations (e.g., Klaviyo, Omnisend for emails, Hootsuite for social media).
- Schedule promotions: Plan sales, launches, or offers ahead for email/SMS and social media.
- Segment customers: Group buyers (e.g., high-spenders) for personalized messaging.
- Set up campaigns: Automate emails or SMS based on customer actions.
How Can Automated Dropshipping Help You?
Automated dropshipping simplifies your business by saving time and minimizing mistakes.
It takes care of tasks like:
- Processing orders,
- Managing inventory,
- Handling customer support. So you can focus on growing and marketing your business. This makes your business more efficient and easier to scale.
Types of Dropshipping Automation
Automation can streamline each step of the dropshipping business. We’ll show you the automation tools you can use, most of which work with Blinkstore but also support platforms like WooCommerce, and Shopify.
1. Adding Products
You can automate product additions to your store on platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Instead of manually copying product info, use automation to import products with just one click, including images and details.
2. Setting Prices
You can automate your product pricing. Set your store price to automatically be (number)x your product cost, keeping your margins consistent.
3. Product Research
Product research is time-consuming in dropshipping, but tools like Blinkstore can simplify it. With just a few clicks, you can sort products by sell rate, price, and competition. Blinkstore also helps you compare products and spot trending items in specific niches. Expert-picked products are available, with data regularly updated from top online marketplaces.
4. Handling Customer Orders
Automating orders in dropshipping saves time by placing them with suppliers automatically when a customer buys. You can use tools like AuroDS or Inventory Source, or your supplier’s API.
5. Tracking Orders
Customers value order tracking and it can be easily automated. After a purchase, apps like AfterShip can send a custom email with the tracking number and link for package updates.
6. Running Promotions
Promotions boost store conversions and can be automated with pop-ups and follow-up emails. Offer discounts to new customers or remind cart-abandoners via email. Customizing these strategies can greatly enhance your dropshipping success.
7. Currency Conversion
Customers are easily put off by seeing prices in the wrong currency. Fortunately, you can easily automate currency conversion based on their location, so visitors from Europe see prices in Euros.
8. Email Marketing
Email automation is essential for e-commerce dropshipping. Start by automating order and shipping notifications, as well as reminders for abandoned carts in dropshipping. You can also run marketing campaigns to past customers using tools like Outfunnel, MailChimp, Omnisend, or Klaviyo.
9. Social Media Management
Running your dropshipping business often means using social media to grow your brand, which can feel like a full-time job. Adding a “link in bio” helps drive traffic to the store, but managing social media can be time-consuming.
To save time, automate tasks using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule posts, and Manychat or Chatfuel to create chatbots for customer inquiries.
10. Customer Support
Chatbots can automate customer service on your site. As your business grows, consider tools like FreshDesk or ZenDesk to manage customer interactions. You’ll still need virtual assistants, but everything will be handled in one simple dashboard.
11. Advanced Workflow Automation
For dropshippers looking to automate tasks, workflow apps can help streamline your business. For example, Shopify Flow can auto-create tasks in Asana when inventory is low or group customers for targeted marketing. Top apps include Shopify Flow, Shop Workflow Automation, and Ordoro.
Fully Automated Dropshipping Product Ideas
For your automated dropshipping store, you might want to consider the following products:
1. Phone Accessories
- PopSockets, cases, chargers, screen protectors.
- Upsell: Bundle cases with grips or power banks.
2. Eco-friendly Products
- Reusable straws, bamboo toothbrushes, and produce bags.
- Upsell: Pair lunch bags with containers or sponges with natural soap.
3. Fitness gear
- Resistance bands, yoga mats, dumbbells.
- Upsell: Add foam rollers or offer workout subscriptions.
4. Pet supplies
- Chew toys, feeders, leashes, beds.
- Upsell: Bundle toys with treats or grooming tools.
5. Smart home gadgets:
- Smart bulbs, plugs, robot vacuums.
- Upsell: Offer smart speakers or security bundles.
Opt for small, light, and durable products to reduce shipping costs and minimize returns.
Conclusion
There are several ways to automate dropshipping business, giving you more time to focus on what really matters.
Automating repetitive tasks is important because they can eat up a lot of your time over time.
With automated dropshipping, you gain extra time to work on growing your business, not just managing daily tasks.
Although setting up automation tools might take some time, once they’re working well, you’ll be glad you did.
FAQs
Can dropshipping be fully automated?
Dropshipping can be mostly automated using tools and software for managing inventory, processing orders, and handling customer service. Although full automation is difficult, many tasks can be simplified to reduce manual work and make running an online store more efficient.
What is auto dropshipping?
Automate dropshipping is a retail system where an online store sells products without keeping any stock. When a customer makes a purchase, the store sends the order to a supplier, who then ships the product directly to the customer, making the process easier.
Is digital dropshipping profitable?
Digital dropshipping is usually profitable because it has low costs and delivers products instantly. Entrepreneurs can make higher profits than traditional dropshipping since there are no inventory or shipping costs, making it a great business model.
Is AliExpress dropshipping automated?
AliExpress dropshipping can be automated with tools like DSers and Oberlo. These tools make order fulfillment easier by automatically handling orders and informing suppliers, so dropshippers can focus on marketing and choosing products instead of doing everything by hand.
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