Running an eCommerce store means juggling dozens of tasks daily—processing orders, managing inventory, responding to customer queries, and executing marketing campaigns. While these activities are essential for business growth, they can quickly overwhelm store owners who find themselves working in their business rather than on it.
Automation apps for eCommerce stores offer a solution to this challenge. These tools handle repetitive tasks automatically, freeing up valuable time for strategic activities like product development and business expansion. From email marketing sequences that nurture leads to inventory management systems that prevent stockouts, the right automation tools can transform how your store operates.
This guide examines seven essential automation apps that can streamline your eCommerce operations. We’ll explore their key features, pricing, and specific use cases to help you identify which tools align with your store’s needs and growth objectives.
Why Automation Is Crucial for eCommerce Growth
Successful eCommerce businesses understand that automation isn’t just about convenience—it’s about creating competitive advantages that drive sustainable growth.
Time-saving benefits represent the most immediate impact of automation. Tasks that once required hours of manual work, such as processing orders or sending follow-up emails, can be completed in minutes. This efficiency allows business owners to focus on high-value activities like product sourcing, strategic partnerships, and market expansion.
Error reduction becomes increasingly important as order volumes grow. Manual data entry inevitably leads to mistakes—incorrect shipping addresses, wrong product quantities, or missed customer communications. Automated systems eliminate these human errors, ensuring consistent accuracy across all operations.
Enhanced customer satisfaction results from faster response times and more personalised experiences. Automation enables immediate order confirmations, proactive shipping updates, and targeted product recommendations based on purchase history. These touchpoints create positive customer experiences that encourage repeat purchases.
Data-driven decision making becomes possible when automation tools collect and analyse customer behaviour patterns. This information reveals insights about peak shopping times, popular product combinations, and customer lifecycle stages, enabling more strategic business decisions.
Key Features to Look for in eCommerce Automation Apps
Before exploring specific tools, it’s important to understand what features distinguish effective automation apps for eCommerce stores.
Platform integration should be your first consideration. The best automation tools seamlessly connect with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, ensuring smooth data flow between systems.
Workflow flexibility allows you to create custom automation sequences that match your specific business processes. Look for tools that offer both pre-built templates and the ability to create unique workflows.
Customer segmentation and targeting capabilities enable personalised automation based on customer behaviour, purchase history, and demographic data. This level of customisation significantly improves campaign effectiveness.
Inventory syncing and order fulfilment features ensure that stock levels remain accurate across all sales channels while automating the order processing pipeline from purchase to delivery.
Marketing automation functionality should encompass email campaigns, SMS messaging, and social media posting, providing comprehensive communication automation.
Top 7 Automation Apps for eCommerce Stores
1. Zapier
Best for: Connecting multiple tools and automating cross-platform workflows
Zapier serves as the universal connector between different software applications, making it an excellent choice for stores using multiple tools. With over 6,000 integrations available, Zapier can automate workflows between your eCommerce platform, email marketing tool, accounting software, and customer support system.
Key features include multi-step workflows (called Zaps), conditional logic, and detailed activity logs. For example, you can create a Zap that automatically adds new customers to your email list, creates a contact in your CRM, and sends order details to your fulfilment centre.
Zapier offers a free plan for basic automation needs, with paid plans starting at $29.99 per month for more complex workflows and higher task volumes.
2. Make (formerly Integromat)
Best for: Advanced visual workflow creation
Make.com excels in creating sophisticated automation scenarios through its visual workflow builder. The platform offers more granular control over automation logic compared to simpler tools, making it ideal for stores with complex operational requirements.
The scenario builder allows you to map out intricate workflows visually, while pre-built eCommerce templates provide starting points for common automation needs. Make particularly shines when handling data transformation between different systems or creating conditional workflows based on multiple variables.
Pricing begins with a free plan for light usage, with paid plans starting at $10.59 per month for increased operations and advanced features.
3. Klaviyo
Best for: Email and SMS marketing automation
Klaviyo has become synonymous with eCommerce email marketing automation, offering sophisticated segmentation and personalisation capabilities. The platform integrates deeply with Shopify and other eCommerce platforms, automatically tracking customer behaviour and purchase patterns.
Advanced features include predictive analytics for customer lifetime value, automated abandoned cart recovery sequences, and post-purchase follow-up campaigns. Klaviyo’s strength lies in its ability to create highly targeted campaigns based on customer behaviour, resulting in higher open rates and conversion percentages.
Klaviyo offers a free plan for stores with up to 250 contacts, with paid plans scaling based on contact count and email volume.
4. ReCharge
Best for: Subscription-based eCommerce automation
ReCharge specialises in subscription commerce, providing tools to automate recurring billing, manage subscription modifications, and reduce customer churn. The platform handles the complexities of subscription management while providing customers with self-service options.
Key features include flexible billing cycles, automatic payment retry logic, and churn reduction tools like dunning management. ReCharge integrates seamlessly with Shopify and WooCommerce, automatically creating subscription products and managing recurring orders.
Pricing is transaction-based, starting at 1.25% + 10¢ per transaction, making it accessible for businesses of various sizes.
5. ShipStation
Best for: Order and shipping automation
ShipStation streamlines the entire fulfilment process by automatically importing orders from multiple sales channels and providing batch processing capabilities. The platform connects with major shipping carriers, enabling automatic rate comparison and label generation.
Automation features include rule-based order routing, automatic carrier selection based on cost or delivery speed, and branded tracking notifications. These capabilities significantly reduce the time spent on order fulfilment while improving shipping accuracy.
ShipStation offers a 30-day free trial, with paid plans starting at $11.99 per month based on monthly shipment volumes.
6. Gorgias
Best for: Customer support automation
Gorgias transforms customer support through intelligent automation and integration with eCommerce platforms. The helpdesk automatically pulls order information, customer history, and tracking details, enabling support agents to resolve queries quickly.
Automation features include macro responses for common questions, automatic ticket routing based on inquiry type, and integration with live chat systems. Gorgias also provides analytics on support performance and customer satisfaction metrics.
Plans start at $10 per month for basic features, with more comprehensive automation available in higher-tier plans.
7. Omnisend
Best for: Omnichannel marketing automation
Omnisend provides comprehensive marketing automation across email, SMS, and push notification channels. The platform excels at creating coordinated campaigns that reach customers through multiple touchpoints based on their preferences and behaviour.
Standout features include advanced cart abandonment sequences, browse abandonment campaigns, and win-back automation for inactive customers. Omnisend’s reporting shows how different channels contribute to revenue, enabling data-driven optimisation of marketing efforts.
The platform offers a free plan with limited features, and paid plans start at $20 per month for expanded automation capabilities and higher sending volumes.
How to Choose the Right Automation App for Your Store
Selecting the most effective automation apps requires careful consideration of your store’s specific needs and constraints.
Define your automation priorities by identifying which tasks consume the most time or cause the most errors. Start with areas that offer the highest impact-to-effort ratio, such as order processing or abandoned cart recovery.
Consider budget and platform compatibility when evaluating options. Ensure that chosen tools integrate well with your existing eCommerce platform and other essential software. Factor in both initial costs and scaling expenses as your business grows.
Evaluate scalability requirements by considering your growth projections. Choose tools that can accommodate increased order volumes, expanded product catalogues, and additional sales channels without requiring complete replacements.
Transform Your Store with Smart Automation
The automation apps explored in this guide represent proven solutions for common eCommerce challenges. Each tool offers unique strengths, from Zapier’s universal connectivity to Klaviyo’s sophisticated email marketing capabilities.
Success with automation begins with identifying your most time-consuming tasks and implementing targeted solutions. Start with one or two key areas, measure the results, and gradually expand your automation ecosystem as you become comfortable with the tools and see positive outcomes.
Remember that automation should enhance your customer experience, not replace human judgment entirely. The most effective eCommerce stores use automation to handle routine tasks while maintaining personal touches where they matter most.
Ready to automate your eCommerce store? Start by auditing your current processes to identify automation opportunities. Consider beginning with email marketing automation or order processing tools, as these typically provide the quickest returns on investment.