Atom8 March Product Update – External Data Support
Hello again, and welcome to our March Product Update. Our Grit Global team is thrilled to share the latest Atom8 – BigCommerce automation app update: the External Data support feature. This new feature empowers our users to quickly retrieve data from external applications and systems and seamlessly integrate it into their automation workflows, simplifying their eCommerce store processes. With the External Data workflow feature, users can send HTTP requests to external systems, allowing them to retrieve data from various sources such as marketing analytics, shipping carriers, inventory management systems, and more. The retrieved data is added to the global data of the workflow, enabling its utilization within the workflow and automating tasks that previously required manual intervention. External Data Use Cases For example, suppose an eCommerce store owner wants to automate tracking shipments for their orders. In that case, they can use the External Data workflow feature to connect with their preferred shipping carrier’s API and retrieve real-time shipment status data. Stores can integrate the data into the order management workflow to update the order status and notify the customer of the shipment’s progress. Another example is using the External Data workflow feature to retrieve data from a marketing analytics tool. With this, eCommerce store owners can retrieve valuable data such as website traffic, conversion rates, and customer behavior data, which can optimize their website’s performance and drive more sales. By integrating this data into their workflow, they can automate the process of analyzing data, creating targeted marketing campaigns, and generating reports, all of which can help them make better business decisions. Streamline Cross-App Integration The External Data workflow feature is also helpful for eCommerce store owners who use inventory management systems. By integrating data from an external inventory management system, they can automate updating stock levels, generating purchase orders, and monitoring product availability. This can help streamline the ordering process, ensure that popular products are always in stock, and avoid overselling. Atom8 External Data In conclusion, the Atom8 External Data workflow feature is a powerful addition to Atom8’s automation capabilities, enabling eCommerce store owners to expand their automation capabilities quickly. By seamlessly integrating data from external sources, they can automate their processes, improve workflow efficiency, and make better business decisions. We are excited to hear from our users about their experiences with the External Data workflow feature and how it has helped them streamline their eCommerce store processes.
Segment customers on email marketing platforms
When a customer has just registered on your store, you’ll want to add this customer to email marketing platforms to a specific list or segment so that corresponding campaigns will be promoted to this new customer. After some time, you’ll want to migrate this customer to another segment for other campaigns. Atom8’s automated workflow can connect to MailChimp, SendGrid, and Klaviyo and will help you minimize efforts to do these tasks in less than 5 mins.
Email customers after a quiet period of no orders
If customers do not create any orders in x days after their registration, send an email to the customer. This is an excellent opportunity to show off your new stocks or incentivize customers with promotions! Also, notify the customer service team to take care of those customers.
Generate Customer Info to a Spreadsheet after Customer Created
Imagine your store has a newly created customer; you will want to immediately generate that customer information to your Google Sheet spreadsheet and send a notification email to your internal team. Now, thanks to Google Sheet’s integration, Atom8 can automatically cover all these time-consuming tasks on a pre-scheduled basis, saving you a lot of time and efforts.
Generate Order Info to a Spreadsheet after Order Placed
When your store has a new order, you will want to immediately record that order on a Google Sheet spreadsheet and send a Thank-you email to your customers. Now, thanks to Google Sheet’s integration, Atom8 can automatically cover all these time-consuming tasks on a pre-scheduled basis, saving you a lot of time and effort.
Instruction to Integrate BackOrder into Atom8
Perhaps the biggest fear of any merchant is to fail to serve the best of their customers, especially during the high season. You might be too busy with setting up the store and forget about your stock running out. With Atom8’s BackOrder integration, you can keep track of your inventory and allow customers to pre-order your product while running other automated tasks. It provides a centralized management system without switching back and forth between platforms.
Assign a Product to BackOrder in Atom8
No retailer ever wants to fail their customers’ expectations, especially when it comes to best-selling items. However, there are times when the customer demands outweigh the number of inventory. To prevent customer loss, assign your product to BackOrder. This way, your visitor can still have it delivered in the future while giving your staff more time to fulfill the stock.
Assign Customer to the BackOrdered Group
Whoever places a back order and is willing to wait for your fulfillment will likely become your loyal customer. Don’t forget to pay special attention to them. Assign them to a group, so you don’t mistake them for another type of customer. Also, export their information in a spreadsheet you look into daily so you don’t miss any updates. Or you can treat them with special discounts for the wanted item later.
Managing an eCommerce Order Backlog
In this blog post, we’ll explore helpful strategies for managing an eCommerce order backlog so you can deliver goods and products on time even when the volume of sales spikes unexpectedly. Keep reading to learn more about critical processes that help maximize efficiency, creative solutions when traditional methods fall short, and tips from successful eCommerce stores already doing it right. Why a supply chain’s inventory backlog is a positive thing A backlog pattern may be seen negatively in some situations. Particularly when individuals feel “backlogged by their job,” this is true. They feel like they can’t get a break or are overburdened with personal commitments. Similarly to this, supply chain management backlogs are frequently viewed negatively. This is so you don’t take orders you can’t fill since eCommerce order backlogs show you aren’t keeping up with fulfillment. Backlogs, however, might be advantageous if you manage to maintain control over your order and fulfillment procedures. Even when you’re out of stock, well-managed inventory backlogs help retain consumers, build your brand’s reputation, and make money. 5 techniques to optimize your eCommerce order backlog management A good inventory backlog balances keeping too many and too few order numbers on hold. You may enhance your backlog management by creating a contingency plan, diversifying your supplier portfolio, and improving your forecasting methodologies, among other things. 1. Create a backup plan A contingency plan is designed to assist you in responding to unfavorable or unplanned occurrences. You may also keep the proper quantity of backlogged orders by creating a product procurement contingency plan. As a result, your income remains consistent without falling too far behind on fulfillment. 2. Expand your supplier portfolio Consider broadening your supplier portfolio if your inventory backlog is caused by supply chain delays rather than increased consumer demand. In most cases, this procedure entails collaborating with backup suppliers of varying sizes and locations outside of your principal warehouse or fulfillment center. Vendor diversification may provide various benefits for your brand, such as clearing your backlog faster and achieving cheaper fulfillment pricing. 3. Improve forecasting techniques Keeping an eCommerce order backlog might assist improve the accuracy of your inventory forecasts. This is because reviewing your backlogs reveals high-value inventory information. You may then utilize those insights to drive your operational strategy, such as how many units to reorder and when. In this manner, you may order enough inventory to meet any future demand. 4. Get a real-time picture of your inventory Knowing where your inventory is and where it’s going is critical to the success of your business. Tools like Atom8 can send you live notifications of inventory changes, especially transactions suspected of fraud due to volume or domain. With tools like this, you’ll gain a front-row seat to how well your SKUs sell and how swiftly client orders are fulfilled if you prioritize inventory visibility. 5. Make better purchasing decisions Because a backlog is a record of all unaddressed orders, it may assist you in placing wiser purchase orders with your suppliers. It’s much easier to determine which things you need to refill when you can view your orders at a glance. Your purchase orders will be more accurate if you use this information. Furthermore, your production schedules will have a greater probability of succeeding. In Conclusion, Every eCommerce business faces periods of high demand and backlogged orders. It can be overwhelming to manage inventory and process orders quickly during peak times, but learning how to keep up is essential for sustaining growth in the long run. So we hope the techniques in this post get you some ideas for managing your eCommerce order backlog. If you need help sorting out your eCommerce issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
Selling Without Stock: Is It Right for Your eCommerce Store?
Offering products without carrying physical stock can seem like a dream come true for an eCommerce store. If done correctly and in line with customer expectations, eCommerce stockless selling (sometimes known as drop shipping) could prove beneficial for your eCommerce store – read on to explore this topic further! What is the potential of eCommerce stockless selling? Let us look at some amazing instances of multinational companies: What can we infer from this? It is feasible to sell things online without keeping any inventory on hand, and it will be a legitimate business, not a scam. The most important thing is to select the correct company model: one decision may launch you to heights you never imagined. eCommerce stockless selling: 4 methods that work 1. BackOrder The easiest and by far most effective solution to selling while stockless is BackOrder. This app allows your customers to keep making purchases once inventory has run out. While customers await for their back-ordered items to arrive, your store can keep making revenue while having time to prepare for the next restock! BackOrder is not for every situation, especially if your eCommerce store is unable to fulfill customers’ orders beyond a threshold. Even though you can set up a BackOrder threshold on the application, stores must determine for themselves the level of confidence when enabling BackOrder. 2. Sell Print on Demand Websites such as Zazzle and CafePress allow you to design your own products. However, there are individuals who have a natural talent for creating these virtual-to-real presents, and those who have no idea where to begin. This is the place to be if you enjoy design, particularly making garments and items such as notebooks and other office supplies. Because they are printed on demand, you will not require an inventory. Instead, you may set up shop directly on the internet, and anyone who purchases your goods will have it dispatched directly to them. 3. Third-party fulfillment centers All of your company’s logistical needs will be handled for you by third-party fulfillment centers. Your items can be stocked and sent using 3PL logistics. For instance, you can utilize a third-party fulfillment center if you make things by hand and want to sell them without having the inventory take up room in your house. Alternatively, you may place your orders directly with the manufacturer and have the third-party fulfillment center package and ship the items to your customers. 4. Drop Shipping Although drop shipping may resemble third-party fulfillment, it differs slightly from the eCommerce stockless selling method. Turning a key is all it takes to start profiting from the advantages of drop shipping, sometimes referred to as “turn-key.” Turning the key here refers to accepting orders on your website and earning a commission; you don’t really do it. If you decide to dropship, you’ll probably work with a business that offers support. Customers will place orders when you choose what to sell on your website. Orders are transmitted to the business, which will dispatch them. In Conclusion, There are certain considerations that need to be made when it comes to selling without stocking up on inventory. Not only do you have to source the product from elsewhere, but you must also carefully weigh if your customers will value this alternative option offered by your business. With an experienced expert in eCommerce stockless selling, we own key skills and tools to help you with this kind of business, contact us today!
