How to Automate Your Shopify Dropshipping Store for Maximum Profit

Learn how to automate your Shopify dropshipping store to streamline operations and boost profitability, from supplier integration to personalized emails.

Courtney Sharp e-commerce expert
By Courtney Sharp
Photo of Danell Theron
Edited by Danéll Theron

Updated January 20, 2025.

a person is typing on a laptop in front of boxes

Automation is a game-changer for your Shopify dropshipping business, revolutionizing how you handle daily tasks. By automating order fulfillment, inventory updates, and customer outreach, you save time and reduce the risk of errors.

This guide shows you how to make your Shopify store better with automation, from selecting the right tools to setting up integrations. With the right processes in place, you can scale your business efficiently, boost accuracy, and maintain an excellent customer experience.

» Take control of your Shopify store through automation

Courtney Sharp e-commerce expert

Meet the Expert

Courtney Sharp is a marketing and e-commerce expert. Her marketing agency, Sharp Media Agency, specializes in digital marketing, branding, ads, and social media, with a strong focus on fashion, retail, and beauty commerce.




Understanding Automated Dropshipping

Automated dropshipping in a Shopify store refers to using software and tools to handle key tasks such as order fulfillment, inventory management, and customer communication without manual intervention. This allows store owners to streamline operations and focus on growing their business.

3 Advantages of Automating a Shopify Dropshipping Store

  1. Saves time on repetitive tasks: Automation takes care of the boring, time consuming stuff like updating inventory, fulfilling orders, and sending tracking numbers. Instead of manually placing orders with suppliers, third party dropshipping tools handle it for you.
  2. Cuts down on costs: With automation you don’t need as many hands on deck. Your third party dropshipping tools can handle the everyday tasks like uploading products so you’re not hiring help to do this. 
  3. Makes scaling a breeze: When your store grows, automation keeps everything under control. Whether you’re managing 10 orders or 1000, dropshipping tools like Oberlo or Spocket make sure everything runs smoothly without adding extra stress.
Automation handles inventory, orders, shipping, and global logistics, keeping things smooth during sales spikes and global expansion.

» Discover how Shopify sorting automation can boost your sales

Automate Your Store With EGNITION Tools

Improve inventory management with Egnition’s automation tools to maintain accurate stock levels and enhance customer experience.



Processes to Automate in Shopify Dropshipping

  • Inventory management: Automating inventory sync ensures your product listings are always up to date, avoiding overselling or showing out of stock items. This reduces order cancellations, improves customer trust and minimizes lost sales opportunities. 
  • Product upload: With third party dropshipping tools, you can automate product uploads allowing you to quickly import product details, descriptions, and images from suppliers. This saves hours of manual work and is especially handy if you have a large product catalogue and/or add new products frequently. 
  • Order fulfillment: Automation tools handle order processing by sending details directly to suppliers. This eliminates manual entry errors, speeds up delivery times, and allows you to handle more orders without additional effort. 
  • Customer notifications: Automated customer notifications like tracking updates notify customers of their order status, reducing support inquiries and enhancing the post-purchase experience, which can lead to repeat business.

» Here's everything you need to know about inventory management in Shopify



Foundations Before Automating Your Shopify Dropshipping Store

  1. Store Setup Your Shopify store should be fully operational and compliant with a professional design, straightforward navigation, and clear CTAs. Make sure your website includes required policies such as privacy policy, terms of service, and cookie consent.

  2. Reliable & Correct Suppliers Partner with reliable suppliers who offer fast shipping, accurate inventory, and consistent quality. Choose suppliers carefully based on their product range—working with a few suppliers offering a wide selection is more efficient than managing many with limited options.

  3. Correct Integration Setup & Testing Set up your integration with third-party dropshippers correctly and test to confirm it works. Ensure your dropshipping tool settings are configured properly to sync product data, inventory levels, and order details seamlessly between your Shopify store and suppliers.

  4. Strong Fulfillment Process Ensure your fulfillment workflow is planned, optimized, and clearly communicated to customers. Automation tools need clear instructions to sync orders with suppliers and manage tracking and notifications. Include key details like delivery costs, custom fees, and timeframes prominently on your website—such as on product pages, in the cart, and at checkout.

» Need to manage stock across multiple locations? Achieve efficient multi-channel inventory management for Shopify


how to automate your dropshiping business


1. Pick the Right Dropshipping App

Start by checking out Shopify compatible dropshipping tools like Oberlo, Spocket, or AutoDS. They’re all good options but each has its own strengths. For example, Spocket is awesome for the U.S. and Europe because of its fast shipping while AutoDS has a wider reach for global suppliers, including Asia.

Think about what you’re selling and where you’re shipping to—some tools work better for certain niches or regions. 

2. Connect Your Dropshipping App to Shopify

After selecting your app, install it from the Shopify App Store and follow the setup steps. In just a few clicks, the app will sync with your store, seamlessly connecting products, inventory, and orders. Make sure the connection is smooth before moving on. 

3. Set Up Your Automation Settings

This is where the magic happens. Dive into the app’s settings and turn on automation features like automatic order fulfillment, inventory syncing, and customer notifications.

Example: You can set it up so customer orders go straight to the supplier and tracking info gets emailed to buyers without you lifting a finger. 

» Here are the best email marketing apps for Shopify

4. Choose Your Suppliers and Products

Use the app to browse products and suppliers that match your niche. Add the ones you like to your Shopify store with the app’s syncing tools. If you want to make pricing automatic, turn on dynamic pricing to adjust based on supplier costs or your profit goals. 

5. Align Shopify’s Shipping Settings

Now, head over to your Shopify shipping settings to make sure they work with your dropshipping app.

Example: If Shopify is managing your shipping rates, you’ll need to add the supplier’s fulfillment locations to your shipping profiles.

This ensures everything lines up for smooth deliveries. Oftentimes retailers don’t realize that they need to align/update certain settings on Shopify for automation to work properly with their dropshipper, so make sure you don’t miss this step.

a screenshot showing shipping settings


6. Run a Test Order

Before you officially go live, place a test order to see if everything’s working. Does the order sync with the supplier? Is the fulfillment automated? Are customers getting their emails with tracking info?

This step is your safety net to catch anything that might go wrong before customers start ordering.

Pro Tip: You should always make sure to test every element of your dropshipping integration and automations as it’s way better to find out that something hasn’t been set up correctly in advance rather than down the line when it’s affected actual customer orders.

» Need more help? Learn how to successfully dropship on Shopify

Tips for Maintaining Personal Connections While Automating

Add a Personal Touch with Automation

Often times people think that with automation you’ll lose your brand personality but in reality it should enhance, not replace, personal touches. You can set up thank you emails that feel personal—by using the customer’s name.

Keep Customer Support Human

Even if most tasks are automated, making sure real people are available when customers need help is super important. Offer live chat and/or quick email responses to handle issues.

Tell Your Brand’s Story

Use your website, emails and social media to share what makes your brand special. Talk about your mission, values, and/or the inspiration behind your products.



» Ready to enhance your marketing strategies? Explore these marketing incentives to engage your audience

Automated Inventory Solutions for Shopify

Optimize and simplify management of your Shopify store using our apps. Free up time, improve sales, optimize user journeys and let yourself focus on the business.




3 Automation Apps for Shopify Store Owners

1. AutoDS

AutoDS is a powerhouse for automating your dropshipping store. It takes care of product imports, price adjustments, and order fulfillment all in one place. Dynamic pricing is a unique feature of this dropshipping tool. It adjusts prices based on supplier costs so you’re not caught off guard.

AutoDS works well for global markets, making it ideal for sellers targeting regions like the US, Europe, or Asia with suppliers from various marketplaces. 

2. Spocket

Spocket is perfect if you’re focusing on customers in the U.S. and Europe. Its suppliers are mostly local to those regions, meaning shipping is faster and more reliable. It automates inventory syncing and order processing, which takes a lot off your plate.

The branded invoicing feature also helps you maintain a professional image and is great for building trust with customers.

3. Oberlo

If you’re sourcing from AliExpress, Oberlo is the tool for you. It’s especially strong in markets like the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe, where AliExpress suppliers ship frequently. Oberlo handles everything from syncing orders to bulk importing products.

It’s an excellent choice if you’re scaling quickly or testing out products in multiple categories.

» Check out the best apps and strategies for managing you Shopify inventory



Key Metrics to Monitor Post-Automation

Metric/KPIWhy it Matters
Order Fulfillment SpeedCheck how fast your orders are processed and shipped now that automations are in place. If customers are getting their packages fast, it’s a good sign.
Customer SatisfactionIf customers aren’t complaining about delays or mistakes and are leaving positive comments, it’s clear your automation is making their experience smooth.
Inventory AccuracyMake sure your stock levels stay in sync. If you’re not overselling or running out of items unexpectedly, that’s automation doing its job.
Sales and Revenue GrowthIf your sales, revenue, or average order value are climbing, it’s proof that automation is letting you spend more energy on big picture stuff like marketing or product launches.
Repeat Purchase RateIf you see more customers coming back to buy again, that’s a clear sign your automated workflows are building stronger relationships with your customers.
Abandoned Cart Recovery RatesKeep track of how many abandoned carts turn into sales after setting up automated emails or texts. If more people are coming back to finish their purchase, it’s working and that’s extra revenue you would’ve lost out on otherwise.
Click-Through Rates for Automated CampaignsFor automated email or SMS campaigns, check how many people are opening and clicking. If engagement is high, your automation is doing its job by driving traffic and bringing people back to your store to shop again.

» Learn about the best ways to automate post-purchase emails in Shopify

Solutions for All Inventory Management Needs

EGNITION's automated tools simplify Shopify inventory management, letting you focus on growing your business.

Out-of-Stock Police: Automate out-of-stock product management.

Multi-Store Sync Power: Sync inventory across stores effortlessly.

Bestsellers reSort: Organize products by top sellers for better visibility.




Strengthening Customer Relationships Through Automation

Automating your Shopify store not only streamlines your operations but also frees up valuable time to enhance the customer experience. With the right automation in place, like personalized thank-you emails, tailored product recommendations, and seamless order fulfillment, you can build stronger connections with your customers.

These thoughtful touches help ensure that customers feel valued and are more likely to return to your store. In a competitive market, this customer loyalty is essential for sustained growth and long-term success.

» Learn more about our automated Shopify apps that can help to improve inventory management

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