4 automations that fuelled fast growth for ecommerce brands (and why)
Growing an ecommerce business isn’t just about fancy ads or big discounts. It’s about smart automation that actually turns browsers into buyers and keeps them coming back. The four strategies I’m sharing here come straight from real ecommerce experts. These are things people are actually doing in their businesses and seeing results. Each one hits the key moments in the customer journey where a simple, well-timed message can turn a maybe into a yes.
Win back lost cart revenue
Abandoned carts are one of the biggest hidden revenue opportunities for ecommerce brands. A little nudge at the right time can turn almost sales into completed orders.
“The most effective tool that I have used is Abandoned Cart Automation. It helped me recover 28% of my lost sales in autopilot mode. More than 70% of shoppers leave without buying anything, and I consider every abandoned cart a hidden revenue. We just need to nudge a little to recover it.
These work better than newsletters because these emails get triggered when someone leaves the checkout page. They include visual reminders with photos of the items left behind and real-time updates on stock or prices to create a sense of urgency. I use a three-step sequence for that. In hour 1, a quick "Your item is waiting!" note with a screenshot of their cart is displayed. On Day 1, free shipping is offered, and on Day 3, a final chance mail with 10% discount is pushed.
As a result, my open rates surpass 40%, which is better than standard marketing emails.”
Fahad Khan, Digital Marketing Manager, Ubuy Sweden
Drive planned replacements for legacy equipment
Sometimes growth isn’t just about selling more, it’s about helping customers make the right purchase at the right time. Targeting customers when their equipment is due for replacement turns an inevitable upgrade into a smooth, stress-free experience.
“Our automation triggered significant growth by targeting customers who purchased systems 8 to 12 years ago, the typical timeframe when equipment starts to fail. The personalized emails combine maintenance reminders with specific replacement recommendations based on the customer's original purchase. This strategy creates urgency without sounding alarmist. What made this automation exceptional was its precise timing.
When customers respond with photos of their current equipment, our technicians offer tailored replacement options that perfectly match the existing setup. This approach leads to a higher conversion rate than standard promotional emails because it addresses customer needs at the right moment. The automation effectively turns inevitable equipment failure into a planned and stress-free upgrade instead of an emergency purchase.”
Ender Korkmaz, CEO, Heat&Cool
Revive dropped B2B quotes fast
Buyers can get distracted and decision timelines can stretch out. Following up quickly with a personal, friendly message keeps your brand top of mind and helps turn abandoned quotes into real orders.
“Our fastest growth automation is the abandoned quote follow up, when someone starts a custom hats or patches request and drops off, we send a quick message with their saved details, a simple reply option, and a clear next step. It works since B2B buyers get distracted, and a friendly nudge that feels human pulls them back in and turns almost sales into real orders.”
Eric Turney, President / Sales and Marketing Director, The Monterey Company
Send one timely checkout text
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. A single, well-timed message can outperform complicated sequences, catching people while they are still engaged and ready to buy.
“Abandoned checkout SMS, without question. Here's what I learned after years of testing: those long email sequences everyone uses? They're losing you sales. By the time someone opens your third or fourth reminder email, they've either bought elsewhere or lost interest completely. I switched to sending just one well-timed text message instead, usually within an hour or two of someone leaving items in their cart. The difference was night and day. People actually see it, most read texts within minutes, not hours or days like email. And because it's short and direct, they don't feel overwhelmed. Just a quick "Hey, you left something behind" with a link straight back to their cart.
What makes this work so well is timing and simplicity. You're catching people while they still remember browsing your store, probably still on their phone. No waiting for inbox checks or getting buried under promotional emails. Just one message that feels personal and helpful, not pushy. I've watched this single change recover more revenue than any complicated automation sequence ever did. It's proof that sometimes less really is more, one timely text beats five ignored emails every time.”
David Batchelor, Founder / President, DialMyCalls
