Stop Paying People to Do Work Your Systems Should Handle
Most e-commerce operations run on a stack of tools that don't talk to each other. Orders land in one system, inventory lives in another, returns are handled manually, and pricing decisions happen in a spreadsheet. The team fills the gaps. As order volume grows, so does headcount — not because the work is complex, but because nobody has automated it.
At RaftLabs, we fix the operational drag inside e-commerce businesses. Order processing, inventory sync, returns handling, abandoned cart recovery, supplier reorders, review requests, pricing automation, and shipping notifications — all the routine work that should run without anyone triggering it. We've built e-commerce automation across direct-to-consumer brands, multi-channel retailers, and marketplace sellers.
Most builds ship in 10–12 weeks at a fixed price.
Order processing and fulfilment routing automated from payment to dispatch — no manual handoffs
Inventory synced in real time across every channel you sell on
Abandoned cart, review request, and shipping notification sequences running without anyone managing them
Supplier reorder triggers and returns processing handled automatically
RaftLabs builds custom e-commerce automation software covering order processing and fulfilment routing, real-time inventory sync across channels, abandoned cart recovery sequences, automated review requests, supplier reorder triggers, returns and refunds processing, pricing rules, and shipping notifications. A typical e-commerce automation engagement runs 10–12 weeks at a fixed price starting from $12K–$15K per month for a lean delivery pod.
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Where e-commerce businesses lose margin to manual process
As order volume scales, the manual work doesn't shrink — it multiplies. More orders mean more manual processing. More channels mean more inventory reconciliation. More customers mean more support tickets, more returns, more review requests that nobody sent. The team grows to handle it, which compresses margin.
The fix is not more headcount. It's closing the gaps between your systems so the routine work happens automatically. We build the automation layer that connects your order management, inventory, suppliers, fulfilment, and customer communication into one workflow.
Capabilities
What we build
Order processing and fulfilment routing
Orders from every sales channel are captured into a unified order management layer without manual consolidation. Shopify orders, Amazon Seller Central orders (via SP-API), eBay orders (via eBay Fulfillment API), and B2B wholesale portal orders all arrive in one place with normalised data -- customer details, SKU list, quantities, shipping address, and payment status -- regardless of how each platform formats the original order. Fulfilment routing logic routes each order to the optimal warehouse or 3PL based on configurable rules: proximity to delivery address, per-SKU stock availability, carrier cut-off times for same-day or next-day dispatch, and fulfilment cost per shipment. For multi-warehouse operations, split shipments are handled automatically when a complete order cannot be fulfilled from a single location -- with carrier rate shopping (EasyPost or Shippo aggregating UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, Royal Mail, DPD rates) to select the cheapest compliant option per split. The pick list is transmitted to the warehouse management system (ShipBob, ShipHero, Linnworks, or a custom WMS via API); the shipping label is generated and printed at the warehouse; the carrier tracking number is written back to the order record and pushed to the originating channel's API (Shopify Fulfillment API, Amazon Confirm Shipment) so the platform sends its own dispatch notification to the customer. The full order-to-dispatch cycle runs without a single manual handoff.
Inventory sync across channels
Inventory sync establishes a single source of truth -- your Shopify store, your ERP, your 3PL system, or a dedicated inventory service -- and pushes real-time updates to every connected channel whenever a stock event occurs. Stock event types handled: sale on any channel (inventory decremented within 5--15 seconds of order confirmation), return processed and restocked (inventory incremented after warehouse inspection confirmation), manual stock adjustment (bulk import or WMS update propagated to all channels), new stock received from supplier (purchase order receipt triggers inventory increment across all channels simultaneously). Channel integrations: Shopify inventory API for direct Shopify channels, Amazon SP-API Inventory management for Amazon FBA and FBM, eBay Inventory API, Faire wholesale platform API, Etsy Listings API, WooCommerce Product API. For channels without real-time inventory APIs (some marketplace platforms only allow scheduled updates), sync runs on a configurable polling schedule -- every 5, 15, or 30 minutes -- with an oversell buffer (list 10 less than actual stock) to prevent the race condition between order creation and inventory update. Safety stock thresholds per SKU: when quantity drops below the configured minimum, a reorder alert fires to the purchasing team or triggers an automatic supplier reorder (see Supplier Reorders). Discrepancy alerts: when the sum of inventory across channels diverges from the source of truth by more than a configurable threshold, an alert fires for manual reconciliation -- the system cannot correct a physical discrepancy, but it can tell you it exists.
Returns and refunds processing
Returns automation eliminates the manual steps in the return lifecycle while preserving human review for exception cases. Return initiation: customer submits a return request via a self-service returns portal (branded, embedded in your Shopify store or standalone subdomain) or via chatbot; the system validates the request against your return policy rules (within return window, eligible product category, order found and confirmed delivered); a pre-paid return shipping label is generated via EasyPost or Shippo (carrier selected based on package size and return origin for cost optimisation) and emailed to the customer automatically. Warehouse processing: when the carrier marks the return shipment as delivered at your warehouse, the returns team receives an inspection task in your WMS or returns management system (Returnly, Loop Returns, or a custom tool). The inspection outcome is logged (resaleable, damaged, wrong item, missing parts); the automation reads the outcome and branches: resaleable items trigger an immediate Stripe or PayPal refund and an inventory increment on the restocked SKU; damaged or non-resaleable items route to a manual review queue with the inspection outcome and photos attached. High-value exception routing: returns above a configurable order value threshold always route to a senior team member for review before refund issuance regardless of inspection outcome. Refund timing compliance: for EU and UK customers, the 14-day statutory refund window under the Consumer Rights Act / Consumer Rights Directive is tracked per return and an alert fires if the refund has not been issued within 12 days -- before the legal deadline, not after.
Abandoned cart recovery
Abandoned cart automation operates on a precision-timed sequence triggered by the cart abandonment event -- defined as reaching checkout with contact information captured but not completing the purchase. Sequence structure: email 1 at 60 minutes (cart reminder with item images, prices, and a single direct-to-checkout CTA link -- no discount offered at this stage, as 30--40% of recoveries happen without an incentive); email 2 at 24 hours (social proof addition -- review snippets for the specific products in the cart, plus an urgency signal if stock is genuinely limited); email 3 at 48--72 hours (optional discount code, configurable as a fixed amount or percentage off, with expiry to create urgency). SMS is added as a second channel where opted-in customers are messaged at the 30-minute mark before the email sequence (SMS open rates average 98% vs 20--25% for email, with significantly higher immediate-action rates). The sequence stops at any point the customer completes a purchase -- avoiding the awkward experience of receiving a discount offer after already buying. Klaviyo, Omnisend, or direct ESP (SendGrid, Mailchimp) integration for email delivery; Twilio or Attentive for SMS. Personalisation at the item level: cart reminder emails include product names, images, variant details (size, colour), and prices pulled from your product catalogue in real time -- so if a price changes between cart abandonment and the reminder, the email shows the current price. A/B testing framework built into the sequence: subject line variants, timing variations, and discount vs no-discount are testable with statistical significance reporting so you can optimise recovery rate over time.
Supplier reorders and pricing rules
Supplier reorder automation calculates reorder points per SKU based on current stock level, average daily sales velocity (trailing 30-day), and supplier lead time -- triggering a purchase order when projected stock-out date falls within the lead time window plus a configured safety buffer. Reorder quantity is calculated using the economic order quantity (EOQ) formula with your holding cost and ordering cost parameters, or set as a fixed minimum order quantity per supplier if EOQ is below MOQ. Purchase order delivery method is per-supplier: EDI X12 850 or EDIFACT ORDERS for large suppliers with EDI capability; email with a populated PDF template generated from the order data for suppliers without EDI; direct supplier portal API (Faire wholesale portal API, custom supplier B2B portals) for digital-native suppliers. All automatically generated purchase orders enter a review queue in your purchasing system before transmission -- the purchasing manager approves or adjusts before the PO is sent, or the PO is transmitted hands-free for pre-approved fast-moving SKUs. Pricing rules automation manages channel-specific pricing without manual updates across listings: margin-floor rules prevent any price from dropping below cost plus a configurable margin percentage; promotional calendar rules apply scheduled discounts on specified dates and revert automatically; bundle pricing rules calculate and publish bundle prices across all channels when component prices change; competitor pricing response rules (for marketplaces where competitive pricing visibility is available) adjust prices within configurable bounds to maintain buy box position without racing to the bottom.
Review requests and shipping notifications
Post-purchase communication sequences run entirely from order status events without manual management. Shipping notification: triggered within 60 seconds of carrier tracking number being assigned; email (and optional SMS for opted-in customers) includes carrier name, tracking number, expected delivery window, and a live-tracking link. Carrier tracking aggregation via AfterShip or EasyPost provides a single branded tracking page regardless of which of your 10+ carriers handles the shipment -- customers are not redirected to DHL's website for one order and USPS's website for another. Out-for-delivery notification: triggered when carrier updates status to out-for-delivery for carriers that provide this event (FedEx, UPS, USPS Informed Delivery, DPD); increases first-delivery-attempt success rate. Delivery confirmation: triggered when carrier marks delivered; starts the post-delivery sequence timer. Review request: sent 3--5 days post-delivery (configurable, and product-type-aware -- a mattress needs more time than a t-shirt); linked to your preferred review platform (Google My Business, Trustpilot, Yotpo, Okendo, Stamped.io, Amazon Request a Review API for marketplace orders); suppressed for orders with an open support ticket or active return. Negative experience deflection: before the review request, a satisfaction check ("Happy with your order?") routes customers who express dissatisfaction to a customer service contact flow rather than a public review platform -- protecting your review profile while still capturing the feedback. All sequences are configurable timing and content without code changes; all messages use your brand templates.
Which manual process is compressing your margin most right now?
Book a 30-minute call. We'll map your current order-to-delivery workflow and show you exactly where automation will recover the most time and money.
AI for E-commerce -- personalised recommendations, dynamic pricing, fraud detection
Frequently asked questions
The answer depends on where your team spends the most manual time and where errors cost you the most money. For most e-commerce businesses, order processing is the first priority. If orders from multiple channels — your website, marketplaces, wholesale portals — land in different places and someone manually consolidates them before sending to fulfilment, that's a direct candidate for automation. Every manual step is a potential error and a delay. Inventory sync is usually the next bottleneck. Selling on three channels with inventory tracked manually in a spreadsheet means you will oversell. It's a question of when, not if. Real-time inventory sync across channels eliminates that. Abandoned cart recovery is the highest-ROI addition for most DTC brands — 70% of carts are abandoned, and a timed sequence of two or three messages recovers a meaningful percentage of that revenue without any ongoing effort once it's set up. After those, supplier reorders, review requests, returns processing, and pricing rules are all strong candidates depending on your operation.
Inventory sync works by establishing a single source of truth for your stock levels — typically your warehouse management system, your 3PL, or your Shopify store — and then publishing updates to every other channel in real time whenever a sale, return, or stock adjustment happens. When an order comes in on your website, the available quantity on your marketplace listings drops immediately. When a return is processed and the item passes inspection, the quantity goes back up. This requires API connections to each channel and a logic layer that handles the mapping between your internal SKUs and each platform's product identifiers. Most major platforms — Shopify, Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, Faire, and others — have APIs that support this. The complexity varies by platform, but the principle is the same: one system owns the truth, every other system reflects it. We scope the channel-by-channel connection requirements before we build.
For a large proportion of returns, yes. The standard return workflow — customer requests return, return label generated, item received at warehouse, inspection completed, refund issued — has multiple decision points but most of them follow predictable rules. If the item is returned within the policy window and passes inspection, the refund should issue automatically. If the item is damaged or outside policy, it flags for manual review. Automation handles the majority of cases without anyone touching them. The customer gets a return label automatically after submitting a reason. Your warehouse team confirms receipt and logs the inspection outcome. The automation layer reads that outcome and either issues the refund and restocks the item, or routes the exception to your returns team. The result is faster refunds for customers, less time spent on routine returns by your team, and a clean audit trail for every case. We scope this against your current return rate and policy before building.
Scope determines timeline. A focused automation — abandoned cart recovery sequences, or automated review request messages — can be live in 4–6 weeks. A broader build covering order processing, inventory sync across three channels, supplier reorder triggers, and returns automation typically runs 12–14 weeks. Our lean delivery pod — one senior engineer plus part-time PM and QA — runs $12K–$15K per month. A 10-week single-workflow engagement is in the $30K–$40K range. Multi-channel inventory sync with order routing and returns processing across a growing DTC brand is typically in the $45K–$60K range depending on the number of integrations and exception-handling complexity. We quote after a diagnostic call where we map your current tool stack, order volumes, and the specific gaps you need closed. If a third-party tool solves your problem better than custom software, we say so before you spend anything.
Work with us
Tell us what you need. We'll tell you what it would take.
We scope E-commerce Automation Software in 30 minutes. You walk away with a clear cost, timeline, and approach. No commitment required.
Scope and cost agreed before work starts. No surprises. No obligation.
Working prototype within 3 weeks of kickoff.
Pay by milestone. You see progress before each invoice.
60-day post-launch warranty. Bug fixes, UI tweaks, and deployment support. No retainer.
