Magento 2 Dropshipping Automation
If you want to run an e-commerce business but don’t have a space for a warehouse, don’t want to turn your home into it, or your budget doesn’t let you rent a commercial space for that need, you’ve come to the right place. In the following article, we describe how to run an online storefront without storing any items. Furthermore, we also explore how to organize such an enterprise so that you can reduce your daily routine concentrating on various creative aspects of business management. Let’s see what Magento 2 dropshipping automation is. Learn how it differs from ghost commerce in our guide: What is Ghost Commerce?
What Is Dropshipping
Dropshipping is more than a supply chain management method even though numerous sources insist on that. De facto, it is a business model that introduces entirely new opportunities regarding stock management. To be more specific, one that ultimately reduces the necessity to have a warehouse and purchase any goods. As a merchant, you turn an ordinary e-commerce website into an advertising platform. However, customers still can buy anything they want on your storefront. When a purchase is made, you transfer the customer’s order and shipment details to your dropshipping partner, who can be a manufacturer, retailer, or wholesaler. All the shipping duties lay upon the partner’s shoulders. The same is for storing goods.
And there are two most popular ways to make a profit in the dropshipping model. Firstly, you can make money on the difference between the wholesale and retail price. The former is the price your partner offers. The latter is the price specified on your e-commerce website. Secondly, it is possible to earn an agreed percentage of the sales. Why does your website remain an online storefront do not turn into an advertising platform?
Because you still run an ordinary e-commerce store with a home page, categories, product pages, cart, and checkout. You may encourage customers with discounts and try to increase sales with related products, cross-sells, and up-sells. If someone abandons a shopping cart, you can send an email reminder.
To make a long story short, let’s summarize the main facts. Dropshipping is a business model that incorporates a common e-commerce website but reduces the necessity to store and ship goods. And since Magento 2 is the best platform for selling products online, we will concentrate on the Magento 2 Dropshipping automation below.
Why Magento 2
Although you might have already heard how expensive Magento 2 Commerce or Cloud is, there is still an open-source version of the platform. Yes, you still need a budget to launch an e-commerce website based on Magento 2 Open Source. However, all the expenditures may be dramatically reduced in comparison to the commercial versions. Below, you can see several reasons to choose Magento 2 as the basis of your dropshipping business.
- No SaaS. Magento 2 Open Source lets you avoid monthly payments, which are often inevitable with a SaaS model.
- No Platform Shifts. Since Magento 2 is the most powerful e-commerce solution on the market, you don’t need to switch to other platforms as your business grows.
- Suitable For Small Business. At the same time, even the tiniest market players can leverage Magento 2 to implement their e-commerce ambitions.
- Flexible Design. With tons of Magento 2 themes, you can choose a design that suits your brand and hire a team of professionals to customize its default appearance if necessary. Furthermore, the latest achievements let you create ANY CUSTOM FRONTEND DESIGN with the PWA approach.
- Extensions. The Magento 2 ecosystem offers numerous extensions designed to enhance the functionality of the platform. If some default features and functionalities dissatisfy you, it is possible to replace them with more enhanced alternatives from third-party vendors. For instance, the market offers lots of Magento 2 dropshipping extensions. Since most of them lack a smooth product and order import, they do not provide Magento 2 dropshipping automation. However, there is a tool that solves the problem.
Magento 2 Dropshipping Automation
Although numerous dropshipping platforms and extensions are under your disposal, there are a few modules that provide import and export opportunities related to data you need to transfer between your e-commerce store and external platforms as a dropshipper. What is this data?
- Products. First of all, you need to import product data from a dropshipping platform to your Magento 2 website. Of course, it is still possible to recreate all products manually, but the more items you have, the more time you should spend on them.
- Product Updates. It is also essential to run frequent product updates since your partner may change prices or run out of certain items. However, you cannot monitor these changes 24X7. Therefore, automated updates are the only optimal solution.
- Categories. You may also like to import categories and product positions inside them instead of recreating everything manually.
- Orders. When all the necessary information is transferred to your store, you also need to provide your partner with order data to automate Magento 2 dropshipping. Thus, it is necessary to export shipping details and other information about purchased goods and a customer who buys them.
- Documents. Your partner also needs invoices and other documents related to orders.
- Stocks. And you may need to provide a dropshipping platform with stock updates to let your partner control the inventory.
- Tracking Number. Another critical aspect necessary for Magento 2 dropshipping automation is the ability to import tracking numbers. Since an external system ships orders, it owns tracking data. However, you need to provide it to your customers to let them monitor their order delivery.
Improved Import & Export
And that’s the minimum list of entities to import/export to automate Magento 2 dropshipping. Not many modules can handle these responsibilities. The only extension that provides these data transfer opportunities and goes far beyond them is Improved Import & Export for Magento 2.
Our module can quickly transfer product data in any format and from all possible sources. You can use either data files or direct API connections. Furthermore, the extension provides the ability to import products with all the related information from Google Sheets.
You can set up as many different import and export jobs as you need. Thus, the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 extension lets you create a unique profile for every dropshipper automating all dropshipping connections.
As for product updates, the Improved Import & Export Magento 2 module offers cron-based schedules. It means that you can specify (or select) and interval to run updates in the background. This feature enables the Magento 2 dropshipping automation regarding ALL platforms and partners. Can import product updates as frequently as you need. At the same time, it can provide your dropshipping partners with the information they require in a fully automated manner at a specified time.
Category import is not a problem for Improved Import & Export at all. Our extension quickly does that. Furthermore, it lets you match external product categories to ones used on your website right during a product import session.
Stock import and export lets you avoid situations when you sell items that are currently out of stock. At the same time, you provide your supplier with information about the quantity of traded goods automatically.
When it comes to orders, you can leverage all the features mentioned above. Furthermore, Improved Import & Export provides the ability to split orders by supplier/vendor. This feature simplifies your daily routine dramatically and enables Magento 2 dropshipping automation if your store is connected to more than one dropshipping platform. However, it is always possible to export orders manually along with the full automation.
Tracking number import is not an exception. You can leverage Improved Import & Export to transfer all the corresponding data from a dropshipping website and provide it to your customers. The module lets you use numerous file formats and sources to do that.
It is also possible to transfer invoices and other documents between Magento 2 and a dropshipping platform using the Improved Import & Export extension.
The module cuts down the project development and management time as a base for your dropshipping customer needs. Note that we also offer dropshipping add-ons to accelerate time to market and simplify your daily duties. You can exchange data between your Magento 2 store and Banggood and Chinabrands dropshipping services within just a few clicks. For further information, follow these links:
Magento 2 Dropshipping Automation With Improved Import & Export Magento 2 Extension
Banggood Dropshipping Add-on for Magento 2
Chinabrands Dropshipping Add-on for Magento 2
Note that we work on new dropshipping add-ons. At the same time, our team offers Magento 2 dropshipping integration services. We provide full automation in all the related processes. As a result, order fulfillment requires a bare minimum of involvement. We help you make your Magento 2 business strong with powerful integration channels multiplied by custom-developed tools and professional consultant inputs. Our team solves all the data transfer issues you come across. You can trust the team of certified Magento developers because we have:
- 10-years expertise with Magento projects and startups of different complexity;
- 2k+ happy customers all over the globe;
- High coding standards.
Follow the link below and contact us: we will help you with all your dropshipping inquiries:
Custom Magento 2 Services by Firebear
iPaaS
Let’s describe what benefits the iPaaS solutions offer. First of all, they provide integrations for different business applications. Usually, no coding is required for that, which makes iPaaS tools popular among non-technical users. Since absolutely different tools can be combined, you can leverage iPaaS for the Magento 2 dropshipping integration with systems that do not work with Magento 2 by default.
Also, note that the synchronization usually goes in both directions. iPaaS creates a Bidirectional data flow to and from your Magento 2 store, regularly updating both business applications. Furthermore, frequent backups are also among critical iPaaS benefits. As a result, it is possible to restore the whole system to its previous state within just a few clicks.
Due to various workflow automation features, you can specify triggers to launch data transfers. It makes daily duties fully automated so that you and your team can concentrate on more essential tasks that data transfers.
For instance, it is possible to leverage Zapier to connect Magento 2 to dropshipping platforms. It moves data between the two platforms automatically. It lets you not only saving time but also decrease the number of human errors.
You can link the two systems with just a few clicks, using Zapier’s automated workflows. What’s the most crucial aspect of this integration is that no coding skills are required.
For instance, a customer makes an order on your website (trigger). Zapier exports order data to a specified dropshipping platform (action) and imports a corresponding tracking number back (action). The entire workflow consists of triggers and actions. You pick the former, and it sets the letter: everything comes into motion automatically.
Zapier also relies on searches, which also participate in establishing connections between different platforms. While triggers are utilized to control events in applications, searches monitor connected platforms for specific information. When all conditions are met, actions lead to data transfers.
Note that Zapier supports 750+ applications, being a leading solution. New integrations are added weekly. You can test an intuitive and user-friendly editor here:
Inventory Source
(up to $150 per month)
This online platform lets you effortlessly integrate your Magento 2 website with the supplier’s inventory. The system lets you upload product data and sync inventory between the two systems automatically.
Currently, Inventory Source works with 25+ marketplaces and multi-channel management platforms. At the same time, it is linked with a 230+ trusted supplier network. If you are looking for a solution that can automate your product sourcing, categorizing, and price updates, choose Inventory source. It will also help you integrate different inventory levels as well as synchronize product details and images with your suppliers.
With full product data integration, the Magento 2 dropshipping integration on the basis of Inventory Source lets you upload products with multiple images, parent/child variations, custom attributes, etc. The system leverages the industry-leading syncing process to keep data on your e-commerce website and a connected platform. It also monitors the data flow to eliminate entry errors. As a result, the turn around time is improved, and customers are satisfied.
Easyship
(up to $49 per month)
Easyship introduces an all-in-one shipping platform for the global needs of e-commerce businesses. The system lets you connect your Magento 2 website to 250+ shipping solutions achieving entire Magento 2 dropshipping automation.
Shipping management has never been so easy. The automated shipping tool lets you streamline all your sales channels. You can connect multiple stores and ERP tools, creating an ecosystem of products that you use.
Provide customers with actual rates at checkout for the best courier solutions and ship to 220+ countries with customs info upfront. Easyship displays a maximum of 3 options: the cheapest, fastest, and best value for money.
Shipwire
(price upon request)
Shipwire is a cloud-based platform designed to simplify your logistics duties. Designed to power your global logistics network, it can handle the most complicated order fulfillment tasks. The platform offers a combination of warehouses to choose from. It also lets you manage orders, control and update inventory levels, optimize shipping expenditures, etc. The Magento 2 dropshipping automation with Shipwire can be based on the following pillars:
- Automated order export from Magento 2 to Shipwire;
- Automated order tracking with expected delivery dates;
- Inventory status updates (by region, fulfillment center, or globally);
- Real-time shipping rates at checkout;
- Support for multiple stores in one fulfillment account.
Wholesale2B
(up to $99 for all plans per month)
Wholesale2B is one of the most notable dropshipping platforms. It is 100% risk-free and requires no credit card. You create an account, review a product, and choose a plan to start selling. The system lets you connect your Magento 2 website with 100+ dropship suppliers. As a result, it is possible to integrate your Magento 2 website with over 1 million dropship products.
To enable the Magento 2 dropshipping automation, Wholesale2B automatically updates stock and product data. Besides, it removes discontinued items so that you can keet your catalog up to date. Orders are synchronized automatically as well. Thus, you can work with numerous suppliers but reduce the complexity of order processing. Besides, Wholesale2B handles tracking codes and return requests for you. You can also discover various articles about dropshipping as well as video tutorials on the platform.
Jetti
(up to $999 per month)
Jetti also offers dropship and fulfillment automation for e-commerce platforms, including Magento. It lets you unify a multivendor marketplace as well as streamline various in-house operations. For instance, it is possible to integrate your Magento 2 website with drop ship vendors and eliminate manually syncing. The platform offers data transfers for inventory, orders, and pricing. It does all the fork for you. Jetti automatically splits orders into three main categories:
- in-house,
- dropship,
- 3PL (third-party logistics).
Note that it is possible to provide branded packing slips with Jetti. You can also synchronize tracking details between your website and a dropshipping platform. Automating vendor payments is not a problem if you use Jetti.
Dsco
(price upon request)
Dsco is one of the world’s most robust distributed inventory platform. It gained wide popularity due to the ability to see, share, and sell inventory from any source. Of course, the platform offers extended opportunities when it comes to the Magento 2 dropshipping automation. Retailers and brands all over the globe rely on Dsco to implement omnichannel strategies and simplify dropshipping due to its outstanding flexibility, ultra-fast onboarding, free support, and other notable features. Also, note that Dsco charges absolutely nothing for brands and suppliers to connect and share data.
Spocket
(up to $299 per month)
If you are looking for a top dropshipping supplier of original US/EU products, pay attention to Spocket. The platform contains thousands of products from numerous dropshipping suppliers all over the world. What’s even more important, you can start using Spocket for free with no registration fees. And despite the nature of dropshipping relations, you can still save your brand identity with branded invoicing. The platform is also famous for its substantial discounts. They usually range from 30-40% on all products. Note that Spocket is aimed at Shopify and WooCommerce first. However, you may try to leverage it to achieve the Magento 2 dropshipping automation.
Ecomdash
(up to $350 per month)
Ecomdash offers dropshipping automation software for Magento 2 and other platforms. It creates communication between your sales channels and suppliers, automatically transferring orders to your suppliers and moving product data and shipment details back. As you might have already guessed, Ecomdash works with multiple suppliers. Furthermore, you can prioritize which supplier receives the order at the product level. Due to the mapping capabilities of the platform, you can track the same products with different product identifiers as one item.
Updating sales channels with shipping and tracking details as a part of the Magento 2 dropshipping automation is not a problem at all when you use Ecomdash. Furthermore, you can manage orders across all your platforms using built-in connectors. As for the synchronization of
the supplier’s product data, it is possible via SFTP, FTP, or HTTP. In addition to standard order management capabilities, Ecomdash routes orders to the next prioritized supplier is a selected one is sold out.
ShipBob
(price upon request)
ShipBob is another third-party logistics platform that fulfills e-commerce orders, provides warehouses situated near your buyers, and offers connected technology to power a fulfillment network of any size. With ShipBob, you can dramatically improve transit times, reduce shipping costs, and improve the delivery experience for your customers.
Due to an extensive network of fulfillment centers, the company offers affordable 2-day shipping and pricing that your customers can understand. As a Magento merchant, you can choose from a broad range of fulfillment services. To achieve outstanding accountability, ShipBob offers transparency of performance. As for the Magento 2 dropshipping automation, the platform provides hands-off fulfillment so that you can focus on other aspects of your business.