You can’t thrive in 2025 without automation.
There. We said it.
In the face of relentless digital transformation and ever-changing consumer trends, automating your operations is the only way to stay ahead.
With a brand new year around the corner, now is the perfect opportunity to embrace cutting-edge automation technology that will save you tons of time, reduce errors and give your team the bandwidth to focus on what really matters – growing your business and serving your customers better.
Still not convinced? Let’s look at four powerful reasons to automate your business this new year…
1. Stop your staff burning out
Admin creep is real. In fact, the burden of manual tasks linked to running a retail business is so significant that some employees are spending their weekends and days off catching up.
According to research by Brightpearl by Sage, seven in ten (69%) UK workers say they’ve completed work admin on a weekend or non-working day, and more than a quarter (29%) have taken time off work specifically to do work admin.
This is leading to high levels of burnout among employees – which is critically linked to inefficiency. Three-quarters (75%) of those polled said they feel ‘overwhelmed’ by the amount of work admin they have to do.
Automating repetitive tasks such as order fulfillment, invoicing and inventory management significantly reduces the time employees have to spend on manual processes. This can relieve burnout – and allow staff to focus their talents and time on tasks that drive your business forward.
On average, UK retail businesses using automation save 5 hours and 42 minutes every week that would otherwise be spent on manual admin tasks. This equates to an astounding 296 hours and 48 minutes saved each year.
With Brightpearl’s powerful Automation Engine at its disposal, homeware brand TBCo was quickly able to overhaul its operations – automating around 82 manual workflows in order to save huge amounts of time, streamline processes and boost profits.
“The automation power that Brightpearl has given us has been truly game-changing,” says the brand’s Lead Operations Specialist, Alice Davidson.
2. Boost your customer experience
In an increasingly competitive marketplace where modern consumers demand cutting-edge shopping experiences, retailers need all the help they can get to stay ahead.
Automation can help you provide the slick, memorable experiences your customers crave.
For instance, it can help you provide 24/7 support along with automated updates on order status and billing. It can help you get orders out faster – which is a key factor in customer satisfaction.
Even CRM – including sending personalized marketing messages and managing loyalty programs – can be automated.
These can prove to be vital ways to retain loyal customers (which, as we know, is much cheaper than attracting new ones).
For when only human-to-human customer experience will do, automation can free up your best people to make it happen.
Since Wolverson Fitness began automating workflows with Brighpearl. there’s been a 300% increase in productivity, enabling the team to focus on expanding the business and improving customer satisfaction.
Sales Manager Jordan Hill says: “We previously employed someone full time to do the manual tasks associated with order fulfilment, such as printing labels and data entry. Now, Brightpearl automates the whole process – saving us a full-time hire plus around 40 hours a month.”
3. Avoid annoying errors
As well as helping you stick in the minds of shoppers for all the right reasons, automation can help you avoid being remembered for the wrong ones.
Manual processes are prone to human error, which can lead to costly mistakes. This is especially true during seasonal spikes in demand, when emotions are often running high and your customers are more dependent on reliable service than ever before.
Automation ensures consistency and accuracy in tasks like order processing and shipping.
Brightpearl customers report a 65% drop in errors after implementing simple no-code automation rules with our Automation Engine.
For many, like $30M oral cosmetics brand Snow, this has proven critical for maintaining customer satisfaction and brand reputation – especially during Peak Season.
Trevor Martin, Vice President Operations at Snow, says: “Brightpearl’s Automation Engine transformed how we manage peak – it was incredible how it sped up our time to ship. Without it, I would have had to double our warehouse and operations staff – it would have been a nightmare.”
4. Grow your business in any direction
Automation allows businesses to scale operations seamlessly as they grow.
Whether it’s managing higher order volumes during peak seasons or expanding into new markets, automation with the right tools ensures that operations run smoothly without additional strain on resources.
Retailers who invest in automation position themselves ahead of competitors who rely on outdated, manual processes. This allows them to deliver better customer experiences and faster service.
Ricky Shah, COO at Strength Shop, says: “The automation features of Brightpearl have made a massive difference. We have the freedom to grow in our business in whichever direction we choose, while simultaneously enriching the customer experience.”
🎥 Want to see Brightpearl’s Automation Engine in action? Check out our 15-minute demo.
