Business

Automation could be the Answer to Powerful Growth in your eCommerce Business

Published

6 years ago

March 26, 2020

We are in the midst of an ongoing revolution in artificial intelligence, and in automation more broadly. Jobs which were once performed by people are now, increasingly, being performed by machines. And this transition is taking place more quickly with every passing day.

Economic circumstances, like the dip in labour supply following the coronavirus pandemic, might accelerate the pace of change still further – but this is a longer-term transition to an entirely different sort of economy.

Certain sectors might benefit from automation right now. Among these is eCommerce.

What is automation in eCommerce?

Running an eCommerce business relies on many tasks being performed. These can often be repetitive, dull, and time consuming. Tasks of this nature are best left to machines.

What forms might eCommerce automation take?

Marketing Cohesion

The launch of a new product can be a tricky and complicated process. Not only does the product in question need to be added to the storefront; it also needs to be advertised through a diverse range of targeted channels. Automation will remove much of the administrative work from this process, and ensure that errors and downtime are kept to a minimum.

Streamlining Tracking

The modern customer expects packages to be delivered as quickly as possible. But they also expect to be kept informed at every stage of a given package’s progress. If there are hundreds of items out for delivery at any one time, then tracking these might be a full-time job. If there are thousands of them, this might be impossible.

Identifying high-risk orders

Sometimes, your system might receive an order that anyone could recognise as a risk. If dozens, or hundreds, of the same item are to be delivered to a domestic address, then this might be cause for concern. But an artificial intelligence might be able to identify more subtle forms of risk, and pick out potential fraudsters using modelling and statistics.

Warehousing

The Covid-19 pandemic means that warehouse operators will find themselves unable to come into work. This is likely to kick the adoption of robotic alternatives into overdrive. Robotic Process Automation is an increasingly important pillar of the online shopping industry – and it was likely to become ubiquitous even before the intervention of world events.

Shipping Comparison

Settling on just a single courier can often lead to wasted money in the long-term. By instead considering a range of options, you’ll be able to identify the cheapest, and thereby limit your spending on shipping – which will constitute a sizeable portion of your variable costs. You can perform this comparison via services like Parcel2Go.

Identifying high-value customers

A minority of customers can often make up a majority of an e-commerce business’s income. And, in the case of some businesses, this is especially likely. Artificial intelligence allows these customers to be flagged automatically according to pre-selected criteria, so that they can be targeted later by tailored advertising. Retaining these customers can be hugely important for small businesses, particularly during trying economic times.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

6 days ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.