Architected an end-to-end order processing pipeline that automates fulfillment, inventory sync, and CRM updates across 5 platforms.
Challenge
A fast-growing e-commerce brand (Shopify, 2,000+ orders/month) had built up a web of manual processes as they scaled. Their operations team spent 40+ hours per week manually copying orders into their 3PL fulfillment system, updating inventory spreadsheets, syncing with their wholesale portal, logging orders in HubSpot, and sending customised post-purchase email sequences. Errors were frequent — wrong SKUs sent to fulfillment, inventory going negative, CRM records missing data. Hiring more ops staff wasn't the answer.
Workflow approach
We built a comprehensive automation engine using n8n as the orchestration layer, with custom Python microservices handling the logic-heavy processing. The system listens for order events from Shopify webhooks, then executes a multi-step pipeline: validates order data, enriches with customer history from HubSpot, routes to the appropriate fulfillment path (3PL for standard, in-house for custom orders), updates inventory across Shopify and their wholesale portal, creates/updates CRM records with full order context, and triggers personalised post-purchase email sequences via Klaviyo. Error handling was built throughout — any failed step generates a Slack alert with the full context, allowing quick manual resolution without data corruption.
Observed outcome
The automation handles 100% of standard order processing with zero manual intervention. The operations team recovered 40+ hours per week, redirecting that capacity to customer experience and supplier management. Order fulfillment speed improved 3x — from same-day processing by end of business to within 2 hours of order placement. Manual errors dropped to zero. The system has processed 85,000+ orders without a single data integrity issue.
Outcome metrics
- Hours saved per week
- 40+
- Manual errors since launch
- 0
- Platforms integrated
- 5
- Faster order fulfillment
- 3x
Systems involved
- n8n
- Python
- Shopify API
- HubSpot
- Klaviyo
- PostgreSQL
- Slack API