Why 2025 is the Year of Integration in eCommerce with Jim Herbert (episode 528)

Jim Herbert is the CEO at Patchworks, an eCommerce-focused iPaaS who are all about helping you automate and streamline your data. 

Jim Herbert Patchworks on eCommerce MasterPlan Podcast

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Dive in: 

[03:54] Early eCommerce and composability insights. 
[07:24] AI’s impact on eCommerce data. 
[09:45] Order automation and scalability. 
[13:29] Incremental improvement: strategy and success. 
[18:20] Margin-boosting integration. 
[21:06] Future-proof retail tech strategies. 
[24:50] Data monitoring and notification system. 
[27:41] Minimum viable product for integration. 
[29:39] Listen to Jim’s Top Tips! 

The Importance of Integration and Automation 

eCommerce brands must embrace integration and automation to remain competitive. Automate data flows and integrate systems to remove manual tasks, reduce errors, and enhance scalability. Jim describes 2025 as the year of “hyper-automation.” Businesses need to adopt such technologies to address inefficiencies and build resilience. Implementing automation early allows teams to focus on growth opportunities rather than firefighting logistical issues. 

Data is the Foundation of Success 

Before implementing AI or complex automation tools, ensure that data is reliable and centralized. Clean, high-quality data is key for successful automation and AI applications. Without accurate and structured data, even advanced systems will not deliver meaningful results. This principle of “garbage in, garbage out” applies to all aspects of eCommerce. This lessens errors and increases the potential of tech to drive growth and customer satisfaction. 

Incremental Improvement Over Perfection 

Start with a minimum viable product approach when implementing integrations or automation. Identify the most pressing issues and address them first, then take incremental steps toward a broader strategic goal. Focus on solving small, tangible problems that contribute to long-term improvements. This lets brands learn from their mistakes, adapt, and avoid disruptions during peak periods. Jim calls this the “strangler fig” design pattern, where new systems replace old ones without causing operational chaos. 

Monitoring and Maintenance are Non-Negotiable 

While automation can simplify operations, it’s not a “set it and forget it” solution. Monitoring systems are essential to ensure automation work as intended and to detect issues. Establish good monitoring and feedback systems to make sure automation deliver consistent results. Regular audits and real-time alerts can save businesses from costly mistakes or downtime. 

Simplify the Tech Stack for Greater Efficiency 

The trend toward consolidating tech stack is gaining momentum to reduce costs and complexity. With integrations, brands can replace redundant apps and subscriptions with solutions that improve performance and cut expenses. This means evaluating the tech stack regularly to identify overlaps or inefficiencies. Simplifying the number of tools and systems not only reduces costs but also improves operational clarity and agility. This can lead to better decision-making and quicker adaptation to new opportunities. 

eCommerce Book Top Tip 

eCommerce Traffic Top Tip 

  • SEO 

Tool Top Tip 

  • Apple Notes 
  • Google Workspace 

Carbon Top Tip 

  • Jim highlights Patchworks’ efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, including an EV car scheme for employees. 
  • They’ve also partnered with Carma to plant trees for carbon offsetting.  

Interview links 

Related Episodes 

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