How Much Money Does Your Business Lose by Processing Orders Manually?
A customer writes on Instagram: “What is the price? Is it in stock? Do you deliver to my area?” An employee replies, confirms the address and records the order. The next buyer asks the same questions on Telegram. While the administrator is busy messaging, new enquiries wait.
Manual handling is not always bad: complex purchases require consultation. But if employees repeat the same actions every day, it is worth calculating their cost.
How much does processing one order cost?
For one week, record the time spent replying, confirming prices and addresses, entering and confirming orders, and passing them on.
Multiply the average handling time by the hourly cost of the employee’s work. For example, 10 minutes at an assumed hourly cost of €10 comes to approximately €1.67 per order. For 15 orders a day, that is 2.5 hours, or €25 of working time. Over 22 working days, it is €550.*
Also record errors and enquiries that employees could not answer in time. Do not count every missed message as a lost sale: you would need evidence to draw that conclusion.
* This is an illustrative calculation, not a promise of savings: people will still perform some work after automation.
What can be automated?
On a website, buyers can browse the catalogue themselves: photos, descriptions, prices, stock availability and delivery conditions. They choose products, add them to a cart, provide contact details and place an order without waiting for an administrator’s reply.
The system forwards the order to an employee, stores it in an order log and sends a notification via Telegram or email.
For services, an enquiry form or online booking can replace the shopping cart. For regular buyers, a personal account with purchase history and repeat ordering can be added.
Cooking, delivery, stock checks and unusual questions still require people. Automation primarily cuts repetitive actions.
When is a dedicated website worthwhile?
If customers repeatedly ask about products and prices, order volumes are substantial and enquiries arrive through several channels, your own website may simplify operations and record-keeping.
Compare development and maintenance expenses with genuine time savings and confirmed additional orders.
If you have few orders so far and each requires an individual discussion, start with a simple page that explains the offer and contains an enquiry form.
How can you organise orders without constant messaging?
Publish an up-to-date catalogue and set up a cart or order form. State collection options, delivery areas, opening hours and payment terms.
Add notifications for employees and order statuses. Assign someone to check them and test the entire customer journey on a phone.
Which website suits your business?
Growth Marketing Agency offers solutions for different needs.
Landing page — €130; brochure website — €230; company website — €330.
These packages include enquiry forms and contact buttons; a catalogue and advanced features are priced separately.
SITE CAFE for cafés, restaurants and delivery — from €500.
Online menu, shopping cart, delivery or collection, Telegram notifications and order management.
SITE BUSINESS for shops and companies — from €950.
The catalogue, order system, customer database, personal account and Telegram storefront integration are selected according to the business’s needs; final features and price are agreed separately.
Want to know how much time your business could free up?
Tell us where orders come from and how you handle them. We will discuss which actions are worth automating and what kind of website you need.
Growth Marketing Agency — we build websites and convenient sales systems for your business.
