10 Ecommerce tasks to outsource as your business grows

You’ve learned how to start an ecommerce business in Australia, and now you’re ready to grow. One of the fastest ways to scale is to transition from an ‘employee’ in your business to its CEO, which means outsourcing ecommerce tasks that don’t require your direct involvement.

By outsourcing functions like order fulfilment, inventory management, and website maintenance, you can focus on core operations and expand your capabilities without the costs of additional equipment or office space.

Here are 10 ecommerce tasks you should consider handing off:

1. Packing and fulfilling orders

When order volumes start to outgrow your ability to pack them yourself, it might be time to bring in extra hands. Ecommerce platforms often see sales spikes during Cyber Week, followed closely by the Christmas rush and Boxing Day sales.

Getting ecommerce help gives you the flexibility to scale up during busy periods without compromising service quality. It can also improve operational efficiency by reducing packing errors and helping orders go out on schedule.

2. Shipping and delivering orders

Preparing an online order for shipping (Source: iStock)

Setting up an online store in Australia means the job isn’t finished once the orders are packed. Many sellers still spend hours printing labels, making post office runs, or managing local deliveries themselves.

While major carriers handle long-distance shipping, outsourcing same-day, urgent, or local deliveries can save valuable time. Hiring a delivery driver or booking courier services can help reduce business disruptions; you don’t need to stop working just because parcels need to be dispatched.

3. Running errands and supply pickups

Ecommerce outsourcing also covers small, necessary tasks that keep your business operating but don’t directly generate revenue. Picking up packing supplies, returning faulty inventory, and delivering samples to influencers can easily consume hours once travel time and traffic are factored in.

Outsourcing errands, or even hiring a personal assistant, helps keep ecommerce operations running smoothly while you focus on core business functions that drive online sales.

4. Handling customer enquiries

Answering customer enquiries with a headset on (Source: iStock)

If you’re wondering how to grow ecommerce business beyond just adding products, great customer service is one of the best places to start. But that doesn’t mean answering every email or phone call yourself. When you outsource ecommerce customer service to a virtual assistant, you can maintain fast response times as your business grows.

While many customers still prefer phone support for urgent issues, a virtual assistant can also manage email, live chat, social media messages, and AI-assisted customer service tools, creating a seamless support experience.

5. Writing product descriptions

Think of your product descriptions as your 24/7 digital salesperson. They inform, persuade, and show why your products are worth buying. If you have a growing catalogue, though, writing descriptions for every item can be a massive time drain.

That’s why many ecommerce businesses outsource copywriting. By working with skilled professionals, you can have product descriptions that highlight key benefits, answer customer questions, and encourage more conversions.

Many copywriters also understand search engine optimisation (SEO), which can help your products get discovered more easily online.

6. Taking product photos

Capturing product photos for an online store (Source: iStock)

For online shoppers, visuals are the closest thing they have to holding a product. That makes high-quality photography essential for building trust and turning browsers into customers. 

Instead of investing in expensive cameras, lighting, backdrops, and editing software, you can hire photographers who already have the right equipment and expertise. They can produce images ready to use across your website and social media platforms, saving you time while giving your brand a professional look.

7. Creating graphic design and marketing assets

From social media banners to sale graphics to email visuals, your ecommerce site needs a steady supply of creative assets to attract online customers. These designs play a crucial role in your digital marketing efforts and help maintain a brand presence.

Instead of losing hours trying to create graphics yourself, you can brief a designer and receive a complete range of assets. Outsourcing this task is one of the most effective ecommerce tips for small businesses, as it lets you build a strong brand identity across platforms, packaging, and marketing campaigns.

8. Setting up and updating your online store

Updating online store details from a laptop (Source: iStock)

Did you know that 40% of shoppers will abandon an ecommerce site if it takes more than three seconds to load? A professional web developer can optimise your store’s performance while handling the technical updates needed to meet consumer expectations.

Many sellers underestimate the work that goes into maintaining an online store. From product uploads and plugin configurations to troubleshooting, outsourcing website management helps prevent costly issues like broken checkouts or downtime during peak sales periods.

9. Managing your inventory

When you’re running an online store solo, it’s easy for inventory admin to become a never-ending task. Updating spreadsheets, adding new product details, and checking stock levels sound like small jobs, but they add up fast.

When you delegate ecommerce inventory management, you reduce manual admin and gain better visibility into your stock levels. A data entry specialist can help update inventory systems, conduct stocktakes, and reconcile discrepancies to keep your records accurate.

10. Performing data entry and admin

Checking order records while packing stock (Source: iStock)

Behind every successful ecommerce brand is a mountain of admin work. So when thinking about outsourcing for ecommerce, consider hiring an admin assistant who can handle everyday tasks such as product listings, order tracking, supplier invoices, and sales updates.

For sellers on platforms like eBay, managing multiple listings, orders, and data analytics tools can quickly become overwhelming. Specialised services like eBay selling assistance can streamline these processes, giving you more time to focus on bigger opportunities.

DIY vs outsourcing ecommerce tasks

Doing everything yourself makes sense when you’re just starting out in the ecommerce industry. After all, every dollar counts when you’re building a business from the ground up. But once growth kicks in, being the customer service rep, packer, marketer, and admin manager all at once can become a bottleneck.

If you’re spending 15 to 20 hours a week on non-core operations, that’s time you’re not spending on things that actually move your business forward, like growing sales and improving customer experience.

The solution is to get ecommerce outsourcing services when you need them. Here’s what it costs to hand off common tasks via Airtasker:

Based on recently posted tasks on Airtasker in 2026.

A quick reality check: if your time is worth $50 per hour, 15 hours spent on admin each week represents $750 in owner time. The cost savings are clear when you find an admin assistant for around $300 per week to manage much of that workload, freeing up time to focus on your business goals.

From busywork to operational efficiency

Ready to shift from working in your business to working on it? Outsourcing ecommerce tasks helps you streamline daily operations while giving you more time to focus on revenue generation.

The first step is finding local Taskers who can get the job done. On Airtasker, you can hire one person or build out a small team, with help available outside regular nine-to-five hours. Once you’ve identified the tasks you want to delegate, here’s how to get started:

1. Post your task.

2. Review offers from trusted Taskers and view their profiles.

3. Choose the right person and get it done.