How to Execute POD Automation Workflow (Without Hiring a Team)

You can execute POD automation by using tools like Bulk Mockup for batch mockup creation, Printify or Printful for product fulfillment, and Zapier or Shopify Flow to connect everything from uploads to customer emails, without needing to write a single line of code.

With the right setup, you can:

• Generate hundreds of mockups in minutes
• Bulk upload product listings to your store
• Auto-notify customers when orders are placed or shipped
• And keep everything synced across platforms

Let’s break it down step by step, starting with what exactly print-on-demand automation can handle for you.

What Is Print On Demand Automation?

Print-on-demand automation is the use of software tools to automate key steps in a POD workflow, including mockup generation, product uploads, order routing, customer notifications, and inventory syncing. 

Sellers typically use a print on demand automation tool like Bulk Mockup for automated mockup creation, Printify or Printful for order fulfillment, and Zapier or Shopify Flow to connect tasks without manual work. 

Automating these processes reduces errors, saves time, and allows sellers to scale across platforms like Etsy, Shopify, and WooCommerce.

How to Set Up a POD Automation Workflow in 5 Steps

Here’s how to automate print on demand workflow from mockup generation to product uploads and customer updates using tools like Bulk Mockup, Printify, and Zapier.

Step 1: Buy High-Quality PSD Mockup Templates

First, invest in good mockup templates (PSD files with Smart Object layers). High-res, well-layered PSDs ensure your designs look crisp and realistic when automated.

You can find bundles of premium mockups on marketplaces like Creative Market, Etsy, or even the Bulk Mockup’s Mockup Template store.

Pro Tip: Before automating, test one mockup manually. Check that the template is clean and layered and that the design snaps on right. This helps avoid errors when you batch-generate hundreds of images.

Step 2: Automate Smart Object Replacement in Photoshop Using Bulk Mockup

Bulk Mockup is a Photoshop automation plugin for batch mockup creation. 

All you need is your designs, templates and an export folder in three folders and follow these steps.

1. Connect three folders to the Bulk Mockup UI.
2. Select the PSD template folder, design folder, and export folder in the Bulk Mockup plugin UI to define their paths.

3. Then, select a correct resizing method considering the type of product mockups you want to create.

4. Next, go to the settings to set and adjust the export options. Set the pixel size, DPI, and export file format considering the online shop requirements.

5. Then, select an export naming format. This is a crucial step as your mockup files will be named accordingly to avoid confusion.

Bulk Mockup creates mockups in 100s and stores them in subfolders with proper names. It helps you to find and upload them easily. 

This step alone can save hours if you’re launching multiple products at once. It works for image and video mockups and supports multi-layer templates.

ALSO READ: How to automate t-shirt mockups in Photoshop

Step 3: Automate Bulk Upload to Your Store

Now that you’ve generated your product mockups, it’s time to publish them, which is where most sellers hit a wall.

Uploading each listing manually is slow, frustrating, and error-prone..

Thankfully, there are four reliable ways to bulk-upload your print-on-demand products, whether you use Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, or all three.

Option 1: Use Built-In Bulk Upload from Printify or Printful

If you use Printify or Printful as your POD fulfillment provider, you’re in luck. Both platforms offer built-in tools to help you publish multiple listings faster.

How it works:

• In Printify, you can create a template product (with title, description, price, and mockup) and apply it to multiple designs automatically.
• Printify also has something called New Product Creation Rules — it lets you bulk-name and publish products based on folder inputs.

In Printful, when you add a new design, it can automatically push the product to your connected Etsy or Shopify store.

Option 2: Use a CSV File to Upload in Bulk (Shopify, WooCommerce)

CSV uploads sound technical, but they’re just spreadsheets. You can download a sample CSV template from your store (Shopify or WooCommerce), fill in your product data, and upload everything at once.

For Etsy, there are third-party tools and scripts (like GoDataFeed or custom scripts) that take a spreadsheet of SKUs and listings to batch-create products. 

How to do it:

1. Export or duplicate a CSV from Printify or your store.
2. Fill out each column (product title, SKU, image URL, price, etc.).
3. Upload the file back into Shopify or WooCommerce.

Option 3: Automate Listing Creation with Zapier or Make

If you want a “set it and forget it” setup that connects multiple tools (like Google Drive, Shopify, and Airtable), try Zapier or Make.com.

Example automation:

• You save a mockup to a Google Drive folder.
• Zapier detects the new file and creates a draft product in your Shopify store.
• Another Zap can notify you (or your team) in Slack or via email.

You can also auto-connect Printful with 1,000+ other apps to streamline uploads, inventory, and order updates.

Option 4: Use POD-Specific Upload Tools (No Coding Needed)

There are tools built just for this problem — they handle the boring parts of product uploading and save hours.

Two great options:

• POD Store Manager (Chrome Extension): Lets you bulk upload products to Printify, Etsy, and Shopify. It autofills details like title and price, and even shows upload progress.

• Flying Upload: Lets you upload to multiple platforms at once (e.g. Redbubble, Amazon Merch, Teespring), perfect for multichannel sellers.

Your Situation	Best Upload Method
You use Printify/Printful and sell on Etsy/Shopify	Use their built-in bulk listing tools
You want full control and already work in Excel or Google Sheets	Try CSV upload with GoDataFeed for Shopify or WooCommerce
You want automation that connects multiple tools	Use Zapier or Make.com
You sell across multiple POD marketplaces	Use POD Store Manager or Flying Upload

Step 4: Notify Customers Automatically

Once a customer places an order, they expect clear, timely updates from confirmation to delivery. 

With automation, you can ensure every customer receives the right message at the right time, without any manual work.

Here’s how to set it up based on the most common types of communication in a print-on-demand workflow:

1. Order Confirmation Emails

Shopify automatically sends an order confirmation email to the buyer after checkout. If you want to customize this message or add logic (for example, sending a different message for high-value orders), you can use:

• Shopify Email – to edit the default templates.
• Shopify Flow – to create conditional logic based on order tags or values.
• Klaviyo – for advanced email flows, especially if you’re already using it for marketing.

Etsy also sends order confirmations by default, but these cannot be customized directly. To send additional branded follow-ups, connect Etsy to a tool like Klaviyo or Mailchimp using Zapier or Make.com.

2. Shipping and Delivery Updates

Once an order is fulfilled by your print provider (e.g. Printify or Printful), the customer should automatically receive shipping and tracking notifications.

• If you’re using Printify or Printful, they’ll send a basic shipping update to the customer once tracking is available.
• On Shopify, you can create additional flows using Klaviyo or Omnisend to send branded updates, such as a custom “your order is on the way” message or delivery confirmation.
• For Etsy, you can trigger email sequences based on fulfillment status updates using Zapier connected to Printful.

This ensures customers stay informed and don’t need to ask, “Where’s my order?”

3. Post-Delivery Follow-Ups

Once an order has been delivered, you can schedule a follow-up email to thank the customer, request a review, or offer a small discount for their next purchase.

• In Klaviyo or Omnisend, create a delay-based flow that waits 5–7 days after delivery before sending a message.
• You can segment by first-time buyer vs. repeat customer to adjust your messaging.
• This kind of follow-up helps increase reviews on your store and encourages repeat business without any extra work on your end.

4. Abandoned Checkout Reminders

If a customer adds something to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase, a gentle reminder can help recover that sale.

• Shopify has a built-in abandoned checkout email feature. You can enable it from your store settings.
• For more detailed sequences (e.g., multiple reminders, product image previews), use Klaviyo to create a custom flow.

This isn’t essential in early-stage automation, but it becomes more useful as you grow and traffic increases.

5. Internal Notifications (for You or Your Team)

Automation isn’t just about your customers. You can also set up alerts to keep yourself informed — for example:

• Get a Slack message or email when an order over a certain amount is placed.
• Add VIP customers to a Google Sheet automatically.
• Tag orders with specific SKUs to flag special handling.

Shopify Flow and Zapier are both great tools for creating these kinds of internal workflows.

Type of Message	What It Does	Tools to Use
Order confirmation	Confirms purchase immediately	Shopify Email, Etsy (default), Klaviyo
Shipping update	Informs buyer when order is shipped	Printify, Printful, Klaviyo
Delivery confirmation	Lets customer know item has arrived	Klaviyo, Omnisend
Post-purchase follow-up	Encourages reviews or repeat purchase	Klaviyo, Mailchimp
Abandoned cart reminder	Reminds buyer to complete checkout	Shopify, Klaviyo
Internal team alerts	Keeps seller informed of key actions	Shopify Flow, Zapier

Step 5: Analyze & Optimize Your Workflow

If you don’t check in on your workflows, small issues (like a broken email flow or duplicate uploads) can add up and hurt sales. 

In this step, I’ll walk you through exactly how to audit and improve your system even if you’ve never done this before.

Step 1: Start with a Simple Review of What’s Working

Log into the tools you’re using, like Shopify, Etsy, Printify, Klaviyo, and Zapier — and check these key things:

• Which products are selling well? 

Go to your Shopify Analytics or Etsy Stats. Look at which listings are getting the most views and conversions. If you recently changed your mockup style, check if those listings are doing better.

• Are your automated emails being opened?

In Klaviyo (or your email platform), open the flow reports. Look at open rate, click rate, and unsubscribe rate for your shipping, thank-you, or abandoned cart emails.

If something looks off, make a note. You’ll revisit this later.

Step 2: List Out All Your Automations in One Place

This step is simple but powerful.  Open a Google Sheet or Notion doc and list every automation you’ve set up. For each one, include:

• The tool (Zapier, Shopify Flow, Klaviyo)
• The trigger (e.g. “New order placed in Shopify”)
• The action (e.g. “Send Slack message” or “Email thank-you note”)
• The last time you checked it

This gives you a clear picture of what’s running in the background — and what might need attention.

Step 3: Test Each Workflow Manually

Pick 1–2 print on demand automation software and walk through them like a customer.

For example:

• Place a test order on your store.
• Check if the order confirmation email came through correctly.
• Wait for the shipping update — is the timing right? Is the message helpful?
• If you’ve set up an internal alert, did you get pinged in Slack or via email?

If something breaks, fix it or flag it for update. Tools change, APIs break, and updates can reset settings — this is normal.

Step 4: Look for Redundant or Outdated Automations

Ask yourself:

• Am I using two pod automation tools for the same job?

 (For example, Shopify Flow and Zapier both tagging the same customer.)

• Is there a new feature inside Printify, Etsy, or Shopify that now replaces what I built manually?

 (Like bulk uploading or VIP tagging — these features evolve fast.)

If something feels clunky or layered unnecessarily, simplify it. The goal is to keep your system lightweight and reliable.

Step 5: Adjust Your Tools as You Grow

If your business is scaling, your automation needs will change.
Here’s what to look for:

• Are you hitting task limits on Zapier?
  You might need to upgrade to a paid plan or consolidate tasks using a different tool.
• Are you working in spreadsheets when you need a dashboard?
  Consider switching to something like Airtable or a store dashboard like LitCommerce.
• Are new platforms or products adding complexity?
  For example, if you start selling on Amazon Merch or Redbubble, tools like Flying Upload can help publish across platforms more efficiently.

Step 6: Use the Time You’ve Saved Intentionally

Here are a few ways to reinvest that time:

• Improve your mockups (try new styles, test lifestyle images, or upgrade to animated/video versions)
• Launch new designs more frequently
• Write better product descriptions or SEO titles
• Run a few low-cost ads to test winning products
• Add upsells or bundles to your existing catalog

Tool	Use Case	Best For	Notable Features
Bulk Mockup	Batch mockup creation in Photoshop	High-volume mockup generation	PSD automation, smart object replace, export settings
Printify / Printful	Auto product listing + fulfillment	Hands-off order management	Built-in integrations, batch creation, and auto-routing
Shopify Flow	Shopify order logic + tagging	Store-level automation (Shopify)	Trigger flows by SKU, customer type, or order value
Zapier / Make.com	Custom no-code workflows across apps	Advanced users syncing tools	Connect 1000+ tools, sync folders, send alerts
Klaviyo / Omnisend	Email + SMS flows for customers	Customer follow-ups + retention	Drag-and-drop flows, review prompts, cart recovery
POD Store Manager	Bulk upload to Etsy/Shopify	Fast uploads without coding	Autofill listings, no-code Chrome extension
Flying Upload	Multi-platform listing distribution	Cross-platform POD selling	One-click upload to 10+ POD platforms

Also Read: Why POD Sellers Need Video Mockups

What Can You Automate in Print-on-Demand?

The print on demand automation tools mentioned above can be overwhelming to scout out their features. Here is a summary that can help you start and automate POD.

1. Mockup Creation

Use Bulk Mockup as a batch mockup automation plugin for Photoshop to auto-generate product images from templates.

Its features are:

• Works with any PSD template
• Works for any POD products
• Handles resizing of designs on smart objects correctly
• Offers seven resizing methods (ideal for products like wall art, t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, sweatshirts, tumblers, table cards, etc.)
• Works on animated and video mockups
• Supports multiple smart object replacements per template
• Export feature with subfolders and proper names
• Sets pixel size, DPI and export format

This power plugin will do the heavy lifting by following the functions you have set.

2. Product Uploads (Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce) 

Whether you sell on Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce or all of them, you can bulk-create listings. 

Printify and Printful let you publish batches of products, and Zapier/Make or CSV imports can populate fields (title, price, tags) automatically. This eliminates dozens of manual form fillings.

You can even automate design uploads, create mockups in batches, and fill fields with certain product information with Prelist, a bulk POD product creator for Printify. This tool assists in creating and uploading product listings from scratch.

Flying Upload lets you do parallel uploading on multiple POD platforms (Amazon Merch, Redbubble, etc) at once. 

3. Order Fulfillment

Your print partner takes over. The moment an order hits your store, Printify, Printful automatically print and ships it for you. You never have to re-enter order details.

4. Customer Notifications & Tracking

Automate emails/SMS for order/shipping status, and even post-purchase follow-ups. For instance, trigger an automatic “Thank you” email after delivery or a discount code on a repeat purchase.

5. Inventory Sync (Multi-store Sellers)

If you track inventory (for example, hybrid POD with some stocked items), you can sync stock levels. 

LitCommerce enables you to manage inventories for all POD channels from one dashboard. Avoid overselling and inventory shortage, even if you have listed your POD business on 20 global platforms.

Also Read: Canva vs Photoshop for POD Sellers: Why Photoshop (+ Bulk Mockup) Wins

Final Thoughts: Automate Smart, Not Fast

In POD, remember the 20-80 rule. 20% of your time and resources go to designing your products. This 20% will do the rest 80% of drawing attention and gaining sales. 

So, automate pod operations to save hours that you can invest in creating new designs. 

By automating repetitive tasks like mockup creation, product uploads, and customer notifications, you reclaim time to focus on designing better products and marketing them more effectively.

Remember the key takeaways:

• Use automation tools strategically based on your business needs and scale.
• Regularly audit your workflows to keep them efficient and reliable.
• Invest the saved time into high-impact activities like creating new designs or refining your marketing strategy.

Ready to Automate Your Mockups?

Bulk Mockup helps you batch-create stunning product mockups in minutes, not hours.

👉 Start saving time and scaling your POD business today

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