Marketplace Sellers Lose Two Days a Week to Manual Tasks

The Marketplace Seller Trends Report 2025 analysed ecommerce companies in the US and Europe. Results show that the average seller now operates on six marketplaces, with a third of companies active on seven or more platforms simultaneously.

Half of Sellers Still Use Excel Spreadsheets

Despite technological progress, 52% of sellers rely on spreadsheets or internal tools to manage their businesses. Another 45% update prices and product information manually directly in the administration of individual marketplaces.

The result? Nearly two full working days per week go to routine tasks like fixing product listings, updating inventory, and handling returns.

For companies selling on multiple platforms, this means an endless cycle of copy-paste operations and error checking.

Pricing and Visibility Are The Biggest Challenge

Nearly a third of sellers (29%) identified pricing and product visibility as their toughest challenge. Manual processes hold companies back from quickly responding to competitor price changes or seasonal demand. When a seller changes a price on Amazon, they must do the same on eBay, Zalando, and all other platforms – often manually.

The situation is worsening for customers too. According to ChannelEngine’s earlier shopping behavior survey, 47% of consumers now start searching for products directly on marketplaces, nearly double those who start on Google. Moreover, 63% of customers prefer buying on marketplaces rather than brand websites.

Automation Is No Longer Optional

As many as 91% of sellers consider automation critical for their business. More than a third expect AI shopping assistants – tools that can search, compare, and even purchase on behalf of customers – to bring the next major shift in marketplace commerce within two years.

This change is already being called “agentic commerce” and means AI assistants will take over some shopping decisions from humans. For sellers, this presents another challenge: they must optimise not only for people but also for AI systems.

Holiday Season Under Pressure

Problems with manual processes exist year-round, but they’re most costly during the holiday season. High order volumes and intense competition mean every lost hour translates into specific missed revenue.

Companies still working with spreadsheets and manual updates simply can’t keep up with market changes. While automated systems can adjust prices across all platforms in minutes, a manual process can take hours or days. Even Google recently introduced AI-powered formulas in Sheets to help automate repetitive data tasks, but marketplace sellers need more than smart spreadsheets—they need full integration.

The shift toward automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s becoming a survival requirement. As AI shopping assistants enter the market and consumer behavior continues shifting toward marketplaces, sellers who haven’t automated their operations risk falling behind competitors who can adjust pricing, update inventory, and respond to market changes in real time.