Running an online store in 2026 is a lot to handle. Between marketing, managing inventory, and making sure orders get out the door, your to-do list is probably endless. But one area that can really define your success is customer support.
Today’s shoppers expect answers right away. If they have a question and have to wait on hold or for an email response, they’ll likely just find somewhere else to shop.
Modern ecommerce support services have changed to keep up. The answer isn't just to hire more people; it's about using technology to work smarter.
This guide will walk you through what's possible now, especially how specialized AI phone agents are becoming a valuable tool for any growing ecommerce brand.
We'll look at how tools like Ringly.io are built to handle customer calls 24/7, giving you time back to focus on your business.
What are ecommerce support services?
At its core, the idea is simple: ecommerce support services are all the ways an online business helps its customers before, during, and after they buy something. In the past, this usually meant a small team answering phones and emails during business hours.
If a customer had a question at 9 PM on a Friday, they'd have to wait until Monday morning for help.
That traditional model can be challenging because customer expectations are different now. People want help around the clock, on whatever channel they prefer.
Modern support now involves a few key things, like communicating with customers on phone, email, live chat, and social media. It also means giving them self-service options, like detailed FAQ pages, so they can find answers on their own.
The biggest change is the shift from a reactive, manual process to one that's more proactive and automated. While human agents are still essential for tricky or sensitive problems, technology can now take care of most of the common questions, like "Where's my order?" or "How do I make a return?"
This lets your team focus on more important work and makes sure your customers always get the help they need, exactly when they need it.
The next evolution in ecommerce support: The AI phone agent
Even with chat and email, the phone is still an important channel for customers who want to talk to someone. The problem is that staffing a 24/7 call center can be expensive and operationally complex, which puts it out of reach for most growing ecommerce brands. This is where the next step in support comes into play.
Instead of a traditional automated menu or a long wait to speak to a person, customers can now talk to an intelligent AI phone agent that understands what they need and can solve their problem on the spot.
Meet Seth by Ringly.io: Your 24/7 AI support representative
A great example of this technology is Ringly.io, a Netherlands-based company with an AI agent named Seth, designed specifically for Shopify stores.
Founded in 2024, Ringly.io was created to solve the kind of customer support challenges that fast-growing Shopify merchants deal with every day.
The results are pretty clear. Seth is currently used by over 2,179+ Shopify brands and manages to resolve an average of 73% of calls without any human help. It acts as your first line of support, making sure every single call gets answered, no matter the time of day.
Key features and benefits of AI-powered support
Seth isn't just a generic AI; it's a specialized tool built to handle the common, high-volume tasks that ecommerce support teams see all the time. Here’s a look at what it does:
- 24/7 Availability: Seth is always working, including weekends and holidays. This means you never miss a call, and your customers don't have to wait for an answer.
- Order and Return Management: Because it connects directly with Shopify, Seth can look up real-time order information in seconds. It can also start returns and exchanges based on your store's policies and can even recognize customers automatically if they call from a number you have on file.
- Answers Product Questions: You can upload your own knowledge base with product details, shipping policies, and FAQs. Seth uses this to answer specific questions, helping customers feel confident about their purchases.
- Multilingual Support: Selling internationally? Seth speaks over 40 languages, so you can offer consistent support to customers worldwide without needing a huge, multilingual team.
- Intelligent and Safe Escalation: Seth knows its limits. It's trained not to "hallucinate" or make up answers. If it gets a question it doesn't know, or if a customer gets upset, it smoothly transfers the call to a human agent on your team.
- Actionable Analytics: Every call is recorded and transcribed. This gives you a clear picture of why customers are calling, what problems are common, and where you might need to add more information to your knowledge base.
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How a specialized AI agent compares
When it comes to phone support, you usually have a few choices: a traditional human call center, a generic automated system, or a specialized AI agent.
Generic AI or IVR systems may not have the e-commerce-specific knowledge to handle things like order lookups without custom development. Human call centers work well but can be expensive, hard to scale, and usually only operate during business hours.
A specialized tool like Ringly.io is made to fill this gap. It gives you the 24/7 availability and scalability of automation along with the specific knowledge needed to solve ecommerce problems.
Here’s a quick comparison:
There are a few things that make a specialized tool a suitable choice for online stores:
- E-commerce Native: It’s built for one thing: helping online stores. It understands concepts like SKUs, tracking numbers, and return policies from day one.
- Speed of Deployment: You can set up Seth in three minutes through the Shopify app. No need for developers or complicated setups.
- Proven ROI: With a 73% resolution rate and an average 5.9x ROI, it offers real cost savings and a big boost in efficiency.
- Brand Safe: Seth is programmed to be helpful. By passing calls to a human when it's unsure, it protects your brand's reputation from the risk of giving out wrong information.
Who is Ringly.io for?
Ringly.io is a great fit for small to medium-sized ecommerce businesses on Shopify, especially brands that are growing fast and finding it hard to keep up with calls. It’s built for:
- Shopify Store Owners who want to automate support to focus on growth.
- Customer Support Managers looking to lighten their team's workload.
- Operations Leads who need a reliable and affordable 24/7 support solution.
- Founders who need to step away from front-line support and get back to building their business.
Getting started with Ringly.io
New technology can sometimes have a complicated setup and confusing pricing. Ringly.io was built to be different, with a focus on simplicity right from the start.
A risk-free guarantee and clear pricing
A feature of the Ringly.io offer is its performance guarantee. You pay nothing until Seth resolves at least 60% of over 100 calls within your first 21 days.
This makes the trial risk-free and proves that the tool is working before you spend anything.
Once you’re up and running, the pricing is simple and designed to grow with you.
The pricing is predictable, with clear overage rates, so you don’t have to worry about surprise bills.
Integrating Seth into your workflow
An AI phone agent can be integrated into your existing tech stack, creating a smooth process for both your customers and your team.
- Shopify: The platform's core is its native Shopify integration. You just install the app, and Seth gets secure access to your order, customer, and return data.
- Helpdesks: When a call needs to be escalated, Seth can automatically create a ticket in popular helpdesks like Gorgias and Richpanel. This gives your human agents the full context of the conversation so they can help without making the customer repeat everything.
- Twilio: The platform uses Twilio for its reliable phone infrastructure. You can get a new phone number from Ringly.io or easily bring over an existing one.
- Zapier & Make.com: For more advanced workflows, you can connect Seth to thousands of other apps. For instance, you could trigger an automated SMS update to a customer or add a new contact to your CRM.
Because Ringly.io is based in the Netherlands, it operates under Dutch and EU law, making it GDPR compliant and ensuring your customer data is handled safely.
Visualizing how these AI systems work can make the benefits even clearer. The following video explores how AI chatbots and voice agents are tailored for ecommerce, taking the pressure off busy store owners.
The following video explores how AI chatbots and voice agents are tailored for ecommerce, taking the pressure off busy store owners.
The future of ecommerce support
Customer expectations for online businesses are higher than they've ever been. Shoppers want fast responses, 24/7 availability, and personal service.
Trying to meet these demands with a traditional, manual approach can be challenging for a growing brand.
AI-powered ecommerce support services aren't about replacing people; they're about creating a better, more efficient experience for everyone.
An AI phone agent like Seth from Ringly.io can answer every call, instantly solve the most common customer issues, and free up your team to focus on the conversations that build real loyalty.
By using a specialized tool that's built for online retail, you get the benefits of automation without compromising the quality of your customer service. You can provide top-notch support that grows right along with your business.
If you’re ready to offer the instant, always-on help your customers are looking for, it’s time to see what an AI phone agent can do for you.
Ready to see Seth change your phone support? Start your free 14-day trial and let your new AI team member handle the calls while you get back to building your brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main benefits of using AI-powered ecommerce support services?
The primary benefits are 24/7 availability, potential cost savings compared to traditional call centers, and increased efficiency. AI can instantly handle common queries like order tracking and returns, freeing up your human team to focus on more complex customer issues that require a personal touch.
How can small businesses afford to implement 24/7 ecommerce support services?
AI-powered solutions like Ringly.io can make 24/7 support more affordable. Instead of hiring multiple agents to cover different shifts, a single AI subscription can handle calls around the clock for a fraction of the cost. Many services also offer scalable pricing plans that grow with your business.
Will using automated ecommerce support services make my brand feel less personal?
Not necessarily. A well-designed AI agent handles repetitive, transactional questions quickly and accurately, which improves the customer experience. It then intelligently escalates more complex or sensitive issues to a human agent, ensuring customers get the right kind of help when they need it. This combination of efficiency and human oversight can enhance your brand's reputation.
How quickly can I set up ecommerce support services like Ringly.io for my Shopify store?
Specialized tools are often designed for speed. Platforms like Ringly.io are designed for easy integration with Shopify and can be set up in just a few minutes without needing any developers. You simply install the app, connect your store, and configure your settings.
What kind of issues can ecommerce support services handle automatically?
They are best at handling high-volume, predictable inquiries. This includes looking up order statuses ("Where is my order?"), processing returns and exchanges based on your store policies, and answering frequently asked questions about products, shipping, or store policies.
Are multilingual ecommerce support services necessary for a growing online store?
If you sell to customers in different countries, multilingual support can be valuable. It allows you to provide a consistent and helpful experience for all your customers, regardless of their location or language. AI agents can often speak dozens of languages, making it easy to scale your support globally without hiring a multilingual team.
