E-commerce will grow to account for over 20% of global retail sales by the end of 2022, according to Forbes, driven partly by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a huge part of this growth can also be attributed to automation services like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Shopify Plus, which help even inexperienced entrepreneurs run their own businesses through automation.

The popularity of e-commerce combined with the promise of a stress-free business experience has made such services very attractive for many of today's business owners. Worldwide, over 9 million sellers are on FBA and over 1 million are on Shopify Plus, according to Backlinko and LandingCube, with Amazon alone processing over 66,000 orders per hour. The relatively hands-off approach involved with automation allows both new and veteran entrepreneurs to push their luck in e-commerce.

While this arrangement can be freeing for able businessmen, Amazon automation can also come with its own problems. Sellers can find themselves losing money due to unfamiliarity with fees and conditions. More commonly, owners may find it difficult to differentiate their businesses in a market composed of millions of virtual storefronts.

Self-made entrepreneur Reco Jefferson was able to navigate these challenges to build a seven-figure automation business while managing a nine-to-five job. Today, he helps similarly enterprising entrepreneurs to find truly passive income through Amazon automation.

For Reco Jefferson, achieving automation success was anything but automatic. A US Air Force veteran and software engineer, Reco had to leverage the discipline and experience of his military background as well as his technical expertise to slowly but surely build his business. He realized that many businessmen, especially those who were drawn in by the promises of automation, would not have the time or energy to follow a similar path. Knowing this, he established Roughnecks to help hundreds of enterprising individuals manage and automate their own e-commerce businesses with a variety of full service packages.

Like similar services, Reco's main value proposition is one of a truly hands-off business that generates income with minimal owner input. However, what distinguishes Reco is his sincere communication with clients in a business full of empty promises.

According to Reco, "Beyond the seven-figures, I still consider maintaining honesty in the Amazon automation market as one of the things I'm most proud of. There are a lot in the Amazon automation space who would promise the world and show big numbers just to get clients. I can proudly say I have never done that. Pretty lies are always easier than the ugly truth, but I got to where I am by weathering through and staying consistent. I present the same strategy to my clients and tell them upfront what to expect."

In fact, many of Reco's long-term clients are people he has helped from bad experiences with automation scams. Over time, his reputation as a straight shooter and someone invested in helping clients has made Reco a trusted authority in the Amazon automation space.

You may follow Reco Jefferson on his Instagram, where he posts e-commerce tips and tricks, testimonials, and even general advice.