Building a dropshipping business sounds exciting (and it is!), but turning that excitement into something real, profitable, and sustainable is where most people get stuck. The questions show up fast: How do I compete? What actually makes a business work long-term? And how do I build something without burning out?
One of the fastest ways to answer those questions is simple: learn from people who’ve already walked the path.
That’s exactly why this conversation between Lior Pozin, co-founder and CEO of AutoDS, and Scott Hilse is worth your time.
👉 Down here, you can watch the full conversation on Scott’s YouTube channel. Below, we’ve summarized the key takeaways from Lior’s conversation with Scott.
Turning Challenges Into the Actual Business Model
Long before AutoDS became a platform used by thousands of sellers, Lior was simply trying to solve his own problems.
He didn’t come from money. He didn’t come from a business background. What he did have was curiosity and a refusal to accept inefficiency as “just how things are.”
“I said, okay—how can I get there? How can I become better? Why can this guy do that, and I can’t?” — Lior Pozin
That mindset became the foundation of everything that followed.
As Lior explains in the interview, AutoDS was initially developed as a solution to address real operational pain. He initially programmed most of it himself, asking questions many dropshippers still struggle with today:
-
Where am I losing time?
-
Where am I losing money?
-
What can be automated instead of being repeated manually?
That problem-solving loop is still at the core of AutoDS today.
Why Automation Isn’t Optional Anymore
One of the strongest points Lior makes is about time—not just business time, but life time.
Most dropshipping businesses start as side hustles. That means limited hours, limited energy, and very little room for error. Automation isn’t about laziness—it’s about survival and scalability.
AutoDS grew into one of the leading dropshipping platforms precisely because it focuses on removing repetitive tasks like product imports, inventory monitoring, and order fulfillment—so sellers can spend their time on decisions that actually move the business forward.
And it’s not just theory. You can hear directly from users here:
Productivity, Balance, and Playing the Long Game
Another refreshing part of this conversation is how openly Lior talks about balance.
For him, productivity isn’t about working nonstop; it’s about working well. He structures his business so he can sleep properly, train, practice yoga, travel, and spend time with his fiancée—without the business falling apart.
“Our business, in general, is consistent research on how we can solve problems.” — Lior Pozin
That philosophy applies just as much to personal sustainability as it does to software development.
Why This Conversation Matters (Even If You’re Just Starting)
Whether you’re brand new to dropshipping or already running a store, this interview offers something valuable: perspective.
It strips away the overnight-success myth and replaces it with something more useful—progress through iteration.
As Scott puts it:
“Progression cures depression.”
And that idea runs through the entire conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest challenge when starting a dropshipping business?
The biggest challenge is usually product selection. New sellers often struggle to identify products with real demand while avoiding oversaturated markets. Product research and validation are critical in the early stages.
How can I effectively market my dropshipping store?
Social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are especially powerful for dropshipping. Testing different creatives, formats, and messaging (and then analyzing performance data) helps refine campaigns and improve results over time.
What tools can help me scale my dropshipping business?
Automation tools like AutoDS help streamline product sourcing, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment. By reducing manual work and errors, these tools free up time to focus on growth, branding, and customer experience.
What This Interview Ultimately Teaches
Focus matters. Consistency matters. Learning from mistakes matters. And when the tools don’t exist yet, sometimes you build them yourself.
Lior’s journey with AutoDS shows what’s possible when dropshipping and e-commerce are treated like real businesses, not shortcuts. In today’s landscape, automation and AI are no longer “nice to have”; they’re core infrastructure for sustainable growth.
As Lior says, “Keep the innovation going.”
If you want to go deeper, these guides are a great next step:
