Hi Dan,
I can't help you with the automation part but I'd encourage you to be careful not to cast too wide a net. It's easy to spend lots of money listing lots of products. When I started I didn't have a lot of money and I was buying my inventory, so that forced me to pick carefully what I spent my time and money on. My advice is to look for a few products that you can sell in some volume.
I'm now a manufacturer with two products, so I'm definitely low tech and maybe that's not for you. I see a lot of posts from bangkook? Sorry if I'm misspelling their name. They seem like a big outfit. Maybe give them a try?
If I can help with any advice, I'm glad to help!
Ruth
1st American Pleasures