Whatever you call them at your company – workflows, business processes, daily operations – we all have repetitive tasks such as data entry, scheduling, and inventory that consume time and slow us down from accomplishing our big picture strategic goals. Recent advances in technology are making it easier than ever to access business process automation to streamline these tasks, accelerate daily operations and achieve rapid growth and scalability.
Automation can benefit businesses of all sizes by boosting productivity, reducing errors, and saving time and resources. Automation software allows you to streamline your operations, increase productivity, and focus on key projects. It also empowers employees to play a greater role working towards strategic goals, increasing satisfaction. But, before committing to any given digital transformation strategy, it’s important to understand how to properly implement business process automation.
What’s so special about business process automation?
So why are companies turning to automation to solve their business problems? For starters, efficiency gains, financial savings, increased accuracy, and increased adaptability are all core advantages of automation. Leveraging automation technologies effectively means streamlining large swathes of business operations. This translates directly into cost savings, while freeing up resources for achieving strategic goals, in turn boosting revenue.
Automating repetitive jobs also sharpens productivity and efficiency by allowing employees to focus on more valuable work. Furthermore, automating the flow of information within a system means zero risk of data entry mistakes due to human error. The result is improved accuracy and decreased need for manual oversight. In one example, a study found that automation can save finance teams from redoing as many as 25,000 hours of work caused by human error, for a cost savings of around US$878,000.
Additionally, automated business processes can easily be modified and updated to reflect new business requirements as they arise. This makes companies more agile and better able to adapt to changing market conditions. It can also help them stay competitive in their industries and make data-driven decisions based on real-time data. Therefore, software that effectively combines a dynamic architecture with seamless integrations across existing systems saves businesses time and money.
How do we start automating business processes?
When evaluating automation tools, you should look for several key features that will ensure the tool meets your business’ needs. In order for a tool to scale with your business, the tool must be able to handle increasing workloads. That’s why you need to ensure that you consider your future strategic objectives when planning out your implementation. Your automation also needs to easily integrate and communicate with other software and systems in the most efficient manner. The tool’s ease of use is also important to consider, as you want employees to learn to use it quickly. This expedites the transition towards a more dynamic and adaptive business model.
Start your digital automation journey by creating a map of the processes you want to optimize. It can be daunting to imagine how to best design the technology if you have no technical background. This is why you may want to discuss your automation strategy with an expert. Virtual CTOs are great for helping you identify which areas of your business would benefit the most from automation. They can also help you tailor your automation tool to meet the specific needs of your business.
How do I get my team on board with our automation?
Once you’re happy with your strategy, it’s time to decide how you’ll implement it. You could start by looking for an existing tool that fit your needs, which is generally the quickest method. Many companies, however, opt for finding a development partner to build one specifically for your company. This ensures that the tool fits your existing systems like a glove, and improves operational efficiency across the board.
When you’ve finally got your tool, you’ll need to train employees so that they are able to use the system. This is generally an iterative process, during which you’ll need to maintain open communication with your team to see what is working well (and what isn’t). Your business will ultimately be more efficient and productive if automation is adopted and used throughout your organization. This means listening to your team members as they begin learning the tool so that you can make adjustments quickly and painlessly.
Let’s get started!
If you’re ready to start making your company more efficient and competitive, while positioning yourself to scale rapidly and target bigger fish in your market, get in touch with us today to learn more! If you want to get a better idea of what business process automation looks like in everyday use, check out this case study to learn how we helped a small, West Coast coffee chain become a national phenomenon.
