Every business owner knows the difference between busy work and productive work. Busy work requires little thought or skill whereas productive work is profitable for both the firm and the employees. How, then, can the workflow be more efficient? The answer is business automation!
A survey we conducted showed that process automation has proven efficient in the manufacturing industry in particular. One of the surveyed companies, Front Signs, a Los Angeles-based signage company, has managed to cut their production time in half and dramatically increase output by automating the manufacturing process of their channel letter signs.
Let’s find out why process automation is important and how to achieve great results.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need Business Automation?
A study by Forbes and Future Workplace says that 93% of employees are willing to use AI in their work. According to another study, companies lose 20% to 30% in revenue every year due to inefficiency. Here are a few benefits automation can bring to your company.
- Reduces human effort. Automation cuts down human labor and allows workers to concentrate on other critical functions.
- Decreases human error. The process drives down the risk of mistakes and ensures a high level of precision.
- Promotes better collaboration. Automation divides labor and gives workers clear instructions to accomplish their duties.
- Improves productivity. Business automation processes increase productivity by improving workflow efficiency and accuracy.
- Helps dig deeper into the business process. You may dive further into the data by digitally managing your business information.
How to Harness the Full Potential of Business Automation?
Automation tools are efficient. Companies use them for a multitude of reasons. But how do they help the company in the long run? Let us share a few key tips that make your business automation run seamlessly.
- Start off simple
To avoid overlooking a process that should be automated, we propose adopting a BPA plan. It’s best to start with something practical but basic. Alternatively, automate the most inconvenient tasks for you and your team. Then work your way up, reviewing each process for the possibility of automating it.
- Plan ahead of time
You should plan your automation process to give you the best outcome in the long run. The worst thing you can do is become reliant on a solution over which you have little to no control. Make sure that whichever solution you choose can be expanded to include future changes in your development process.
- Check your business needs and forecasts
Study your expected growth, departmental goals and your nice-to-haves. Once you’ve compiled a list, look for the BPA platform that best supports it.
- Reduce automation security risks
It is possible to hack into computerized systems. For you, automation makes processes much easier and a thousand times faster. But bear in mind that it does the same for a malicious attacker. Put some thought into security and plan accordingly.
- Apply user-friendly automation tools
Automation tools have advanced sufficiently to carry out more complicated activities.
IT specialists are still working on developing more secure automation solutions, but they’re taking it one step at a time.
- Assist your team in embracing automation
Once you choose the automation tools, it’s time to help the team adopt the new processes. Any workflow automation you implement should be accompanied by change management and training. Executives need to reassure staff that automation will make their work easier, not replace them.
Organizational Challenges in Automating Operations
Even as automation improves productivity, there are numerous hazards to be aware of. The most important ones are listed below.
- People
Many workers see automation as a threat to their jobs and oppose it. Others are unaware of the advantages of automation and want to keep the manual methods in place. Forcing workers to accept automation would reduce their morale and increase discontent. The best approach is to properly describe the benefits of automation and how it will boost each employee’s job security.
- Cost
Another obstacle to automation is the high cost associated with the process. In-house automation solutions are often expensive. They require frequent maintenance and updates. However, the amount of money saved in the long run outweighs the initial expense.
- A scarcity of qualified professionals
It is true that automation lowers the need for manual labor, but it increases the demand for competent professionals who are qualified to manage the new technology. Organizations must concentrate on hiring and training qualified employees.
Three Areas Automation Is Revolutionizing for Growing Businesses
Those who’ve embraced automation are thriving, according to the most recent small and medium business trends report. According to the report, firms that automate their procedures are 1.6 times more likely to grow than those which do not. Here are three areas that need to undergo the automation process first.
- Sales and Marketing
Growing businesses can automate tedious processes with new technological breakthroughs in marketing. They can use marketing automation software to reach out to customers through a variety of channels. It assists in generating new leads and makes it easier for them to act on those leads.
- Finance and Accounting
Automation in the finance and accounting industries is increasing rapidly. Payment processing has seen a number of technological developments recently. These new softwares reduce processing time as well as expenses. Payments are tracked automatically, which eliminates the need for manual bookkeeping. In line with these advancements, tools like create a paystub are revolutionizing how businesses manage payroll, making it easier and more efficient to generate accurate paystubs for employees.”
- Human Resources
Human resource departments can use automation to speed up the talent acquisition process. Interview scheduling, background and reference checks in addition to analytics and measurement are among the procedures. HR agents use chatbots and artificial intelligence to communicate with prospects.
Last but not Least
Automated business processes are necessary to achieve flexibility and long-term sustainability. Management must establish strategies to implement digitization at all levels of the company. All automation efforts should focus on training personnel to adapt to the new environment. In a nutshell, growing businesses can drastically boost efficiency by automating various aspects of their operations.
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