What is Automation and Why do I need it?
Automation is a process of doing work with the help of machines or software that replaces human involvement. It can reduce the time and effort needed to perform a task or to carry out a process.
Automation can be used in different industries and sectors, but most often it is associated with manufacturing, the agriculture industry, business process management, and information technology.
In this post, I am going to focus on the automation of business processes and how it can improve your business’s productivity.
One of the biggest reasons that small businesses need automation is to make their work easier and less time-intensive. Automation helps to reduce repetitive tasks and create a more efficient workflow.
Additionally, automation can help to make it easier for people who would otherwise find it difficult or impossible to do certain aspects of the business themselves. Physical disabilities and illnesses can keep someone from running a business by themselves, but these issues can be solved or alleviated with the use of automation.
How to Handle the Disadvantages of Business Automation?
In an era of artificial intelligence, automation plays a key role in achieving results with efficiency. It is not only the job of the workers to adapt to these changes but also of the managers.
Without careful setup and customisation, there is a danger that your automations can have unexpected side effects.
By definition business automation happens with minimal to no human input, therefore something can happen that you were not expecting. This is why documentation is vital for you and your staff. We start with documentation when we create any new automation and detail all the steps that are taken by the automation and what will trigger these actions.
By monitoring your automations you can fine tune the most complex processes to ensure they are serving you and your business.
What is Business Process Automation Software?
Business process automation software is designed to help organizations with modern and efficient ways to automate business processes.
BPA software is often used by organizations who want to automate and optimise their workflow or employees’ tasks.
The benefits of using BPA software include increased productivity, higher efficiency, reduced costs, more data accuracy, improved customer service and more.
To use BPA software effectively, you need a reliable BPA solution that can support your needs as an organization.
What are Types of Business Processes You Can Automate?
Automation is the key to getting more done in less time with consistent quality.
There are many types of business processes that can be automated. Customer service, for example, has benefited from automation in the form of customer service software which allows businesses to provide better customer service more efficiently. Automate your workflow management system or call centre software with an automated solution to get started today!
How to Choose the Best Software for Your Needs?
There are many different types of software that companies use for their needs. To choose the best one, you need to know what your needs are and how much money you have to spend.
For example, if a company has many employees who need access to a particular program, they may want to buy the Enterprise edition. However, if the company only has a few employees and does not need other features such as security audit or data input automation features, then a free version may be suitable.
Options for automation software
Business process automation software can be divided into three main categories. General providers will connect multiple sources to give an almost unlimited combination of possible automation. Specialist providers will specialise in a narrow field but will often be the best in that area. Custom providers need a higher level of expertise but this may be necessary for certain circumstances, this will generally require a developer to create a small application that is run on the cloud.
Below is a selection of providers available to build automations for small businesses;
General Automation Providers
Specialist Automation Providers
Custom Automation Platforms
Google cloud/firebase functions
AWS Lambda functions
Cloudflare Workers
Please get in touch with us, to discuss how we can help you implement the best solution for your business.
Use cases, how we use automation
Wiltshire Gifts Vendor Onboarding
When we set up Wiltshire Gifts, we knew that we needed to streamline our processes to ensure nothing was missed and the user experience was great. The first automation we put in place was to manage our vendor suitability checks and acceptance. When a new vendor applies, our automation creates a ClickUp task with all the information we need to do our checks, sends an email to the vendor so they know their application has been received and sends a slack message to our team so we know that we have a new vendor.
When we have done our checks all we then need to do is update the status of the ClickUp task to Accepted and another automation enables the vendor’s marketplace account and sends an email to the vendor.
Wessex Digital Solutions New Client Onboarding
When a new client starts to work with us we like to make sure that they have an amazing experience and therefore they know exactly how we work and what our expectations are of them.
Our automation is started when a new client accepts and signs a proposal, through our secure e-signature provider. This will trigger Google Drive to create a new folder structure and add some generic files so our team can hit the ground running, after that an email is sent to the client with some useful information about their project and then finally the client is added to our custom client portal where they can monitor the progress of their project and interact with our team.
How to Start Implementing Automation Solutions in Your Company Today!
The rise of automation solutions has created a need for new skill sets within the workforce. Larger organisations have already started preparing for this shift, but there are plenty of smaller businesses that have not yet caught up.
Introducing automation in your business can be a complex process that requires commitment and a multifaceted strategy. However, you can start small with a simple task and work on identifying opportunities for streamlining your business. The businesses that start these changes today will be the ones who will reap the long-term benefits from them. Above all the sooner you start the better prepared you are for future growth and build resilience into your business.
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