When people think of automation, they often picture large, expensive systems. In practice, most gains are found in small, recurring tasks. Here are five processes found in almost every organization that lend themselves well to automation.
1. Processing web forms
Requests via the website are often manually copied into a spreadsheet or CRM. With a simple integration, data lands directly in the right place and the right colleague is notified automatically.
2. Invoices and payment reminders
Creating recurring invoices and sending reminders follows fixed rules. That makes it an ideal candidate for automation, with a review step before anything is sent.
3. Internal approvals
Purchase requests, leave or expense claims often bounce around via email. A digital approval flow provides a fixed route, a clear overview and a record of who approved what.
4. Periodic reports
Collecting, copying and formatting the same figures every month takes hours. An automatically generated report saves that time and reduces the chance of errors.
5. Customer communication at fixed moments
Confirmations, appointment reminders and welcome messages can be sent automatically, so customers are informed on time.
Tip
Only automate a process once it is clear. Automating a messy process mostly produces mess faster. Map out the steps first.