Every business has its own set of processes that define how it solves problems for customers and runs its operations. These one-of-a-kind processes are what help the firm to be so successful. These methods are often manual, relying on spreadsheets or mythology passed down from employee to employee. Complex manual spreadsheet-based processes are not expandable.
Endeavoring to handle business activities as demand and workflow increases can stress the organization and is hectic for everyone involved. It’s never too late to bring about necessary changes that work out in the best interests of your business.
Businesses in Every Industry are Automating Their Processes
Though using the current handbook or spreadsheet-based processes may seem more straightforward, your approach may change after you consider the following:
- How much more productive would your workers be able to do if you computerized some or all of their tasks?
- How many human or technical errors have lead to your company missing out on new sales possibilities or disappointing clients due to an incorrect product or service delivery resulting from mistakes?
- How many times has an invoice been inaccurate due to a computer glitch?
Updating your business operations to a new system may present you with a whole new set of problems. Will the employees be ready for the change? How much will it cost? Do the advantages exceed the drawbacks, and how quickly will this new business process automation pay off?
These are legitimate complaints, and as a business owner or senior executive, it’s time to ask yourself the tricky question: can you opt not to move to automation? To fully clear this up, you must first comprehend what business process management entails.
Consider the manual business processes that exist in your organization. Are they making it difficult for your employees to communicate with one another? Is your process structured in any way that makes it reusable? What about data inconsistencies? Every blunder could have severe strategic and non-financial consequences. Is it possible to make systems more efficient and user-friendly by automating your payment process for your clients? How are you dealing with these issues right now? Spreadsheets and paper forms are not scalable, do not manage data flow for approvals, are not shareable, and are vulnerable to failure. All of these tasks are made more accessible by business intelligence.
Manual processes are still widely used in many businesses. Many businesses only automate about 25% to 40% of their workflows. This means that more than half of all automation chances are squandered.
This guide will teach you about things that every small business should—and can—automate, as well as how to automate processes easily.
Marketing Automation
Marketing automation is all over your mailbox. It’s an email from a salesperson who just left you a voicemail saying, “Sorry I missed you.” A restaurant coupon for a birthday celebration. A retailer’s notification that you added a product to your cart but did not tap “buy.”
Automation seems to have become a secret to success in various industries: According to the research company Gleanster, nearly 80% of top companies with the highest revenues have been using marketing automation for more than two years. Automation, on the other hand, isn’t just for big businesses. Small businesses, too, can use automation to streamline every aspect of their operations, from capturing leads to closing sales, serving customers, and checking off routine office tasks on their to-do lists. Small business owners can allocate more resources to the goals that matter, such as growing the company when repetitious procedures are automated.
Leads
Automated processes help you build leads faster and with more ease, whether you’re reaching target audiences or replying to those who have already called or emailed.
Sales
Consider automation software to be your sales team’s project manager. While software assists your team in focusing on the most critical work ahead, it also keeps a record of leads who aren’t willing to buy, guaranteeing progress throughout the sales process.
Ecommerce
Even if customers forget to rearrange, abandon a shopping cart, you can engage them through automation.
In Conclusion
While we’re still trying to wrap our heads around the benefits of automation for a business, there is also a thing called hyper-automation, and it entails incorporating robotic processes with AI and data collection automation. Any small business that wants to adapt and flourish in its field should always look for new ways to enhance its processes, automation being the first and the most important one today.
