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Have you ever asked yourself how big companies manage to do so many things so quickly yet so efficiently? Or maybe you’ve seen ads for technology that claim to make your work easier?
Today, this is all possible because of process automation.
So, stay with us to see what process automation is and why it’s a big deal to consider for your company.
What is Process Automation?
Process automation means using technology to do jobs that people usually do. Instead of spending time on things like typing in data or sending emails, you can simply set up software to do these tasks for you.
As a result, you can save time, make fewer mistakes, and overall focus on more important and creative tasks. In simple terms, process automation makes everyday work easier and faster by letting technology handle the hard parts.
Why use process automation?
Process automation has proven to be very successful over the time. So, here are some of the reasons why you should consider process automation:
Fewer mistakes: People make mistakes, especially when doing the same repetitive job again and again. Automated systems follow directions exactly as intended, so there are fewer mistakes overall.
Works faster: Automation helps you get much more done in less time. For businesses, this means they can help more customers or make more products without having the need for more workers.
Cuts costs: Hiring people to do repetitive tasks tends to be expensive. Automation can reduce these costs by handling tasks without needing a salary.
When to Automate
But when is the right time? Businesses tend to automate (if they haven’t done so from the beginning) once processes cost more to complete than the revenue they contribute towards.
That ‘cost’ is usually a factor of:
Reducing levels of customer service (and resulting high customer churn)
Slow time to market (when your competitors are getting there faster)
Increasing revenue leakage
Higher resource costs that seem to be getting out of control
Losses of strategic/competitive advantage
Reduced cross-department communications that result in inefficient processes
How does process automation work?
Process automation works by using software or systems that follow specific rules. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Find repetitive tasks: First, you look for tasks that you do over and over and take a lot of time. For example, typing in data or setting up appointments.
Choose automation tools: Next, you select tools or software that can handle these tasks. There are many options out there, like tools that automatically send emails, update databases, or process orders.
Set up rules: You then set up rules for the automation tool. For instance, if an email comes in with a certain subject line, the tool might automatically send a reply or route it to the right person.
Monitor and adjust: Once the automation is up and running, you’ll need to keep an eye on it. Sometimes, adjustments are necessary to ensure everything works smoothly.\
Examples of Process Automation
You have probably heard of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), but what is it exactly? RPA is a technology that helps automate repetitive tasks that follow clear rules.
For example, if you tend to deal with processing invoices or handling customer requests, RPA can take care of these tasks for you. It uses software robots that perform these jobs just like a human would, but much faster and, of course, with fewer mistakes. So, process robotics automation makes handling routine work quicker and more accurate.
Today, we can see process automation everywhere, here are just a few everyday examples. First, we have email filters. If you use email, you might have noticed filters that sort messages into folders. This is a simple form of automation. For example, all emails from your boss might go into one folder automatically.
Another example of robotic process automation is online shopping. When you shop online and receive confirmation emails or tracking updates, that’s automation at work. The system sends these messages without human intervention.
Social media is one more example. Many businesses use automation to schedule posts. They set up a schedule and the system posts on their behalf at the right times.
Getting Started with Process Automation
If you like what you’re seeing so far and if you’re thinking about automating tasks, here’s a simple guide, or alternatively, contact us at Lemza and see how we can help:
Find what you need
First, make a list of the tasks you want to automate. Look for jobs that you do over and over or that take a lot of time and would be suitable for automation.
Research tools
Find out which tools or software can help. There are many options available, from simple email automation to complex systems for entire business processes.
Test first
Before fully committing, test the automation tool with a few tasks. This helps ensure it works as expected.
Train and implement
Make sure everyone who will use the system understands how it works. Proper training ensures smooth adoption.
Review and optimize
Once everything is in place, keep track of how well it’s working. Look for ways to improve or adjust as needed.
The Future of Process Automation
In the future, process automation will continue to get even smarter because of artificial intelligence (AI). AI can learn from information and get better over time, which makes automation tools work even better. This means that soon, chatbots will be able to answer harder questions, helping customer service be faster and more accurate without needing a person.
Another remarkable development is robotic process automation (RPA). This technology lets software robots take on tasks that usually need human judgment. As RPA gets better, these robots will handle more detailed and tricky tasks with ease.
In the end, process automation can make a big difference for both work and personal tasks. It does help things get done faster and with fewer mistakes. And, when technology takes care of the boring tasks, you have more time for what really matters. So, if you want to give it a try, first, start small to see how it works and add it to your daily routine.
