The implementation of automation processes, while sometimes creating fear of job loss, in turn creates value-added tasks as it requires more professional skills and qualities.
Today, the implementation of automation processes is essential. However, many companies that have implemented effective habits do not see much point in automating a number of their practices. We are in a world of immediacy linked to clicks that allow us to get all the answers to our requests or questions in three clicks, and sometimes in just one. To turn a blind eye to such a development would indeed lack common sense.
When a company enters the hyper-growth phase, time-consuming tasks should be automated wherever possible. Manually performing the operation quickly becomes inappropriate, especially if it exceeds a certain volume. But what are these automated tasks and how do you do them?
Why automate your processes?
The main advantage of process automation for your business is the significant time savings it results in. Avoiding human action on a large number of tasks instead of manual execution makes the company more agile and efficient. This change generally facilitates the exchange of information. Indicators that provide real-time information as well as detailed performance reports provide a clearer vision. On the other hand, the automation of certain tasks, especially those that are repeated, reduces the risk of errors and provides better quality data. In short, by using it, your employees have more time to devote to higher value-added tasks. And when it comes to work, “Time is money” !
Define what needs to be automated
Before you take the plunge, you should target tasks where automation is relevant. You must remember that this type of process is not intended to completely replace people, but to reduce their workload in certain tasks that need to be performed.
It is about eliminating those that are time-consuming, repetitive in nature, or those that are standardized. You will need to break down your employees’ day to understand where they are “wasting” time so that they can concentrate on more complex and intellectual operations, better adapted to human work. The main challenge remains to prioritize the activities where automation has the greatest impact on business performance.
At this stage, it is crucial to contact your colleagues so that they can make suggestions. Employees generally do not like tasks that are repeated and that are not interesting to them either in terms of work or in terms of recognition for the tasks they perform. Therefore, we saw this clearly with the contribution of software that made it possible, instead of tediously drawing a table, to just click on an icon to bring up a table adapted to their needs.
The same applies to identical emails sent to several clients or to the entire staff. Automation has saved a lot of time and also makes it possible to reach employees or customers in record time.
Ensure follow-up with a plan
Automating all or part of your activities is one thing, but it must also have positive effects on your company. In order to ensure this, it is necessary to establish a plan. This allows monitoring of each indicator. Once the automation processes are established, you must rigorously monitor, for each of them, their impact as well as their development. Establishing a plan is a way to measure the gap between expected automation results and those actually achieved.