Technology is constantly helping businesses to speed up and streamline their processes. A widely used IT strategy of recent years is ‘Business Automation’, also known as ‘Business Process Automation’, or BAP. It is the employment of technology to replace the manual execution of repetitive tasks or processes.
You have probably encountered BAP while carrying out some task online, and interacted with a virtual assistant or chatbot. This will be an intelligent rules-driven automation system which can make automatic decisions. It reduces the need for call centres and helpdesks, as common and duplicate queries can be dealt with efficiently.
What are the benefits of Business Automation?
Business Automation means that the process is streamlined and simplified. It eliminates human error and provides a uniform and accountable process. You can analyse the data for useful insights into your business, and set customisable notifications.
This leads to a transparent and clear process where every detail is recorded. Results will be consistent and standardised, which will help your business establish a reputation for efficiency. It is also an effective way to produce watertight compliance records.
Which business processes should be automated?
If you have a business process which involves a high volume of repetitive tasks and a large team of people, it is likely it would benefit from automation. This is also true of tasks operating to a deadline, and processes which require compliance and audit trails.
A large organisation will have multiple departments with a need for automation technology. In HR, it is used for timesheets, employee onboarding and offboarding, annual leave requests, and more. IT will employ them to set up new accounts, and manage requests. Sales will use them for quote and proposal approvals, and pricing and product discounts.
Business automation is also widely utilised for routine tasks in Marketing, Finance, Purchasing, Legal, and Facilities departments. As previously mentioned, it is also used for call centres and helpdesks. There are many other examples to be found.
How can you implement Business Automation technology?
It takes some planning and research to make sure you adopt the right Business Automation strategy. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what tasks are involved, and when they need to be executed. It is essential to have a clearly defined outcome for your process, otherwise you may have to waste time correcting errors.
Make sure all staff members who will be operating the new systems are fully trained. There may be an adjustment period, and it will take some time for results to consolidate. Most automated systems require some level of human engagement to avoid unexpected outcomes.
There are several cloud-based Business Automation processes available which don’t require extensive IT support to set up. For extra security, look for one which offers role-based access, so you can monitor who has access to what data. Remember that there’s no need to automate everything at once, as it may be easier to start small!
If you would like some help or advice in implementing a process then contact your local London IT support company today.
