2022 promises to be the year when businesses which adopt an automation mindset will thrive, not only from a more streamlined workflow but also from the resulting increase in profits. Furthermore, employers don’t need to hire a huge team of developers to build business process automations. No-code solutions such as Zapier are accessible for non-technical members of staff and it’s often those in the business who actually do the specific tasks who are best placed to automate their tasks.
How does no-code automation help businesses?
There is no longer a gap between the IT and business teams, and employers who empower their staff by investing in automation will reap the benefits. As this article by Forbes explains, with the current shortage of IT skills, no-code automation can bridge the gap. Using the existing, skilled workforce and empowering them to streamline their workflows using no-code solutions allows them to truly make an impact on the business.
How will employees gain from automation?
Employees often make the mistake of worrying that introducing automation means they will lose their jobs. The reality is quite the opposite, as automation allows staff to focus on the more rewarding aspects of their role. What’s more, automation training delivers transferable skills which are increasingly in demand.
According to the CIO “78% of workers say that ‘automating manual, repetitive tasks would allow them to focus on the more interesting and rewarding aspects of their jobs’”.
The CIO also notes that “automation allows workers to engage in more meaningful and higher-value tasks, facilitating improved customer intimacy and loyalty, driving increases in innovation enterprise-wide.”
What does an automation mindset actually mean?
Adopting an automation mindset means that you’re constantly evaluating the tasks you do, to see if any can be automated. Continuous improvement is something we champion at Solvaa, and often small steps on the road to automation can reap huge benefits.
If you regularly review whether a workflow can be improved and made more efficient then it becomes a habit – a good habit – and will drive significant change in an organisation.
We have previously written about how to document processes which is a great place to start. Once your processes are written down then you can start to automate them. Then, once they are automated, they should be regularly reviewed to achieve continuous incremental improvements.
How can automation help your business make more money?
According to Forrester Research “depending on your industry, digital automation can cut costs by a margin of 10-90%”. The IDC (International Data Corporation) says: “Inefficient workflows can cost up to 30% of your total revenue every year.”
What this translates to is that every lead which isn’t chased could cost you a sale. If you miss a deadline then another business could step in and steal a customer. If your employees are spending most of their time on manual, repetitive tasks then they are spending less time on the work which really matters; nurturing customer relationships, doing things where a human touch is essential.
Also, according to the CIO, “Team members that mainly do data collection and data processing could use automation to handle duties that take a staggering 51% of their working hours.” At the end of the day, time is money, so doing more work in less time equals higher profits. It therefore makes sense to get computers to do the work if it’s the kind of task which lends itself to automation.
How can you empower employees with automation?
Knowledge is power, and the best way to empower your employees is to invest in training for them. Our founder, Kelly Goss has written a definitive guide to Zapier, one of the leading no-code workflow automation solutions. Kelly’s book takes you through each step towards effectively using business process automation, including how to analyse your processes, choose the best candidates for automation and get started with Zapier. You can grab a copy of Automate It with Zapier through the publisher Packt, on Amazon (.co.uk) and Amazon (.com). The book is perfect for new Zapier automators as well as seasoned champions.
If you are an employee, then we have an article to help you justify an automation training budget to your boss which includes a free checklist.
And finally, if you’re really keen to transform your business using automation then we will be launching the Solvaa Automation Academy in 2023, providing a bunch of training courses to help you run your business on autopilot with simpler, streamlined and automated systems and processes. You can join the wait list below to keep up to date with the latest news.
References:
The CIO provides tech and IT business leaders with news, opinion, the CIO Directory and the CIO 100.
Forrester Research provides advice on the existing and potential impact of technology, to its clients and the public.
Solvaa: Strategy, Solutions, Support, Education
UK-based Solvaa® is a systems, process and automation consultancy specialising in improving business workflows. Solvaa® works with SMEs worldwide to implement digital tools, better processes, use business process automation and generative AI to boost productivity, enhance lead management, and remove unnecessary time, costs and hassles from stretched business owners’ days.
We help you simplify and streamline existing processes, integrate your business tools to make data transfer more efficient, and automate manual tasks. Our business process automation specialists have extensive experience using multiple cloud-based business tools, including Zapier, Pipedrive CRM, SmartSuite, Xero, Google Suite, ClickUp, Asana, Airtable, Hubspot, Active Campaign, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Quickbooks and many more. We are Zapier Certified Experts, SmartSuite Certified Partners, Pipedrive Certified Partners and Xero Certified Advisors. We also educate teams about using AI in their daily roles, mindset, governance and strategy in our Solvaa AI Academy.
Solvaa® was founded in 2016 by Kelly Goss, a no-code solutions architect, business process automation specialist and author of Automate It with Zapier (first edition) and Automate It with Zapier and Generative AI (second edition).
A thought leader on business process automation and digital adoption, Kelly attended an invite-only Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the UK government at No.10 Downing Street, providing insights and recommendations on how SMEs can benefit from productivity gains by using digital technologies, automation and AI. She has also been invited to speak at the House of Lords and at many other events.
Contact us today to find out how Solvaa can help your business make big savings on operational costs and time, and significantly increase productivity.
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