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.
Check out our automation training programme
And finally, if you’re really keen to transform your business using automation, then visit the Solvaa Automation Academy. Our signature training programme, ‘Simple Automation Blueprint: Zero to Hero’ is aimed at anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of business process automation from the experts – a sure-fire way to recession-proof your business.
It’s an 8-week blended learning course with on-demand videos, templates, resources and weekly group coaching sessions. And it’s more than just a Zapier course (although we do show you how to use Zapier like a pro) as you’ll learn about Process Mapping, Business Process Improvement and Business Process Management too – principles that can be applied to other areas of business too!
Whether you are a complete novice or have been using Zapier for a while, our programme is for you. It’s perfect for individuals and teams in micro, small and medium-sized businesses, including solopreneurs, consultants and freelancers. You’ll have access to our experts and can participate in live calls where you can ask all your burning questions, as well as hands-on workshops to keep you on track with implementing your new skills. We run regular cohorts so there will be an opportunity for everyone to participate.
Our head trainer, Kelly Goss, is a specialist in business systems, process improvement and automation, and one of less than 100 Zapier Certified Experts in the world. Kelly has many years’ experience in optimising systems and processes, and implementing automations for clients and is now passing on her knowledge to students through our trademarked ‘4-Step Solvaa Automation Methodology®‘.
Find out more via our dedicated Solvaa Automation Academy website.
Read more about how our certified experts use Zapier workflow automations to simplify processes and increase efficiency.
Solvaa is a process and automation consultancy specialising in improving sales, operations and financial administration workflows. We help you to simplify and streamline existing processes, integrate your business tools to make data transfer more efficient and automate manual tasks to increase productivity. We are Zapier Certified Experts, Pipedrive Certified Experts and Xero Certified Advisors.
Contact us today to discuss how Solvaa can help you simplify, improve and automate all aspects of your business with Zapier to save you time, reduce costs and keep you agile as you grow.
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