Are you feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Do you feel like you’re working all the time but not getting anywhere? If so, it might be time to start using automation to help lighten the load. Automation helps you work smarter, not harder, and in this blog post we’ll show you how to get started. So read on – join the no-code revolution and start freeing up your time for the things that matter!
Before you start – simplify your processes
Before you even think about automation, it’s absolutely vital to review and simplify your processes. This doesn’t have to be onerous though, and will really help streamline your business.
We cover this in our blog about how to document processes which is a great starting point. The steps you should follow are:
- Brainstorm your processes.
- Prioritise them so that you focus on those which are the biggest pain points first, which will save you the most time when you automate them.
- List all the apps you use in your business.
- Analyse the processes and simplify them where possible.
- Document the processes.
You are now in the perfect position to start automating your business processes, and our favourite no-code automation tool is Zapier.
What is Zapier?
Zapier is a no-code automation tool which anyone can use. You don’t need to be technical and all you’ll need to know is how to log into the apps you use in your business.
Zapier allows you to configure connections between your apps, to pass data from one to another and make them function automatically. It can be an absolute game-changer for many businesses which is why we love it! Rather than go into everything here, we’ve written a simple guide to Zapier which will get you started.
You can also read how our founder / chief problem solver / chief automator, Kelly Goss discovered Zapier in her origin story, which tells how she went from being a frazzled business owner to an automation superhero!
How do I get up and running with Zapier?
There’s a lot of lingo to learn with Zapier (for a start, did you know it rhymes with ‘happier’?) and we cover it all in our post about how to get started with Zapier.
We also compare the different pricing options because you can get started on Zapier’s free plan really quickly. It’s perfect for learning how to use automation and is extremely powerful, with pre-built integrations between over 6,000 apps.
Zapier links many of the tools you use every day, including:
- Microsoft apps like Excel, Outlook and Teams
- Google apps such as Gmail, Google Sheets and Google Docs
- Email platforms like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign and MailerLite
- CRMs including Pipedrive, Salesforce and Zoho
- Finance apps such as Xero and Quickbooks
- E-commerce tools like Woocommerce, Shopify and Stripe
- …and so many more, the list is endless!
What can I do with Zapier?
Hopefully you’ll have some ideas for automations from your business process analysis but if you need some inspiration then we have plenty!
For example, you could automate your marketing processes, or operations. Plus, here are 5 Quick Wins to get you started.
Zapier doesn’t need to be all about business either – you can have plenty of fun with it too! Here are examples of fun automations to create such as receiving a daily weather report or connecting to smart devices such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant.
How to use Zapier’s super-cool inbuilt functions
As well as connecting with over 6,000 apps, Zapier has some really funky inbuilt integrations which are really powerful.
We have a free cheat sheet which lists them all, as well as guides to our favourites.
These include SMS By Zapier which allows you to send text messages automatically and Schedule by Zapier to trigger automations when you choose.
Zapier can manipulate text in many different ways using its text formatter and you can express dates in many different ways too which is helpful when different apps store them in different formats.
What else do I need to know about Zapier?
Once you’ve set up a few automations it’s really helpful to know how to organise your zaps. It’s like any other storage solution – if you start in an organised fashion then you’ll reap the benefits in the future.
Another great benefit of Zapier is that there’s plenty of help available. Not only are their own articles useful, there’s a huge community waiting to offer advice and assistance. We have written an article where we list all of the existing help options as well as some which are coming soon.
Where can I find out more?
Our free articles are great for finding out how to get started with automation, but if you really want to dig deeper then Kelly’s book, Automate It with Zapier, is available on Amazon. It takes you through everything step-by-step and includes some ready-made templates for various examples so you can get started really quickly.
The book is perfect for new Zapier users as well as seasoned pros. Here are links to Amazon (.co.uk) and Amazon (.com) to get yours now.
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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