Ever feel like you’re missing out on the real potential of automation? You’re not alone. If analysis paralysis is holding you back, it’s time to clear the fog once and for all by asking yourself six simple questions that will uncover some great automation opportunities.
One of the most common questions we hear from people is “What should we automate?”
That’s a great question. If you’re asking it, then you’re already on the right track. You’ve recognized that automation can help your business but may be lost in an ocean of possibilities.
Maybe you’ve even dabbled in automation, but you can’t quite shake that feeling you’re not using the technology to its full potential. Don’t worry – you’re not alone! Many other business managers are in this exact position, too.
In this article, we’re giving you six simple questions you can use to pinpoint the best automation opportunities in your business today. By the end, if you implement these steps, you will have a systemic approach to:
Ready to move from “We should automate something” to “Here’s exactly what we need to automate and why“?
Your journey to a more efficient, scalable, and competitive business starts now.
The first, and perhaps most important thing to identify is whether you can handle a sudden growth spurt. Having a sudden rush of clients can quickly turn from a thrill into a nightmare when you realize you and your team can’t deliver to everyone on time.
Let’s say you typically handle 8 clients a month. What would happen if, almost overnight, this doubled in size to 16 clients a month? Would you take everything in your stride, or would you be giving headless chickens a run for their money?
If doubling your client base would strain your business, it’s a good sign that you should start considering automation as an option.
?Top tip: You don’t need to overcomplicate things. Automation is always nice to have, but it becomes a necessity when you start scaling to a point where manual processes can’t keep up. Automation helps to relieve bottlenecks so your growth doesn’t stall.
If you can’t answer these questions – and questions like them – easily, then you’re simply not tracking your KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) well enough.
There is very little excuse for not having reporting systems in place today, since they can be automated, fostering data-driven decision-making.
If you can’t answer these questions, implementing reporting systems should be a priority. Accurate reporting allows you to make informed decisions and identify true bottlenecks in your business.
?Top tip: Without clear KPI visibility, you’re essentially flying blind. If you’re not tracking KPIs, it’s time to make this a priority.
Business is full of low-value busywork that can’t be avoided and simply doesn’t contribute towards business growth. Time poverty is a real problem, even if it acts as a status symbol.
So what are these activities?
There are many more. If it has an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and it is something that consumes a lot of time, then automating it can free up time for higher-ROI tasks. This is especially valuable for small- and medium-size businesses, where as much as 40% of the working day is spent on mundane tasks!
?Top tip: Analyze your daily activities and consider whether these can be turned into automated workflows.
Every business has expenses – and two of the biggest are staff and tools. If your staff are getting tangled up in a mess of busywork, then you’re not using them to their fullest potential.
Creating and optimizing automated workflows can reduce the overall number of tools needed while consolidating your processes, leading to further savings. This can be from reduced subscription costs or simply improving your usage rate.
?Top tip: Identify your biggest costs and explore how automation can reduce your expenses; even small savings compound over time.
Consistency is key when it comes to revenue-generating activities. And, while it pushes growth for your business, much of it is busywork!
Cold emails can now be hyper-personalized and automated, as can content for your blogs and social media. Take a look at all the things your business does to generate revenue and be honest: are you as consistent as you could be?
If not, then automation will make it easier to be consistent, and no, there won’t be any engagement or SEO penalties if you do it right! This is one automation opportunity that many are sleeping on, thanks to some incredibly effective fear-based marketing tactics from popular AI detector brands.
?Top tip: Automate revenue-generating activities to boost your consistency. The easier these tasks are to complete, the more likely they will be done.
One of automation’s strongest points – and it has a lot! – is how frictionless it makes much of the busywork of client satisfaction.
We all expect superb service these days, but that typically means several things need to be on point if you want to deliver a amazing experience:
These seemingly small touches can significantly increase your referral rate and overall client satisfaction. The good news is that what would have needed a lot of hand-holding in the past can now be done using automation. This is an automation opportunity that you shouldn’t ignore.
?Top tip: Use automation to take your client experience to the next level. Small, but highly consistent details often lead to higher satisfaction rates, better reviews, and increased referrals.
These six questions are a great way to systematically identify areas in your business that would benefit from using business process automation. What business doesn’t benefit from the following?
Once you’ve found some great automation opportunities for your business, focus on automating your most business-critical areas first. You’ll find that you soon have a more efficient, scaleable, and client-focused business.
Automation isn’t about replacing humans with machines, but instead enhancing you and your team’s work by improving your consistency. At the same time, it’s freeing people up for more creative and high-value tasks.
Just remember that identifying automation opportunities isn’t a one-off process. As your business evolves, so will your needs. Stay curious, keep exploring new workflow and automation opportunities, and don’t be afraid to reimagine your processes.
The future of your business is automated – are you ready to lead the charge?
Book your consultation now. It’s free and friendly, with no pushy sales tactics. We can start your project as early as tomorrow!
