Is Your Business Ready for Automation?

Summary

Even small businesses benefit from automation as technology advances and artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more commonplace. Entrepreneurs see the benefits of freeing up humans for creative tasks, management and growth. Understanding the right timing for implementing automation requires planning.

Questions to determine if a business is ready for automation

According to a Markets and Markets report, global AI will reach $407 billion by 2027. Many new companies come on board with the latest technology and automation. However, determining if they’re ready to automate some of their processes is complex. Investing in software and machines can be expensive, and the return may take years to come to fruition. Here are some questions leadership should ponder before moving into new technologies:

• Which processes are repetitive?
• Does the workflow need to be improved?
• How much time do employees spend on each task?
• Has accounting or marketing crunched the numbers on a return on investment for automating tasks?
• Does the company have the technical staff to support automation?
• Will employees adapt to the changes and come alongside the brand’s efforts?

 Companies can work toward eventual AI help by breaking the adjustments into smaller steps if the answers to these questions make automation seem impossible. Work through each one until business processes flow smoothly and additional changes become clearer.

1. Assess team readiness
Staff members must be ready to embrace automation, or it will surely fail. Companies should start by discussing the need for new technology, explaining how it will help workers do their jobs more efficiently and focusing on higher-order company needs. Once employees understand that machines aren’t taking over their jobs but simplifying them, they’ll be more open to accepting the change.

2. Identify data silos
Organizations that have been around for a while might separate data from one another on different software or databases. Repeated information or sections that are hard for all departments to access can create bottlenecks in company processes.

Data silos must be identified and combined in a single program and data center before automation can be implemented successfully. Around 50% of nonprofit professionals say their organizations have several tools to do the same thing. Using multiple software options also creates higher costs.

3. Crunch numbers
Leadership should crunch the numbers of how much lack of productivity and bottlenecks cost the company before adopting new processes. Next, they should compare the results to the cost of installing automation. The goal is for the company to have an excellent return on investment (ROI) in the shortest time possible. If ROI is in the negative, the time might not yet be right for adopting AI or robotic automation.
 
Consider all factors, such as combining positions to free workers to do more than before. The ideal way to get people on board for changes is not to replace them as they leave the company or retire so no jobs are lost.

4. Identify jobs robots can do
Robotic process automation (RPA) is software that mimics human actions, such as physically moving a file from one location to another. RPA can also pull order information from emails or forms and enter it into a database.
 
Many companies are turning to RPA to fill labor shortages in skilled areas, such as tech support. Around 56% of IT leaders mention they don't have enough staff to cover needs and another 64% worry over the lack of experience in their departments.
 
Turning to robotics to handle repetitive tasks is the first area businesses might look to add automation. Talk to the people in those roles about what things could be handled by software and how it might fill a need they have in their position.

5. Look at scalability
Understanding scalability can ensure a company's investment in automation pays off with an excellent ROI. Leaders must look for tools that adapt to growth. Management must plan for where they want the business to be in five or 10 years rather than only considering where it currently is.
 
Some AI tools offer expansion and will grow with a brand. Others are more limited in their scope. Comparing the company budget and features ensures the business invests in the right software that will be compatible with workflow today and in the future.

6. Solve pain points
Brands must spend time identifying bottlenecks and pain points for their users. Can automation fix the problem? Anything leadership can do to create a more positive customer experience helps the brand grow.
 
Coming up with solutions for customer pain points before they know they have them is crucial to remaining competitive. Poll customers, pay attention to complaints and run complex reports to see what changes would most impact user experience.

Take it slow and test

Automation takes time. Start slow with something simple before moving on to more complex processes. Seek a software solution that grows as automation expands rather than taking bits and pieces from different programs. Test each new addition and get employee feedback to ensure the technology works for company, staff and customer needs. Testing and moving in phases ensures embracing automation will be a positive experience for everyone.