We are in an increasingly global and competitive market, in which all companies want to be more effective and profitable. To achieve this, many of them opt for process automation.
Applying automation in a company ensures cost and time savings and, in addition, allows productivity to be greatly increased.
What is process automation?
Process automation consists of the application of technology to perform recurring tasks or processes in which manual effort can be replaced. Its objective is to minimize costs, increase efficiency and optimize tasks.
It is a key asset to achieve the digital transformation of an organization.
By applying process automation, human resources are freed up and this allows them to dedicate their time and effort to jobs that require a greater degree of work commitment.
Benefits of automating processes in your organization
Increase productivity
With process automation you can considerably reduce the number of tasks that people would have to perform manually. This frees up their time to work on other elements that add value to the business and, even better, allows them time to be more innovative and productive.
Reduce task execution time
Automation also allows you to do more things in a shorter amount of time , as it minimizes the time required to complete different processes.
Additionally, providing the right information at the right time to workers , with the help of process automation, allows them to perform their tasks faster and easier, while reducing manual tasks.
Minimize errors
No matter how efficient employees are, it is impossible to avoid human errors. Automation helps limit the possibility of errors in the execution of processes.
Reduce operating costs
Since human labor is costly, organizations are always looking for ways to automate repetitive tasks. In this sense, process automation improves employee effectiveness and translates into large financial savings for company operations.
Steps to follow for process automation
Process automation can be implemented in these five steps:
1. Identify the tasks to be automated
Identifying repetitive tasks is the first step to being clear about which of them need to be automated.
To identify them, it is essential to have a deep knowledge of the business. The best way to visualize them is to make a visual representation of the workflow. This helps to better understand the tasks that are repeated during the processes.
In addition, it allows you to create an ideal workflow that facilitates the improvement of the existing one. This is a key step that must be carried out by collaborating closely with the different areas of the business and those involved in each process.
2. Define the objectives
Once the problem is identified, the next step is to define the objectives to be achieved, using the current manual workflow as a reference point.
The goal may be related to improving performance or reducing cycle time in a single process, or optimizing resources for more productive tasks.
Many improvements can be proposed, but it is necessary to define how the objectives will be achieved through process automation and how the results obtained will be measured.
3. Select the right tool
There are a large number of options available in the market when it comes to process automation tools . It is important to understand which one fits the structure and requirements of your company. Additionally, it is advisable that this tool have the following features:
- Be easy to use and understand
- Be flexible and scalable
- Be able to integrate with existing tools
4. Adapt to change
The next step is to train employees to use the new work system . Any change introduced in the organization, especially when it comes to digital transformation, always encounters resistance.
Therefore, it is imperative to involve end users from the first step and include them in the discussions so that they are an integral part of the decision-making process. This makes employees co-responsible for its implementation.
You also need to provide a clear transition path from the current manual process to the new automated system and provide them with appropriate training to help them get up to speed. This will be of great help to make the transition successful.
5. Monitor and measure
Once the previous phases have been defined, the new process automation system will now be in place .
To ensure its proper functioning and optimal maintenance in the company, users must provide the corresponding information about the process, depending on its use. This will be of vital importance to correct implementation and operational problems .
With everything in place, all that remains is to measure key performance indicators and constantly improve automations.
Also Read: Why Does Automation Concern All Companies?