Is your business really ready for automation?

ENTERPRISES everywhere, as part of their digital transformation journey, are exploring how future technologies such as artificial intelligence and IoT can help their business.

Most of these technologies require significant investments and talent to be implemented effectively and only companies with deep pockets and expertise can really reap the rewards as early adopters.

However, businesses of any size could easily cut cost and optimize efficiency if they decide to automate some of their processes, specifically the ones that are repetitive or redundant. Here is what businesses need to keep in mind when considering automation:

# 1 | Increased accountability and transparency

One of automation’s critical functions includes generating audit trails, whereby workflows are tracked, and steps requiring authorization by a department or person are also recorded.

For example, when an automated task reaches a point where a person’s input is required, the action is time-stamped, and the status of the tasks will be shared with others within the project, while a log is created.

This continuous monitoring fosters accountability and increases transparency.

# 2 | Better time management

As mentioned before, aut0mation maximizes efficiency by cutting the time spent on performing repetitive tasks. Beyond that, it also identifies steps that are unnecessary and removes them from the operation.

Managing data and generating reports are some of the tasks that can be easily automated to free executives who can then work on projects that require complex problem-solving skills.

# 3 | Robust decision making

To make a business decision, managers need plenty of information. When that information isn’t available in a way that can provide insights, these leaders are forced to make decisions that rely on fragmented data, guesswork, and hunches.

Automation, however, can help improve decision-making as it helps generate insights in real time — something that is difficult to do manually.

# 4 | Reduced errors

However proficient, human operators can never beat the precision and accuracy of a machine in performing a given task, especially when it is repetitive.

Moreover, certain human errors could end up making the company liable to penalties and fines, and negatively impact downstream processes.

Automation can eliminate human errors, which can save the company money while increasing productivity.

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