what is business process automation?

What is business process automation?

Last updated on 13th Sept 2019

This post is the first in a series where I try to clarify what business process automation is, how it can help businesses of all shapes and sizes and address some of the misconceptions surrounding business process automation.

When I speak with people about business process automation one of the most common questions I get asked is 'So what processes can be automated?'. The truth is, business process automation is a pretty broad term; anything from marketing your services to billing and everything in between is a potential candidate for automation.

Business process automation is the use of technology to perform recurring tasks or processes to reduce manual effort, leading to cost reductions, greater quality, consistent execution and streamlined business processes. Process automation can significantly simplify your business processes and give you peace of mind about the quality you are delivering, at a reduced cost.

As demand increases for businesses to perform complex, labour intensive tasks, businesses are automating as many manual processes as possible rather than re-engineering them.

Some Benefits of business process automation:

Quality & Consistency

Process automation ensures that all actions are performed identically with no room for error. Each product is produced and each service is performed consistently, without deviations. This results in higher quality products and customer service that is more reliable. The improved consistency also encourages the development of more feature-filled products and services with little increase in production time and costs.



Time Savings

Performing tasks manually requires significantly more time than if they were automated. Automating tasks will free up staff time to work on items that add genuine value to the business.

Having the right system in place will not only reduce the number of manual tasks you and your employees complete, but it will also help you to save money on long-term administrative and production costs.



Cost Savings

People by nature, are prone to making mistakes and mistakes can be expensive.

Performing tasks manually requires a lot more time than if they were automated. Automating tasks will free up staff time to work on items that add genuine value to the business, allowing you to be more innovative and increasing your employees’ levels of motivation.



Improved Operational Stability

Business process automation systems have rigid guidelines regarding the control documentation and process actions. This eliminates situations where processing steps might be missed or documents misplaced. Employees need not worry about verifying the accuracy of information and tasks, it’s all built in to the system. This greatly increases the dependability and reliability of the process.



Greater Customer Satisfaction

Because they will receive more accurate and consistent products and services, your customers will be more satisfied. They’ll know that they can depend on you to get the job done right, appreciate the speed and quality of service, all of which will increase their trust and loyalty.



In summary:

I hope you have found this article useful and it has given you a clearer picture of what business process automation is and how it can help businesses like yours.

Please contact us for a free consultation if you would like help with how process automation can benefit your business.

Back
keyboard_arrow_up