Bill Gates said, “Automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency.”
Imagine how it would feel if you didn’t have to remember everything you had to do at work because you had a system set up that scheduled tasks, completed repetitive tasks, and alerted you about pending tasks. Wouldn’t that be amazing? That’s exactly what automation can do for you.
Automation has become a necessity. More people are now working from home because of the widespread pandemic, and organizations are looking to increase productivity and lower costs. That’s why most are adopting process automation.
Many business processes can be automated to boost productivity, like data reporting, customer support, job applicant screening, and training. When repetitive and tedious processes are automated, individuals can focus on their most important work.
Research by McKinsey showed that as many as 45% of the activities individuals are paid to perform can be automated by adapting current technologies. In the United States, these activities represent about $2 trillion in annual wages.
Although it’s often believed that automation primarily affects low-skill, low-wage roles, studies have shown that even high-paying roles–like financial management–have activities that can be automated.
Research shows that 74% of employees in the most automated companies agree that automation improves job satisfaction.
Table of Contents
How Does Automation Increase Productivity?
1. Fewer Manual Delays
Most work delays occur at transition points between processes. Automating processes can reduce the number of transitions, significantly decreasing manual delays. With fewer interruptions in processes, work gets done quicker and productivity goes up.
For example, in a manufacturing plant, manual quality assurance checks won’t be necessary if an automated equivalent is installed. This increases the hourly throughput. Manual delays result in the loss of time as staff must manually assess and repair problems.
Built-in technology in an automated system can perform checks in real-time. And if production is forced to halt, the disruption will be far shorter. An Oxford report estimates that automation could increase productivity in the manufacturing industry by $4.9 trillion every year by 2030.
Instead of waiting for a task to be performed, a workflow management tool assigns it to a particular person and automatically notifies the person responsible that they have a new task.
In the past, someone would have to wait for work to be sent or manually request for it. But with automation, tasks are automatically moved and relevant persons are notified. The system prompts people to take action, minimizing delays.
2. Focusing on Tasks That Need Attention Rather Than Repetitive Tasks
A study found that 22% of employees’ time is spent on repetitive tasks. As a result, a lot of money is wasted on tasks that can be automated. Automation can lead to higher levels of productivity.
When processes and tasks are automated, mundane and repetitive tasks are gotten rid of and individuals have time to focus on the work that matters. It is easier to automate repetitive tasks because they are often easy for people to do. For example, an automation tool can transfer files from one format or system to another and a chatbot can automatically engage with received messages
3. Minimize The Risk of Errors
As the famous saying goes, “To err is human.”
Humans make mistakes, especially when they are overwhelmed or tired. Automation can prevent or minimize human error if set up correctly. When a task is repetitive, the person doing it can get complacent. It becomes easy for them to make careless mistakes because they’re not concentrating. Automation can solve this problem. It allows the person to play an oversight role for the repetitive task.
If your company needs help addressing human error, automate some of your business processes. Automation may not remove the possibility of error completely, but it ensures large-scale consistency. The expectations of modern consumers are exceedingly high and keep rising all the time. Mistakes can be damaging to your company and negatively impact its bottom line.
4. Improved Task Management
Today’s fast-paced world is highly competitive. Some companies offer same-day delivery while others respond to customers in minutes. And according to American Express, people are willing to spend 17% more on companies that offer superior customer experiences.
Workers have to complete tasks as soon as possible, and it can be very easy to miss deadlines. Those who do meet them may not offer their best work. When people have a lot on their plate, they may experience stress, burnout, or anxiety. They may be labeled unproductive, which only adds to their stress levels.
Automation can organize tasks in order of priority, ensuring people know what needs to be done urgently and what can wait. They don’t overlook important tasks and nothing falls through the cracks.
5. Improved Accuracy and Efficiency
A past study revealed that office workers spend 69 days every year on administrative tasks, costing organizations $5 trillion a year. Automation saves companies enormous amounts of time. It frees up time for management and employees to brainstorm, strategize, analyze new trends, and plan for new ventures and opportunities. It also increases efficiency.
Employees take less time to complete tasks or do more within the same amount of time. Automation also eliminates stress, you know things will be done and you don’t have to worry about remembering to do them.
Most business processes need to be consistent and accurate. Some require exact measurements, installations, or placements. With a non-automated system, the chances are next to none that all the results will be identical and accurate. But this is possible with automation.
Accuracy is essential in today’s competitive marketplace. Automation provides companies with state-of-the-art tools to alleviate errors and ensure that accuracy is prioritized across the board. It can also help monitor unusual online activity, protecting a company and sensitive information from cybercriminals.
Final Thoughts
Business process automation can be applied in almost every sector of business, boosting productivity, efficiency, and employee morale in every department. An automated system can help you to offer better services to your customers and retain great employees.