Automation is the working of business processes or tasks without the need for human input.This is done through the use of technology. Automation is always applied to tasks that are consistent and repetitive.
No one wants to be left behind when every company is moving to the digital space to speed up their processes so as to enhance their services and increase productivity. It makes a whole lot of difference when all their processes are automated to increase their productivity and efficiency.
Where can automation be applied in a company?
Data entry
This is one of the most repetitive tasks in a company. If data entry is being done manually, it is quite labour intensive and can become very boring. In the case of the data entry task being handled by the company staff, it tends to be prone to human errors. It also leads to low productivity and inefficiency.
The data entry tasks can be monotonous and boring. This can be less challenging to staff thus less productivity. If a data entry task is automated, the staff involved can be directed to more challenging and productive work.
Customer service
Customer service can now be automated using live chat software. This allows customers to get help from a live agent without having to call.
Marketing and Sales
Automation is already being used in email marketing, lead generation and social media marketing. This speeds up the communication process which would be quite tedious with the manual process. This is especially where the customer numbers are high. And this also applies to sales when prospecting and in follow ups.
Accounting
Repetitive tasks such as searching for accounts receivables and accounts payables can be eased through automation. Through automation calculations and reconciliations are made easy.
The accounts staff can now spend their time in productive tasks, Automation speeds up processing of payments and invoices.
Human resource
When recruiting and onboarding of staff is automated it makes the process easier and flawless for the Human resource experts. Recruiting by job listings on various platforms to selections are automated to ease the process.
Onboarding the process of welcoming new staff to providing accessibility to company systems, files and organizing of data is made easy through automation.
Benefits of automation
Increased productivity
Automation increases productivity in the workplace. When all the processes are automatically set up, it fastens the pace of work which could be slowed down due to human behaviors and errors. Repeated work due to human error is also eliminated.
Cost reduction
Automation eliminates the cost of labor and training. With the processes in automation mode, the need to recruit labor to manage the process is no longer required.
This also eliminates the cost of their training.
Increased production
There is reduction in errors due to minimal human involvement. Minimal error means minimal repeat work increasing the level of productivity.
Due to this quality of production is also improved.
Accuracy in data collection
What better way to get data collection accuracy than when the processes are automated.
Industries impacted by automation
Healthcare
When scheduling of appointments and billing in a healthcare facility is automated, it speeds up the process of attending to patients.
This increases the number of patients served on a daily basis thus increase in income.
Manufacturing
Increased productivity and accuracy due to automation of key manufacturing functions has led to increased growth in the manufacturing sector.
The manufacturing functions take place without human interference leading also to safety of staff.
Construction
Automation has led to streamlined and flawless approval, monitoring and evaluation systems improving the speed of delivery in the construction sector..
Education
Automation in education helps in scheduling of classes, grading and this has defined the current state of education. This is where students are now able to attend class remotely and teachers can also teach in the same mode.
Assigning homework and grading is made easy. Automation in education has increased the reach to students by institutions remotely.
Conclusion
Automation has brought in a whole revolution of change in all the industries. It has also led to enhanced efficiency and increased productivity. This has promoted growth all round for those companies that have embraced automation.
To keep up with the pack automation would be the best option.
When your workflow is automated it eliminates most of the loopholes encountered in the workplace.