Did you know that, according to a recent study on the opportunity for automation in Australia, McKinsey estimates that 25 - 46% of current work activities could be automated by 2030, helping to drive a resurgence in productivity, employee income and economic growth[1]?
That’s a staggering a figure, particularly in light of current research which indicates that while many organisations already have the tools they need to get started, only 36% have automated their workflows[2].
Chances are, your organisation already has the technology needed to make huge leaps forward. So what business processes in your organisation could potentially benefit from automation?
Start with the processes relevant to your organisation
Every organisation has systems and processes in place (hopefully) designed to meet the unique requirements of the business. While there are processes that are likely to be universally relevant such as onboarding new staff or submitting expense forms, there will be processes that are more specific to an industry or type of business. For instance, an insurance company is unlikely to have a need to set up a workflow for off-site workers to check into a worksite the same way a construction company might.
What criteria should you look for in a business process when considering automation?
Processes that meet the below criteria are generally the most straightforward and beneficial to automate:
- High volume and/or frequency – processes that are carried out regularly and at scale.
- Time-sensitive – don’t miss an important deadline. Automation ensures that processes can be developed around a time frame.
- Completed by multiple people – with many stakeholders touching a single process, errors and bottlenecks occur. Automation gives each stakeholder a defined role and timeline with transparency for all.
- Compliance requirements – some processes are too important to leave in the dark ages. Automation is perfect when attestation, auditing and control are required.
- Consistency – processes that follow a predictable sequence are much easier to automate. Flows that must account for a variety of potential outcomes are almost impossible to build well.
Business processes that can be automated
REQUESTS & APPROVALS
Take the pressure off approving managers by implementing a workflow that ensures that staff are easily able to submit requests and that automatic reminders are given. This will likely lead to smoother and more time efficient outcomes. Types of requests and approvals that can be automated include:
- Leave
- Training
- Equipment
- Expenses
TRAINING & VERIFICATION
When it comes to important policies and induction modules, ensure that no one slips through the cracks and that all responses are recorded and stored. Automated policy attestation will ensure that risk is managed, and that compliance is met. Types of training and policies that can be automated include:
- Onboarding
- Privacy and Security training
- Site safety checklists
- OH&S training
DATA COLLATION & REPORTING
Rather than rely on employees to manually collate and calculate data, use an automated workflow to do this. Ensure report deadlines are met and results are front and centre in your organisation. Types of data collation and reporting that can be automated include:
- Sales results and forecasts
- Stock inventory
- Employee sentiment
- Safety incidents
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
A robust document management system is the cornerstone of any successful digital workplace. Use automation to keep your system tidy and to reduce the likelihood of human error. Older documents can be automatically archived after a certain period without relying on an employee to action. Elements of document management that can be automated include:
- Data entry
- Digital document filing
- Document lifecycle management
Making business process automation a reality
Now that you have an idea of what there is in your organisation that can be automated, it’s time to spring into action. Use our guide on Transforming Business Processes for the Modern Workplace to learn more about the steps you need to take to automate a process from start to finish. Or just get in touch with us directly.
[1] Australia’s automation opportunity: Reigniting productivity and inclusive income growth – McKinsey
[2] Global Intelligent Automation Survey – Deloitte