In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make more money using business process optimisation.
As a consulting firm ourselves, we understand the struggles many businesses face when it comes to introducing the automation of processes for tasks that currently kill time and revenue.
So in this guide, we’ll cut through to the chase and show you exactly how you can use business process automation to find solutions that will help grow your business.
The Topic Overview
What is business process automation (BPA) exactly?
Business process automation is the use of technology to automate processes within a business. It’s important because it optimises workflows, eliminates bottlenecks, and increases efficiency.
For example, let’s say you own an accounting firm that uses manual data entry processes for your clients. How could your business ensure they can meet greater workloads efficiently? Sure, they can hire more employees… but wouldn’t that increase the costs spent on wages?
This is where BPA comes in. And when it’s introduced correctly, data entry can become convenient for both your client and your business. You can update data regularly without any human intervention, generate reports and update financial records through software free from human error.
Now that you understand what business process automation is, it’s time for us to explain more about how to get started with it.
Steps
1) Research
The first step in implementing the concept of business process automation is research. What are your current business processes and how efficient are they? Are there any setbacks you face with some of your manual processes?
While there could be countless questions to consider, the gist of it is to look at current systems and tasks that can be done more efficiently and less costly on automation in the long term.
2) Outline Business Goals
- What are your current business goals?
- What are your businesses’ motives?
- How will automation help?
- How will you measure success?
3) Select The Right Tool
Then, you should select the right tool. This is incredibly important to process automation as selecting the wrong tool to implement and invest in can be detrimental to your businesses’ workflows and operations. You should ensure that the ideal tool is:
- Adaptable and scalable in the long-term
- Easy to use and simple to understand
- Capable of working alongside and integrating within previous tool stacks
- Convenient for customers to interact with
4) Plan And Design
Now that you’ve considered a tool, you should start the process of design and planning. When using tools for business process modelling, make sure they are visually understandable and easy to follow. It’s recommended that you use diagrams and flowcharts to highlight how current business processes may be improved, analysed, and automated through the chosen tool.
During this step, you might want to consider these two-business process modelling tools:
Business Process Management System (BPMS) – A methodology that uses various ways to identify, model, automate and analyse business processes. It’s a way of organizing and controlling the processes involved in a business that is often thought of as a business practise, encompassing techniques and structured methods.
Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) – A business process modelling methodology that uses graphical notations to outline the steps followed in a business process from start to end. These graphical notations are usually flowcharts and diagrams that focus more on presenting ideas clearly and visually instead of analytically.
5) Measure Success
Finally, these tools offer valuable information on how processes are currently performing. Use them to monitor KPIs and use the data provided to evaluate operational inefficiencies, improve your businesses’ workflows, and identify room for greater improvements.
Now that you’ve got the basics down, we’ll introduce a case study to show just how applicable process automation can be.
Final Words
Thanks to Business Process Automation, you won’t need to spend endless hours looking for information for your business. You can have everything you need all in one place, and reduce repetitive tasks and inefficiency.
As you saw in the guide, business process automation can transform your business to new heights. Without process automation, you may spend hours manually working on tasks when the reality is you don’t need to. By automating processes within your business, you can increase the efficiency of your operations, workflows and allocate resources and time to more important things.
Now you have everything you need to get started with business process automation, the right way!
Still not convinced? Check our case study on Automation in HealthCare how business process automation helped transform a hospital in Lisbon during the Covid19 crisis.
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